
Class E"B3.2^ 

Book v E, 4X 1*2^ 



/ 






PREFACE. 



1 hat Americans are l)ecijining aware of the fact that they ha\e a 
histor}' is a matter of frequent ol).ser\ati(ni and remark anmni;^ writers 
and men of affairs gcnerall_\-. It was ijue of the chan.j;es in American 
thought ciirisidcred -worthx- of esjiecial ni>te bv HdU. James lirxce, nn 
his recent \isit to this ciuintrx" after an absence of t\\entv-ti\e vears. 
This keen student uf .\merican institutions thus expresses the resuh iif 
liis ci1iser\-ation : " J\e\erence fur the jiast and a desire tn maintain 
e\er}' si at ni cunneclinn witli it is a strung and gruwing Inrce amnUL; 
e(hicated jjeiiple." J-'mlhermiue, this is one nf the hii]>eful signs nf the 
times. W'eH it is, fur the nalinn as fur the inih\i(hial. when its career 
is anchored at Initb ends. i> descended f ri im a sturd\- ;ind \irilc aiicestrx' 
and looks forward in a n^it less \\nrtli\- p^steritx. rejuices bulh in the 
memories of a splendi<l past and in the Imiies nf a brilhant future. Sucli 
a natiiin or indi\'idnal linlds true in the course nf best ideals and en- 
dea\(irs. is in the line of progress of the greater destin\-. 

It is this grijwmg re\'ercnce fur the past that renders such a \\nrk 
as the History of Elkhart I'mnit)- bnth \alual)le and timely. lAen n><w 
the personalities and achie\emeuts nf the cnuntv's ])i(pueers ;u"e m.atters 
of written record nnlw and, tno often, tlmse rccnrds are scaut\- and in- 
snthcient and dihicult nf access. 'J"n gather u]i and ])iece tngctber in 
historical form and accnrding to relatixe impnrtauce these recnrds is 
the purpose of this work, in tiie ])re]iaration of which the cnnstaut en- 
deavor iia.s been to make a standard, comprehensive and authentic his- 
tnry. which, while narrating in all completeness the wnnderful ^tnr\- nf 
the past, describes also the iiresent. in its industrial, commercial and 
social aspects, with such thoroughness as to make this work a historical 
■"base-line" from which ;dl subse(|nent ci\ic gmwth and i)rngress max- 
be computed. 

In recent years genealogical nr family history h.as fonnd it> prop'er 
recognition, and is in constant and general clemanfl. l)eing sought for in 
the great libraries, bv linok and m.agazine writers and lecitu-ers and 



iv I'RI^l^'ACE 

other investigators. I'nun fureiyn lands a> well a.s fioni all iimtions of 
our own countr_\-. and is in daily use in all newspaper oliices. Biography 
teaches by e.\'ani])le. and when the custodian of records concerning the 
useful men of preceding generations and of their descendanl-- who ha\e 
lived hon(}ralile and worthy li\es ])laces his k'nowledge in ])reser\ahle and 
accessihle form, he ]>crforms a ])uhlic ser\ice in rendering lionor to 
whom honor is due. and in inculcating the most \aluahle lessons of 
patriotism and good citizenship. .\11 sketches ha\e been Mihmitted in 
typewritten form t(j the ])arties concerned for correction, and no effort 
has heen spared to secure accuracw 

In the comiiilation of this wurk the editor and his assistants ha\'e 
e\er\\\here received the hc;irl\' co-opcr:ition of citizens all o\"er the 
county, and the interest shown hv them is additional iiroof of the value 
of such an undertaking. The indi\"idual coiitrilmtors have heen in each 
instance gi\en credit, whether they h;i\e furnished a complete chapter 
or <p.iotations ha\c heen drawn froui their writings. Particular ac- 
l<nowledgmeut is diie the I'.lkhart County Ilistorical Society for the use 
of its records and historical ii.ajiers. The new S]iai)ers of the county 
glad.lv oti'cred the use of their hies, and the editors and puhlisher.s ha\-e 
more than once gone out of their wa\' in extending material aid to the 
.successful comjiletion of the lustier}-. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



CHAPfER I— NA'I'URE. 

Elkhart county in a state of nature— An early description— 'ropography— Glacial 
period — Soil classification — Prominent features of landscape — Natural divisions 
—Rivers and streams— The lakes and their origin— Wells and s-prings- Oil and 
gas 1 

CHAPTER n— ORIGIXAL INHAniTAXTS. 

First possessors of Elkhart county — Their life and cusiom>— Christian nussiimaries 
— E.-'rly r.ettlers and the Indians — Indian wars -A narrative of the Black llauk 
war — Final exodus of the red men i-! 

CHAPTFR III— EARLY SETi'LEMENr. 

Discnveries and first comers— Hernnls and trailers, Rosseau and Noffsiuger— Carey 
Mission and Isaac McCoy — Permanent settlement in late twenties — Early set- 
tlers in Concord township — In Jackson township — Benton township — Middle- 
bury township — Cleveland township — Washington township^Baugo township 
— Jefferson township — Clinton township — Harrison township — Osolo town- 
ship — Union township — York township — Olive township — Locke township — 
Settlement in western part of county delayed — Reminiscences of early settlers 
— F'ew retarding influences in settlement — Two veterans of i)ioneer days. J. P. 
I lawks ami a! Defrees 24 

CHAPTER IV— ORGANIZATU )K. 

A brief historv of Indiana — The famous boundary line disunie — The organization 
of Elkhart C'.utitv— Election .if a lioard cif justices— The first I'ecord hook— 
i)i\ision of enunty iiUn townships 39 

CIIAP'IER V— THE COUNIY SEAT. 

The appointment nf five conunissioners — Site of the first ciumty seat — Act for the 
relocation of county seal — Second selection at (ioshen — Oliver Crane — The 
name Goshen — First meeting place of Circuit court — House of Chester iiage 
and other places for court sessions — The court house — Remodeled in 1905 — 
The Elkhnrt County Asylum— County Jail 49 

CHAPTER \'l— CU'lL Gt )\'F:RX.\I EKT. 

The first election — Early official acts of board of justices — The bi.ard nT commis- 
sioners — The County Council — The township civil government — The civil list 
for (905 — Former incumbents of the princi])al county offices 61 

CHAPTER VII— PIONEER LIFE AND CL'STOMS. 

Character of early settlers — The hardships in coining to this county — First lionie- 
making — Clearing the land — Plowing and sowing— The old loghotises, furniture 
and home comforts and necessities — A sickly year — Social commingling and co- 
operation — Clothing and food — Education and religion 68 



vi TABLE OF CONTEXTS 

CHAPTER VIII— HISTORY Ol" ACiRICLT.TURK. 

Pioneer farmers and their metliod?— Preparing tlie srcmnd. cultivaling and liarvest- 
ing the crop— Introduction of machinery— Some of the early crops, wheat and 
hay— Frnit growing— Development of live-stock industrj-— Hogs— Cattle— Dairy- 
ing— Sheep— Ponltry—Connty fairs and Agricnltnral Society— Farmers' Insti- 
tute—Recent crops .md live-stock statistics— Inllueiicc of improved transpor- 
tation, and imiiroNcd conditions of tlic fanniiig romninnity 83 

CHAPTER IX— THE SMAlT.l'R CENTERS. 

The formation of centers of civihzation — Ceiiion — Millersbnrg — ]\Iiddlebury — Vis- 
tula— Bristol— Waterford Mills— Jackson Townsliip's Centers— Union town- 
ship— Locke— Wakarusa— Han ison lownshii)— ISaiiiici. Concord. Cleveland and 
Osolo townships IO-2 

CHAPIE.R X— (ioSIIKX. 

Goshen founded by official enactment— Platting and sale of lots— First citizens — 
Early days in Goshen — Goshen markets — (irowth in population and village 
organization — Incorporation as a town — Goshen becomes a city — City officers, 
1868-1905- h'ive department— (ioshcn postol'iice- Water and Light— Other fea- 
tures of twen;ieth century Gn^-hen 131 

CHAPTER XI — 1'.1.K1L\RI'. 

Geographical positu.n— Early settlemeiu— I lavilali I'.eardsky— Purchase of tlie city 
site — Sketch of Flavilah Beardsley— Pulaski, the first postoffice — Development 
of the town — Pioneers and early day conditions — Water power— "Business 
Directory" in 1859 — Municipal history, as village and as city — City officials. 
1875-1905 — Police department — Fire department — Elkhart postoffice, descrip- 
tion of Uie new federal building— Statistics of wealth and resources— Sketch 
of the late Silas Baldwin. Jacob and John W. Ellis 151 

CHAPTER XII— XAPI'AXh:]-:. 

Rapid growth of Nappance — General survey of its nrinciijal features — Early his- 
tory — Platting of the townsite — Incorporation and municipal government — 
Municipal improvements — Education and the present school system — Xappanee 
churches — Business and professional interests 178 

CHAPTER XIII— COMMUXICATION. 

Indian tr.iils and primitive means of communication — County roads — Condition of 
early highways — Road making at present — Brid.ges — Ferries — Mail routes, 
stage roiites. telegraph and Itleidiones — Solidarity of society 186 

CHAPTER XIV— TRANSPORTATION. 

Relation of Iransportation to general progress — River navigation — Keel boat and 
arks — Dredging and other efforts to maintain navigability — Steambpating — 
Transformation wrought by the coming of the railroad — Early railroad and 
canal agitation — Wilber L. Stonex's contribution to railroad history — Recent 
railway construction '93 

C1L\PTER X\— BUSINESS. ^lANCFAC TURING AND INDUSTRY. 

Individuality versus social interdependence — pioneer wearing apparel — early cabinet 
makers, carpenters, blacksmiths, and other artisans— Milling in Elkhart county 
as described by J. P. Hawks— Business in 18,37 — " Goshen Directory " in 1841 — 
Mr. HenkeTs reminiscences of Goshen's early business men — Business in 1905 — 
General survev of Elkhart county's resources — Elkhart county banks — >Iaini- 
facturiny- at Goshen— at Elkharl— at .Nappanec 211 



TABLE OF CONTENTS vii 

CHAPTER X\'l— THE ELKHARI" COUXTV PRESS. 

The intliioiicc of the press — Northwestern Review and St. Joseph Intel h.!;c.-iicer — 
Gnslien Express — Goshe.n Democrat — Goshen News-Times — Elkhari Tnitli — 
Elkhart Review — Bristol P.anner — ^lillersbiu'K newspapers — Middlehury — New 
Paris — Wakarusa — Nappance — ]''ormer newspapers — Mennonite Pnhlishino; Co. 
— Harry S. Chester and his work 243 

CHAPTER X\TI— THE ^H'.DICAL AND LEGAL PROFESSIONS. 

Character of the early physicians — Early methods of practice and hardships endured 
— Some pioneer physicians — Early medical societies — Elkhart County Medical 
Society and its memhership — Elkhart county bar — Its character and early 
representatives — Oldest representatives at present — Business and the law — 
Memhers of the county bar — Elkhart Comity Bar Association — Elkhart Cir- 
cuit Court 260 

CHAPTER X\TH— EDUCATION. 

Early provisions for education — Development of the school system — Pioneer 
schools — Mrs. Hascall's description — E. R. Myers quoted — Private schools — 
Present school system and officials — School census for 1905 — Schools of Elkhart 
■ — Professor Thomas' history — Goshen Public Schools — History of develop- 
ment fnm pi'iuecr limes to present — Goshen Hi.qh School — Goshen College. . 272 

CHAPTER XIX— LHIRARIES. LITERARY AXD Ol HER ASSOCIATIONS. 

Goshen's Carne.yie Library — Elkhart's Carnegie Library — Elkhart Lecture .\ssocia- 
tion — St. Tosepb \'.illey Cb;MUau(|ua — Elkhart County Historical Society — 
Goshen L\ cetun 293 

CHAPTER XX— SOCLM. AXD ER.VTERXAL HIS^OR^■. 

Social ties — Old and New Customs contrasted — Pioneers' Associaliim — Fraternities 
—in Goshen- in Elkhart— Railroad Century Club— V. .M. C. A 301 

CHAPTER XXI— HISTORY OF CLUP. Mtn'EMEX'T IX ELKHAR'T COUX'TY, 

Origin of \\'ouien's Club — I'hc tirst club in Indiana — Aims and purposes — Goshen 

clubs — Elkhart club-- in other towns 310 

CHAPTER XXIT— PA'TRIOTISM. 

Soldiers of the Revolution an<l the \\":ir of 1812 — Goshen Guards — ;\lexicau War 
— Civil War — Those who trmk pari frotn b'lkhart enunty — Spanish-. \nK-rican 
war 316 

CII-XPTER XXHI— 'THE CHURCHES. 

Piotieers and religion — Early meelitig places — F'rench missionaries — Methodists — 
the Baptists — the Presbyterians — H. L. Vannm's and his ministry — 'The ^len- 
nonitc church — German Baptist ISrctbren church in Jackson township — Chris- * 
tain church a! Wakarusa — Gosbeti churches — Some Elkhari churches — New 
Paris Metbcdist church XV) 



NDEX. 



Ahbotl, l-'nml; P.. 451. 
Ailken. l-'redcrick M.. 74.^ 
Anderson. Lcander. S-5- 
Anderson. William H.. .S9S. 
Andrews. J. P... ^go. 
App. H. 1;.. 744- 
— »\rni)ld. Ethan L., 469. 
An Novelty Co., 232. 
Ash. Elmer E.. 511. 

Baker. Franeis E.. =;i7. 
Haker. John H.. .36S. 
Baldwin. Silas. 171. 
liarger. William. 465. 
Barnard. William B.. 685. 
Barney, George T.. .360. 
Barns & Defrees. 221. 
Bartholomew. Edson C. 68,3. 
Bcane. Joseph A.. 624. 
Beardsley, Alliert R.. ,^58. 
Bcardsley. Ha\ilah. 151. 
Beehtel. Henry, 5,32. 
Beek. James. 215. 
Becknell. Trvin T-. 587. 
Beckner. Frank "M.. ,^78. 
Bemenderfer. George W.. 72,^. 
Bender, Benjamin C. 4(1,^. 

Bcrkey. Peter 1).. 54.3 

Berkcy. \'alcntinc. 478, ^ 

Blocher. Christian. 668. 

Blocher. John M.. 660. 

I'.oreal Mamifactnring Co., 2_'i2. 

liorneman, Herman, 616. 

Bra.len, James D.. ,,28. 

Briek. Abraham L.. 772. 

Brotliers. Guy M.. .sig. 

Brothers. Mrs. Hannah. 518. 

P)rown Brothers Mannfaclnring Co., 241. 

I'lrown. Frank W.. 448. 

Bnnnlmi.gh. John M.. 4,V). 

Bucscher Mannfactnring Co.. 2.^,7. 

Burklcy. John 1., 775. 

Bnrns. Warren E., 7S4. 

Btirrell & Morgan. 230. 

Bntterfield. FT. A.. 493. 

I^.ii//ard, David K.. 603. 

Cainc. George B.. 774. 
Cainon. Joseph H.. 733. 
Carper. .Andrew J.. 466. 
Cart. f>corge W.. .SO2. 



Caultman. Samuel K.. 711. 

Chamberlain. .Albert N., 484. 

Chatten. Robert E.. 589. 

Chicago Telephone Snpi)ly Co.. 2,\~. 

Christophcl. Jonas, 564. 

Citv National Bank. 226. 

Clinc, W. S.. 556., 

Cobb. George S., 589. 

Conley. Orrin ^L, 612. 

Conn, Charles G.. 504. 

Cook, J. A.. 434. 

Cook, John A., 674. 

Coppes, Harvey E.. 437. 

Coppes. John ])., 665. 

Coppes. Samuel D.. 435. 

Coppes, The Family. 560. 

Coppes. Zook & Alutschler Co.. 240. 

Cover. J. M.. 503. 

Co.\-. Da\id B., 776. 

Crow. Edward C. 525. 

Gulp. Alpha C. 446. 

Gulp. .Simim P.. 586. 

Cunnnnis, Stephen M., 485. 

I)a\(.nii..rt. Robert W.. (&). 
DaM- .\eetvlene Co.. 2^8. 
Davix Charles A.. 476. 
Deahl, .Anthony. 791. 
Deahl, Eeniamin I-'.. ^48. 
Defrees, loseph II., "742. 
Dell. Jacob H.. 4"o. 
Demarest. Mclvin C. 480. 
Diils. Charles. 704. 
1 )is|)i.-nsary. The Grand, 2.^9. 
1 Inde.e James S., 440. 
1 1'lerin.g. Daniel, 472. 
Drake. James S., ,o8. 
Dreese. Charles L.. 78^. 
Dutrnw. Charles E.. 74R. 

I'.arly. P. .\.. 404. 

i'^by, laeob. ,S30. 

lOiy. Noah. 531. 

Edmands, Sumner .A.. 462. 

Egbert. Haines. 596. 

b'hret. Rufns C. 401. 

Elkhart Bristol Board & Paper G... 2.?8. 

Elkhart Carriage & Ftarness Alannfac- 

turing Co., 237. 
l-:ikhart T.oan & Trust Co., 22^. 
Ellioii. Charlie W.. 7-'i- 



INDEX 



I'.llis, Ccorof W.. 4'>.V 
l'"llis, Jacob, 174. 
i:iHs. John W., 173. 
1mi(1ci>^. John, 442. 
iM-ans. IChncr R.. 697. 

Farmers Bank, 1 ic. 
h'arniers & 'l'ra(Ur> I'.ank, 227. 
Farrcll, George W., 515. 
Farvcr, Moses A.. 718. 
h'ettcrs. Simon, 566. 
F'lcmins", George \V., 583. 
l-'lemins. J. C, 4.^8. 
I'i.llcr, 11. C, 4f'7- 
I'it-hllion-c. John W.. 486. 
Fink, John J., 757. 
First National Bank, 226. 
iMrst State Bank, 227. 
Fisher Brothers, t2t. 
Fisher. Daniel II., .VO- 
F'ishcr, Flias, 427. 
Fisher. Flias E., 627. 
I'"isher. George A., 749. 
Fisher, :\lrs. Lanra A., 7.W. 
l'"i-.her Nicholas I'., 777- 
l''rai;k. Charles i: , 492. 
rra>:ier. Menrv iv. .^('7 
Freed, |ns.,,,h A,. 418. 
I-reed, Joseph N,. 4,^1. 
Fr-_'elan(l. Buckner !•., 7,?.^. 
Freese's, George & Sons, 241. 
Frink, Charles \\'., 48.V 

G.-irI.er. Tacol, M, ()77. 
Ganr.an, John II., 7.^4- 
Gattshall. Joshiia B.. 700. 
Goshen Buggy Top Co.. 234. 
Goshen Churn S; l.,ackler Co.. 232 
(ioshen Gas Co.. 229. 
Goshen Manufacturing Co., 235. 
Goshen ^[il'ing Co.. 228. 
Goshen Opera Mouse, 233, 
Goshen Pharmacal Co., 232. 
Goshen Rubber Co., 231. 
Goshen Ruljber Works. 229. 
Greenan. Fucius J.. 7^8. 
Greene. C. T.. 54-'. 
Grinc \MlIi.im 1'... 7-7- 

I lale, John, 40_|. 

II a'!, Hugh M.. O-S- 
Flarinan, Jj.mcs I,.. 708. 
Ibrpcr, George R.. .^99. 
Harper. Mrs. Flizahelh, 604. 
Flarris, T. & Co., 22T. 
Flartman, .\dani R., 425. 
llartnian. Jacoli, 459. 
llartnian, John, 467. 
llartnian, Tobias, 433. 
Il;isc->11, Frank A.. 22s. 
Hauen>;tein. George \V.. 466 
Hawks Electric Co., 229. 



Ilawks F'uruiture Co., 2.?o. 
Hawks, Joel P.. 502. 
Hav, Geor.ge W., 414- 
H.i/ebon, Walter S., 424. 
Il.ijoipeth. Victor \V. P.., 280. 
I 111 I rich, Louis, 766, 
llerrnig, iM-ederick A., 499- 
He-, !•:. W.. 489- 
1 liil)i-h, Thomas, 760. 
llilr. William B„ 4.S0. 
Ijni.l.rer. Christ, 7.^1. 
Hire. Henrv, 680. 
Hivelv, I, L-, 481- 
Hi.xou, ileiirv \V,. 712 
Holdemaii, .\bner, -:,22. 
Holt/. S;inuiel, 70<> 
Hnhhell. Schuyler C. .:;S5. 
Huffman. Peter. 765. 
FInghes. John. 6co. 
Hunsberger. Christian, Jr.. 639. 
llunsherger. Christian, Sr., 6,38. 
Hunsberger Peter. 64T. 

Inimel. Israel. 477. 

Indiana Piuggv Co.. 2.39. 

Inks. J. S.. 455- 

Ipe, .-\nanias, 606. 

Iruiu. hVank J., 5.^7. 

Irwin. John W., ^35. 

1 N-1. &• G.ishen Pump Co.. 23T. 

Jackson. Frank. 452. 
Jackson. Ira, 453, 
Johnson. Homer .\., 601. 
Jones, .\.udre\v. (143. 
Jones. Emery P.. 493. 
Juday. James .\., 672. 

Kantz. Ernest. 7=;7. 

Kantz. Harvey \\'.. -2K 

Kantz. Hiram, 7=;<>. 

Kantz. J. O.. 416. 

Kavanagb. James, .S7.t. 

Kelly Foundry & ^lacbine Co.. 234. 

Kent. .\. P.. &)S. 

Kidder. Hiram F.. 700. 

Kinney. Martin 11., 464, 

Knickerbocker, W. H., .=;50- 

Koons, Mrs. Catharine, 614. 

Kran. John, s.V- 

Kreider, IMartin K.. ,soo. 

Kreider, William P., 500. 

Fake Shore & Michigan Southern R. R. 

Lamb. Charles L.. 724. 
I.amh. Georse L.. 406. 
F-imp..rl. Mfoiis,, 1... 7^2. 
FaiiL^hiin. .\. .\ . ^W 
Laytoii. Willis .\'., 644. 
l.eatberman, Jacob S., 761. 
I.ecdy. Ezra G.. .399. 
Echmau. Amos C, 415. 



INDEX 



l.csb. Jos^i.h II.. 59 1 ■ 
Lienli;ut, Edward. 445. 
Lons;. Natliaiiirl. 615. 
Lowry. .Mfrcd. .?SS. 

.\l;iiiiinr<. A. C, -'10. 
.\lamiinu. A. Elmer, 468. 
.\larkcl. Harden D., 545. 
Marks. Jn.scplnis C. 698. 
Mather. Joseph D.. 746. 
.\hithe\vs. James. 714. 
..Men;>ps. .\ustin E.. 770. 
.\k-diirc. John F., .«_>. 
.McCkire, Li'wis K.. 389. 
MeCormick, R. S., 656. 
.Mc^[aslors. George R.. f)6i. 
McNaughton, John. 378. 
Millinrn, George, 768. 
Mile-s, Franklin, 420. 
Miles Medical Co., Dr.. 238. 
Miller. Charles W., 428. 
Miller. David F., 398. 
Miller. John W.. 710. 
Miller, Sol, =26. 
Milchel. Michael, 730. 
Mitchei, William M., 732. 
Monger. Charles L., 482. 
Aloore. Charles H., 400. 
Morris. Cornelius, 6,34. 
Mosier. Horace H.. 740. 
Mnnn-"cr!. Elmer E., 512. 
Mnrray. Charles L., 656. 
Murray, (Gordon N.. 659. 
Mutschler. .\lherl. 413. 
Mutschler. Charles, 664. 
Mutschler. George, 787. 
Mvers. Charles R.. 67S. 
.Myers. Elani I',., (X37. 

Neal. William .\., 5T0. 

Neff. Henrv. ,■^94. 

Neidi"-. Charles E.. 686. 

Neidia. David W., 402. 

Newell. James E.. 788. 

Newell. Natlianiel C. 706. 

New Pans Mutual Telephone Uniin. 546. 

Nicholson, Ross, 763. 

Nnyes Carriage Co.. 230. 

I'.iLie. William ?,.. 719. 
I'ahuiter. Ch;irles ]'.. 430. 
I'aiil. Pieniamin F., 6^o. 
Tease. H. W.. 74.S. 
Pence. John A., 579. 
Piatt. C. C. 610. ■ 
Pippenger. Levi E.. 364. 
Pr.att. Frederick B.. 671. 
Pratt. William B.. 40^ 
Pnlerhaugh. Orville C. 4S8. 

Rerlden. William. ,S7. 
Replogle, Charles 6.15. 



Replogle, J...siah D.. 70J. 
Rheubottom. D. A.. O46. 
Riblet, William H.. 48> 
Riddle. John, 410. 
Kolner. John. 648. 
K.,n(l, Wils.in H.. s^4. 
R.HiNC. Wilson. f)(i7. 
Riiw . Ileniamin. 692. 
Rowdabaiigh. John W., 384- 
Rowdabaugh. Solomon. 381. 
Rucker. Fdmtmd P.. 7,^1. 

Salem Bank. JJ-,. 
Sanders. Daniid \.. .lo'i. 
Sanders, Harry M.. 408. 
Sanders S; I'.gberl Co., -'30. 
.Sage, Norman. 362. 
Searer, Abraham L., 618. 
Seller, Cyrus. 496. 
Shaniory. Oliver H.. 767. 
Sherwin, Chauncey D.. 5S4. 
Sheltel. Augustus G.. 737- 
.Shookman. M., 754. 
Showaltcr, ^^'. \V., 720. 
ShuUz, William H.. 717. 
Silvers. Charles E.. 601. 
Simmons. Elmer E.. 778. 
Skinner. Earnest A., 580. 
.Slate. George B., 498. 
Smith. George A., 695. 
Snapp, James A., 49.S. 
.Spolin, Samuel F., 490. 
Stanton. W. F., 419. 
Starr, Martin V., 739. 
State Bank of Goshen, 225. 
State. James H., 609. 
.Stauffer. Harlan A.. 632. 
.Stauffer. John. 432. 
Stephens. Andrew, 617. 
Stephens. Henry E.. 618. 
Stiver. Chauncey B.. 491. 
St. Joseph Valley Bank. 227. 
Stonex. Wilber L.. 397. 
Stuckman. George. 456. 
Stuckman, Peter W.. 6.53. 
Stutsman. Charles S., 781. 
.Swart. Frank. 625. 
Swezev. C. J.. 6=2. 
Sykes,' Henry P... 6[0. 

Thomas-. \lbright C,,., j,-^j. 
Thomas. D. W.. 666. 
Thomas. Solomon P.. 6S7. 
Thomas. Thomas. 61. 
Thomas. Warren H., 622. 
Thompson, John E., 568. 
Thornton, Solomon. 699. 
Throckmorton. B. R.. 7S8. 
Troup, Mrs. Elizabeth. ,^65. 
Trover. Daniel T.. 458. 
Turner Perry P.. 654. 
rurner. Purler. 602. 



xii . 1X1 )KX 

I'k-rv. John, 6_>S. Wivlirlolil. Ismiilv Reunion. 37 

rici-'v. Levi 1).. ()V. Wevliriyiit. WiUiani II.. 40f). 

I'm, 111. I"lic New Pa^i^ .\liitu:il Tele- W hipiiy. L. lUirr, ;(ij. 

lilinne, 54'i. Wliilin-r. lU'iii^iinin !•'.. ^^!_>. 

I'mhenhcwer, J. ]>.. $72. WilKinl. .Strinforil. 551. 

L'lnniei. Inhn. (iicj. \\ iiie'jar. Ira I!.. //I. 

Wineuar. Qnincv 1).. 7^^- 

\'ai1. l...n W'.. v(., \V(i(«i. I, O. 4-'?. 

\".ini., i:il-w..nh. 7.^,S. Work. J.-inu's A.. ^Ji. 

\'eni..n. ( Irlaiido C. (>')4. Wvlaiiil. Cliarle^ 1-.. 725. 

\\■v^.lll^. D.nnel. (ijg. 
Wak.irn-a ENchanoe ]'.ank. i_7. 

W.-ilmer. John V.. 7,«. ^'ale^. .Mliert. 7S0. 

^\^•M■(lell. John L., 705, Yates. 'Ilioiiias S,. 474. 

Warstler. John 11.. 3S5. Yodcr. A. B.. 40<:). 

Walls, Orrin. 5og. Yodcr, .\!herl C.. 41.?. 

Wehniever. Charles .\.. 476. Yodcr. .\hrahani li.. 391. 

^\■ehnlever, George W., sg6. Yodcr, N. 15., ^76. 

Weldv. J.-icoh. s.sS. ' Yonim, (;cor?e"}il.. =,fi\. 
Weiiger. Michael. :;70. 

^\■evi.ri^hl. n. M., ,?7-'. Zio'er. Rduard IV. f/,j. 



R. 4 



R. .', 



R. G 



R. 7 




MAP OF ELKHART COUNTY 



History of Elkhart County, 



CHAPTER I. 
NATURE. 

" To him who, in the love of Nature, holds 
Communion with her visible forms, she speaks 
A various language." 

Seventy-five years of civilization in Elkhart county has wrought 
many changes in the superficial aspects of nature, has effected many 
wonderful transformations ; but enough of the primitive, of life at first 
hand, still remains that the present generation may reconstruct the past 
and project upon the mental canvas the picture of this portion of the 
great world as it appeared to those who first beheld its forest and lake 
and prairie expanses. To satisfy the demands of a temporal existence 
man has overthrown the primeval forests, has quarried the underlying 
strata of stone, has covered much of the Imd with his habitations and 
has rendered the rest subservient to his will, has intersected the country 
with highways and has halted or changed the streams in their course — 
but, withal, many of the "visible forms" of nature remain, and the 
incense of spiritual exaltation still attends the communion of the spirit 
with the first works of the Creator. 

For hundreds and perhaps thousands of years before the advent of 
the first white settler this section of country remained in a state of 
nature. It was not an "unbroken wilderness;" and yet a region of 
beauty inhabited only by the rerl man and the native animals, traversed, 
in later years, by French missionaries and adventurers, the soldiers of 
different nations, hunters, trappers and explorers. Here wild flowers 
bloomed and faded, great trees grew and decayed, deer roamed the 
forests and prairies, and numerous birds li\-ed in the leafy groves. Beau- 
tiful sheets of water lay like mirrors on the surface of the country, 
sportive fish flopped their silver sides into the sunshine, and in all the 
west there was no more lovely region. 

No doubt the landscape beauties of Elkhart county are not fullv 
appreciated. Prairie-dwellers, surfeiting of home surroundings, seek 



2 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

the rugged mountains; those who dwell inland long for the coasts, and 
every region becomes commonplace h>- continued residence. And yet 
the book of nature contains few more interesting chapters than that 
which reveals to us the physical features of this county. One might 
to-day justify in his own experience nvst of the observations which 
caused a writer of 1838 to say: "In no cunty of the state are the 
proportions of prairie, oak openings and timbered lands more con- 
venient than in Elkhart county. No county is lietter watered with 
springs and unfailing streams. In its scenery there is nothing grand 
and subhme: but in the spring and summer, when clad in the fresh- 
ness and verdure and tiowers, nothing can surpass it in beauty. Through 
the oak openings, far as the eye can extend, and over the broad surface 
of the prairies, is spread out a carpet of green, decorated with flowers 
of every hue; the smooth surface of its streams and of its small, clear 
lakes here and there interspersed, and the Ixild line of forest trees which 
form the background of the prairie \iews — these are features which. 
when combined, give the face nf nature an aspect of tranquil repose." 
Here we are not overpowered and awed with the grandeur of the moun- 
tains or the sublimity of the sea. but find close and loving communion 
with ralure as an intimate friend. 

On the whole, in giving definite shape to the surface of Elkhart 
county, nature employed her smoothing plane more often than her chisel. 
With many small lakes and numerous water courses, the landscape 
escapes the monotony of a level plain, and yet the undulations are gentle 
and picturescjuely graceful ; as though the creative forces, as they passed 
over this region, w-ere not blustering and tempestuous, but persuasive 
and peaceful. Interesting as the geologic histor\- of this county might 
he, only enough space may be here allotted to the subject to throw 
some light on the configurations of landscape which are most evident 
to the ordinary observer. 

Elkhart county, in common with Indiana's three northern tiers 
of counties, is of glacial origin. There was a time when nearly the 
whole of this North American continent, at this longitude nearly as 
far south as the Ohio ri\er, was one \ast region of ice fields. Huge 
glaciers were formed in the north by the melting and compacting of 
snows. The glaciers filled the spaces l>etween the mountains and hills, 
the ice melted at the bottoms and sides and lubricated the track, and 
gravity slowly pushed the great masses of ice southward. On the wa)- 
great rocks were broken off and rounded by the steady grinding, soil 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 3 

was gouged t)iit and tumbled (i\er uiiun tlie ice. and a \ast mass of 
material was added to the sides of the glacier. The material thus 
formed is called a moraine. Sometimes two glaciers moved out of 
their valleys and united; and then, of course, in the larger glacier thus 
formed there was a large mass of material in the center as well as at 
the sides. Slowly the glacier made its way southward until finally there 
came a change and it melted. While its accumulated matters and sub- 
stances were being deposited, and the water was running down over 
them, there was a segregation or sifting of materials. The finest and 
softest w'ere filtered through the rest and formed beds of clay, and wher- 
ever a huge piece of ice made a dent in the clay, like the fist in a piece 
nf putty, there the ice melted and left an inland lake. Other material 
which was cijarser and harder was washed together and formed beds 
of sand. There were gravel outwashes formed of stony materials 
rounded ofif and reduced to greater or less fineness by the grinding 
and washing of ages. I-^lkhart countv is covered with this glacial drift. 
The great Valparaiso moraine, extending in a more or less northwest- 
erly direction, and several miles in width, crosses the southwestern 
]iart of the county (its course being readily observed between Nai>i>a- 
nee and Wakarusa), and the crest of this is the dividing line of the 
watershed between the north and the south. Owing to this feature of 
the topography, nearly all the drainage of the county is into the great 
lakes, \'ia the St. Joseph river, while a small division of land about Nap- 
])anee drains into the Kankakee and thence into the Mississippi ri\'er. 
It is said that one street of Xappanee forms the dividing line lietween 
the waters which flow into Turkey creek and those which gn south into 
the Kankakee. Such are some ijf tlie vagaries which nature has com- 
mitted in her evolution of this earth into a mortal dwelling place. Sci- 
entists claim that at some distant age all the waters vi Lake Michigan 
flowed ofif into the Mississippi river; then, at a later period, came the 
immense glaciers, throwing up a l»rrier for the stoppage of the south- 
ern outlet and turning the lakes eastward and up the .St. Lawrence. 
Thus does the modern science of geology 

" Find tongues in trees, bonks in running lirooks. 
Sermons in stones, and good in everything." 

In Volume XXV of the Indiana Geologic Reports, we find the fol- 
lowing statement : "In common with all the counties in which lakes 
occur, the surface of Elkhart countv is wholly covered with drift, the 



4 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

thickness known ar three points: Elkhart. Goshen and New Paris, 122, 
162, 90 feet, respectively." Some years ago a -well was sunk at Elk- 
hart to a depth of one hundred and twenty-five feet, with hope of secur- 
ing an artesian flow, but the drill coming in contact with boulders, 
further drilling discontinued. The material passed through for the 
first twenty-five feet was gravel, and all the succeeding one hundred 
feet was " hard-pan, " or indurated glacial clay with occasional tbin 
strata of quicksand. Continuing, the above report says, " The surface 
of this drift is more level than in counties to the east and south, an 
area of about two hundred square miles in the northwest and southeast 
parts lieing of extensive gravel plains. The uplands consist of till plains, 
with an area of 125 square miles in the southwestern jiart of the county, 
and of morainic belts, more broken, in the south and west parts. The 
elevation in feet above tide of some railroad stations is: Bristol, 783; 
Dunlaps, 747; Elkhart, 725-755; Goshen, 796; Millersburg, 885; New 
Paris, 813; Vistula, 808. The gravel plains in general are below 800 
feet level, uplands mainly between 800 and 900 feet, and several above 
900." The surface of Lake Michigan is reckoned as six hundred feet 
above ocean level, from wliicli it is seen that certain points in this 
county are from two hundred to three hundred feet higher than the 
lake. ' 

Of this glacial drift, covering the county at such varying depths, 
a comparatively very tbin layer at the surface has, by the well known 
processes of nature which arc continually taking place Ijefore our eyes, 
been transformed into "soil." from which the animal and vegetable 
kingdoms have for centuries drawn their sustenance. In few counties 
of the state could there be found greater diversity of soil than in Elk- 
hart county; often a restricted area of a few square miles will contain 
several varieties of land, adapted to various agricultural products. Thus 
it is impossible to classify, otherwise than roughly, the dififerent qualities 
of land and their extent. But an attempt at classification w^ould result 
nearly in the following: Sandy soil, timber loam, prairie loam and 
some vegetable loam. Tbe first named prevails most generallv in the 
northeastern quarter of the county, in Washington and York townships. 
It W'ill not produce wheat as abundantly as other kinds of soil, though 
the quality of what is produced is excellent. But it is warm, ^nd espe- 
cially adapted to the production of tbe potato and of fruits, especially 
small fruits. In some places on tbe hills the soil is a strong clav- The 
timber loam, which prevails over a large part of the central and south- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 5 

ern areas of the county, is of great depth and richness, and has fully 
rewarded with abundant harvests those who have persevered in clear- 
ing it and subduing tlie natural obstacles to cultivation. The prairie 
loam, peculiar to the prairie belts, which formed only a minor portion 
of the county originally, may be described as a sandy loam resting on 
a subsoil of gravel and sand with some clay, and is exceedingly pro- 
ductive. It is well adapted to raising all sorts of cereals as well as 
horticultural products. What has been termed the vegetable mold is 
found in more restricted areas in this county than in some other dis- 
tricts of northern Indiana. It is composed of decayed vegetable matter, 
formed in extinct lakes and marshes, being in fact a peat bed, and 
where not cultivated is co\-ered with a rank growth of marsh grass and 
flowering plants. Bv drainage and proper treatment it is rendered ex- 
ceedingly fertile. 

Discussing these aspects of the county, a state report says: "A 
part, perhaps a third, of the surface of the county at the time of first 
settlement was covered with a growth of very large trees and a dense 
undergrowth of bushes and shrubs; the remainder is mostly "burr-oak 
openings" and prairie, while a small per cent is covered with peat bogs, 
lakes and marshes. The soil of the "openings" is a sandy loam, with 
clay subsoil, and highly esteemed for its large yield of wheat and grass : 
after years of successive croppings this is promptly restored to its origi- 
nal productiveness by turning under a crop of clover." The strong clay 
soil of woodland is very productive, especially of corn and grasses. The 
black, peaty loam of prairies and drained swamps is famous for corn 
and grass, except during seasons of long drought. 

The report of state geologist in 1904, relating specifically to the 
clays of Elkhart county, indicates some features of the earth's surface. 

"The wells sunk in the vicinity of Elkhart," says the report, "pene- 
trate a thick stratum of blue clay and obtain water in a coarse gravel 
near the bottom of the drift At Goshen a stratum of blue clay nineteen 
feet in Ihickness underlies a two to five foot layer of surface sand. In 
the southwestern part of the county the surface yellow clay runs six 
to ten feet thick, below which is sand or gravel and then a thick 
stratum of blue clay. 

"Along the St. Joseph river west of Elkhart are found extensive 
deposits of plastic blue-gray marly clay. At the John C. Boss yard, 
three miles west of Elkhart, this clay occurs eighteen to ninety feet 
in thickness beneath six to eight feet of sand and gravel. It is here 



(5 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

used extensively for the making of liglit colored building brick. The 
upper four feet of the clay has been used in recent years as a slip clay 
for glazing stoneware. At Goshen two yards are making soft mud 
red brick from a "tough yellow surface clay." The latter runs eighteen 
or more feet in thickness, but unly the upper two to six feet can be 
used on account of lime pebbles. Mr. Geo. Bemenderfer, owner of 
line of the Goshen yards, writes: 'A well on our yard, two miles north 
of Goshen, shows the following section : 

1. Soil, one foot. 

2. Tough yellow clay, eighteen feet. 

3. Sand, six feet. 

4. Blue clay, twenty + feet." "' 

Elkhart county is fitly described as having a rolling surface. It 
was therefore with admiration and delight that the pioneer, having 
struggled through many miles of forest and crossing over numerous 
swells of land ironi one high htirizon crest to another, \'iewed such 
a beautiful level expanse as Elkhart Fh-airie presented. And then also 
there were Pleasant Plain, a little oasis south of the present city of Elk- 
hart, and Two-Mile Plain, directly east of the same cit}- and extending 
along the course of the St. Joseph. The prairies were eagerly sought 
by the early settlers, who all concurred in descriliing these \irgin spots 
as of surpassing loveliness, the ground being n>\-ered with thrifty and 
luxuriant grasses'and embellished with flowers of everv hue. 

But apart from these few level areas the country in all tlirections 
rose and fell in gentle undulations, as though at the crisis of its forma- 
tion the earth had lieen. rolling in long, smooth billows, and then had 
been suddenly stayed by the hand of tlie Creattjr and hardened and 
hxed in the manner which all the races of mankind have beheld it. In 
the nrirtheastern part of the courit_\', following on the south side of the 
Little Elkhart, nature has left a monument of her original efforts more 
conspicuous than the ordinary. This is the jjicturesque ridge, or range 
of hills, which forms the most prominent feature of the landscape, in 
this ])art of the county, forming the liarrier between the drainage areas 
of the Big and Little Elkhart streams. This ridge forms one of the 
highest points in the county. From the highest ]joint o\erlooking the vil- 
lage of Middlebury the view extends for many miles, and on a clear dav, 
and when the line of vision is not hindered by foliage, the town of \\niite 
Pigeon in Michigan may be clearly seen. This ridge is, no doubt, one 
of the great mitraines left from the glacial jieriod. To the south and 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 7 

soutliwest of this landscapic configuration nature seems to have mod- 
eled the county without a view to boldness, until one reaches the valley- 
made by the meandering Turkey creek. Here again the hills come out 
with a relief which is by no means lacking in beauty and natural charm 
and that enchantment so inseparable from distance of perspective. The 
eye of the artist and nature-lover would find many scenes within the 
borders of this county to refresh and stimulate the imagination, and 
it is not strange that a much-traveled and wide-experienced pioneer 
such as Ceil. John Jackson should have been attracted to this county, 
not alone for its fertility and adaptability as a permanent abode but 
also by the many natural beauties which the landscape possessed in his 
time not less than in our own. 

The topography of Elkhart county presents several natural divis- 
ions formed Ijy its larger water courses. Practically the entire county 
is the valley of the rapid-flowing St. Joseph river. But from the 
northeast corner to the southwest mav be discerned three distinct basins, 
two of them formed by tributaries of the St. Joseph and one by the 
Kankakee. The valley of the Little Elkhart seems as distinctly parti- 
tioned off from the rest of the county as though nature had intended it 
to l)e the abode of a different people. But civil boundaries and modern 
geography-makers disregard such seeming intents of nature, and civili- 
zation in its jirogress overrides and breaks down every barrier not only 
between such adjacent localities but also between most dissundered na- 
tions and races. Nevertheless, and notv^'ithstanding that the railroad 
has burrowed its way over and through the enclosing ridges, this beau- 
tiful and fertile region along the Little Elkhart retains its own individ- 
uality ill the to])ographic outlines of Elkhart county. The division of 
the count)' comprising the area drained by the Elkhart ri\-er and its 
])rincipal tributary. Turkey creek, is much more extensive, reaching 
from the ])roniinent ridge southeast of Bristol to the great Valparaiso 
moraine which we have alread)- described as forming the crest between 
the water sheds of the (ireat Lakes and the Mississippi. Then there is 
the \er_\- small (li\ision of the countv in the southwest corner whose 
waters are l)anished by decree of nature from ever flowing tO' the north 
and into the lakes and which must finally mingle with the Gulf stream. 

Besides the inviting agricultural regions which spread out before 
the early settlers, there were other ecpially attractive natural resources 
which only awaited the directing hand of ingenious man tOi become the 
motive power behind immense industries. The waters of Elkhart county 



8 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

form no inconspicuous feature in the de\'elopment and progress of the 
count\-. and tlieir influence and usefuhiess are adverted to elsewhere in 
this \'ohime. The largest stream in the county is the St. Joseph river, 
which enters from Michigan about six miles west of the northeast cor- 
ner of the county and flows, southwesterly, into St. Joseph county. Its 
principal tributaries are the Elkhart, Little Elkhart and Christiana 
rivers, and these with many other smaller streams and lakes water every 
part of the county's surface. The fall of the streams is such that hy- 
draulic power has been easy to obtain in many places, resulting in the 
building of mills and factories from the years of pioneer history to the 
present time. Turkey creek is a considerable stream, and, now that 
its channel has been straightened b}^ dredging, carries off the drainage 
of a large area in a current almost as rapid as a mill race. Historic 
through its surroundings and the advantages it has conferred, is Rock 
Run, the small but beautiful streamlet that joins the Elkhart west of 
Goshen. Rock Run afforded power for one of the earliest mills in the 
county, and along its banks are still located numerous industries. 

On account of the circumstances of their origin as well as their 
present condition, the lakes of Elkhart county are among the most inter- 
esting subjects that can be included in this brief nature study of the 
county. Their origin, flora, fauna, deposits, and the causes of their 
diminution are known to comparatively few. Yet some of them are 
of charming beauty and are fruitful subjects for study. Says an emi- 
nent authority : "The lakes of northern Indiana are the brightest gems 
in the corona of the state. They are the most beautiful and expressive 
features of the landscape in the region where they abound." Says State 
Geologist Blatchley, "The original 1x)ttom of these is composed of an 
impervious clay or mixture of clay and gravel, which is probably no- 
where less than one hundred feet in thickness." 

There is no evidence that these lakes were ever a part of the great 
lakes. When the ancient glaciers melted and retreated, many low basins 
were left which might have become lakes, but their bottoms were com- 
posed of sand, gravel or other porous material, and they would not 
hold tlie water. Alany a huge piece of glacier lay bedded in the clay, 
and when it melted the water remained where it was, and forms the 
lake of to-day. Other lakes were formed by the washing of the great 
streams as they poured down from the melting glaciers. These streams 
washed out channels in the clay and dammed themselves up therein, 
and have remained until the present time. After the drift material had 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 9 

lieen deposited and settled and the lake was formed, surface water from 
the surrounding- hills flowed down into the lake; and water from the 
subterranean veins, following the course of least resistance, broke 
through the clay l^ottom from below and fed the lake by springs, and 
in these two ways the loss of evaporation was counterveiled. 

A brief examination is all that is necessary to convince one that 
this description as to origin applies to the lakes of Elkhart county. With 
only one or two exceptions these lakes are "dead" lakes — that is, they 
are without natural outlet. In fact the difficulties which would be en- 
countered in draining some of these natural jMuds are insurmountable 
in consideration of the value derived from the operation. The waters, 
ages ago, were dammed in on all sides by ridges of earth, and. isolated 
there, have remained to the present age or long since have died through 
evaporation. For these lakes were born to die, and began to die as 
soon as born. The surface water from the surrounding hills, and the 
fountains from below, deposited in the lakes other material than water. 
Aquatic plants began to grow and decay on the bottom and fill the 
lake with muck, and this is the most important cause of the extinction 
of the moraine lakes. The muck beds are usually found on the south 
and west shores of the basins of the lakes. There the waters are least 
disturbed by wave action. Aluck also forms quickly in the bays and 
channels for the same reason. In the words of Dr. Dryer, in his studies 
in Indiana Geography, "The lakes are literally being filled with solidi- 
fied air; the great bulk of the solid material which composes the plants 
being absorbed from the gaseous ocean above, and consigned to the 
watery depths below." All green plants, whether aquatic or terrestrial, 
are continually absorbing carbon and building it into their own tissues. 
On this account many lakes in the county have already become extinct 
and are now merely beds of muck. .\nd as the water recedes more 
and more into the center. exi)osing the muck soil to be dried by the sun 
and wind, the enterprise of the agriculturist at once takes possession 
of the new land and ])lants corn and other crops on the bed of the 
former lake. 

The largest of these inland lakes are in Osolo township. Simonton 
lake is several miles north of Elkhart, is about a mile and a half long- 
from east to west, and half a mile wide. Nearby is the cultivated bed of 
what was once "Mud" lake, which has been drained. A ridge sepa- 
rates this lake bed from Cooley lake, which also is approaching extinc- 
tion. Heaton lake is another well known bodv of -water in this town- 



10 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

sliip. Xnrtheast of Goslien are several small lakes. Wolf lake beins; 
especially picturesque by reason of its mirror-like surface and dense sur- 
rounding foliage. In Harrison township, east of W'akarusa. is an ex- 
cellent example of a lake in the general features which have been de- 
scrilied. Here we see as it were a deep basin set in the ground to a 
depth of perliaps a hundred feet below the general surface; shut in on 
all sides, and draining only a limited area of countiy: without \isil)le 
outlet, covered in summer by rank aquatic growth, and, though by al- 
most imperceptible degrees, gradually disappearing into the soil and 
air. The bog and water have been penetrated to a depth of seventy- 
five feet, but the unstable muck in places seems without ascertainable 
depth. When the Wabash railroad was built through this part of the 
county the line had to be deflected to the south of the first survey be- 
cause no piling- let down into the quagmire could reach a firm b<ittnm 
and consequently no trestle be constructed of sufficient strength to up- 
hold a hea\y train. 

There are many cither phases of Mother Xature which might be 
studied with profit as they are found in Elkhart county; but the true 
lover of nature will find and observe them without the aid of this chap- 
ter, which is necessarily only suggestive and can by no means exhaust 
the great treasury of natural life which is all around the inhabitants 
of this county. Of never-failing interest are the mound springs about 
Wakarusa. In these the water huljbles up from the ground, and from 
the long-continued precipitation of bog iron about the opening has 
arisen a mound, from the top of which the water lias channeled a 
course. There are several springs of mineral water in \ari(.)us parts of 
the count)-. The State Geologic Report of iQor-oj speaks of the Lam- 
bert mineral well of saline-carbonated water in the south part of Elk- 
hart. The well was started some years ago in search of oil ov gas. At 
two hundred and ninet\- feet below the surface a strong vein of mineral 
water was found, which arose to within ten feet of the to]). This wa- 
ter is strongly impregnated with common salt and when pumped has 
a temperature of 54 degrees. It is very clear aiid s]>;irkles with car- 
bonic acid gas which it holds in solution. It is without odor and has a 
salty but not disagreeable taste. 

Hopes ha\-e ahvays been entertained that oil <ir gas might be found 
in this county, Init the discoveries up to date do not justify including 
gas and oil wells among the natural industries of the countv. In the 
vicinity of Wakarusa much prospecting has been done. In 1902 a 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 11 

bore was made to a depth of 1,200 feet, and a day or so after the drill- 
ing had ceased the hole was found to contain about thirty barrels of 
crude oil. Many bottles of this fluid were carried away by the citizens 
and several bottles may be found in the town to-day. The St. Joseph 
Valley Gas, Oil and Mining Company exploited the discoven', leasing 
about two thousand acres of land and issuing stock, but nothing has 
ever come uf the enterprise, and tlie chief evidence of the agitation may 
l3e fountl in the old derrick, a few b(.)ttles of oil and some worthless 
stock certificates. There may be oil and even gas in this county, Ijut 
it has not been demonstrated to be present in sufficient quantities to pay 
from a commercial standpoint. 

Sucn are some of the natural aspects of the region which we 
know as Elkhart county, one of the brightest stars in that galaxy of 
counties which constitute the state of Indiana. And in the main we can 
touch only upon those features which characterize the county (if to- 
day: the etchings that time and man ba\'e wniught upon this part of 
the world are reserved for nther chai)ters, and few indeed can realize 
what this county was, as. fifty years hence, few can picture what our 
surroundings are now. Change is the law of nature, Init the law of 
compensation is not less universal. The great forests which (_)ur fore- 
fathers knew have gone, but we ha^■e fertile fields in their stead: and 
when the lakes are gxine and the multiple other forms of nature are 
touched liy the transmuting hand of time and disappear or change en- 
tirely, there will be compensation in some form, though we cannot tell 
what. The streams will still seek their level, the prairies will still stretch 
away in undulations, beautiful groves will still dot the meadows, the 
birds will sing, the flowers will bloom, and " while the earth remaineth, 
seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, and summer and winter and day 
and nioiit shall not cease." 



12 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 



CHAPTER n. 
ORKilNAL LXHABITANTS. 

Lo! the big thunder canoe, that steadily lireasts the Missouri's 

Merciless current ! and yonder, afar on the prairies, the camp fires break, 

Gleam through the night ; and the cloud of dust in the grey of the day 

Marks not the buffalo's track, nor the Mandan's dexterous horse race ; 

It is a caravan, whitening the desert where dwell the Comanches ! 

Ha! how the breath of these Saxons and Celts, like the blast of the east wind. 

Drifts evermore to the west the scanty smokes of thy wigwams! 

— Longfellow. 

A history of Elkhart county slujukl certainly make .some reference 
to its former inhabitants. Oh, that the past might speak and that 
■\ve might reproduce the echoes of these forests and understand some- 
thing of the hopes, fears and life struggles of the people who preceded 
us! But after studying all the data at our command we feel that our 
knowledge is very incomplete. As another writer has said, "The lands 
which we now till, the country dotted over with our comfortable dwell- 
ings, the localities now occupied by our populous towns and villages 
were once the home of people of a different genius, with different dwell- 
ings, different arts, different 1 atrial customs and different ideas: but 
they were human Ijeings, and the manner in which our interest goes 
out to them, and the peculiar inexpressible feelings which come to our 
hearts as we look back over the vista of ages and study the few relics 
the}' ha\e left, are proof of the universal brotherhood of man and the 
universal fatherhood of God." 

The original possessors of iiorthern Indiana were the Pottawot- 
tomie and Miamis. The ascending smoke from the wigwam fires, the 
human \-oices by wood and stream, were theirs. For how many ages 
we know not, these people were the principal occupants of the country 
which is now Elkhart county. They were children of nature. The 
men were hunters, fishers, trappers and warriors. Their braves were 
trained to the chase and to the battle. The women cultivated the corn, 
tended the pappooses and prepared the food. 

And yet these jieople had attained to a degree of civilization. 
Thoug"h they wrote no histor}- and published no poems, there certainly 
were traditions among them, especially concerning the creation of the 



HISTORY' OF ELKHART COUNTY 13 

world. Though the)- erected no monuments, they had their dweUings, 
wigwams though they were. Their civihzation was not comphcated and 
yet they H\ed in viUages, graphic accounts of which have been given. 
They had their own proper htws, manners and customs. In place of 
roads the}- had trails, some of them noted ones. They communicated 
with each cither in writing liy means of rude hieroglyphics. They had 
no schools, hut their young were thoroughly trained and hardened to 
perform the duties expected of them. 

With the f nilians there were no uncles, all were fathers ; no aunts, 
all were mothers : no nephews and nieces, all were brothers and sis- 
ters. Every child was the son or daughter of the w-hole tribe, and the 
line of descent was reckonetl through the mother instead of through 
tlie father. This made the lines of descent all converge to and center 
in each daughter, and insured the integrity of the tribe to a remarkable 
degree. 

The Indians had not carried agriculture to a high degree of per- 
fection, but they turned up the sod and planted garden vegetables and 
corri, of which latter they raised n-iore than is generally supposed, 
though the wnmen did most of the farm w-ork. They were not given 
to commerce, but they bartered gxaods with settlers and took their furs 
to the trading posts where they exchanged them for the white man's 
]irodticts. Thev made their ow-n clothes, their canoes, their paddles, 
their bow^s and arrows, and other weapons of war, and w'ove bark bas- 
kets of sufficient fineness to hold shelled corn. They also' understood 
how- to make maple sugar. The}' used it to sweeten their craljapple 
and cranberry sauce. 

The Indians with whom the settlers of Elkhart county had to deal 
were not so savage as others. They had been influenced more or less 
by coming in contact with Christianity. Before the year 1763 the 
French had trading posts at Vincennes, and Indiana formed a part of 
what was called New France. The Jesuit fathers established missions 
among the Indians. E\-en befure the }ear 1749 those Jesttit mission- 
aries w-ere at work in Indiana, tlKJUgh there is not much certainty as 
to their labors at that early time. Father ]\Iarest is one of the first 
known as having worked in this field. Father Marquette is another. 
It is remarkable that the missions to the Indians w'ere the most suc- 
cessful among the Pottaw-ottomies, who occupied the region which is 
now known as northern Indiana. Their chief village, and the chief 
mission, was at Chitchakos. near the Tippecanoe river. They were con- 



14 HISTORY OI-' ELKHART COUNTY 

\erted, some say, before tlic middle of the se\enteeiith century. The 
Catholic ijriests jjenetrated alone e\-ery\vliere. preceding e\'en the traders, 
and anndunced tn the wild Indians the teachings of Christianity. In 
the spirit of self -sacrifice they shared in the toils and hardships of the 
ferocious savage and thereby gained his friendship. At first the efforts to 
convert the Indians were almost always at the expense of the lives of 
the priests. But when the Pottawottomies yielded to conviction, as 
was usually the case with Indians, they were very firm and devoted. 
\Vhen the priests left them and they remained for many years destitute 
of spiritual instructiiui. they taught each other and attempted to pre- 
serve the religious influences they had enjoyed. On (jne occasion a 
priest, who afterward liecame a bishop, met one of their chiefs, who 
entreated him to visit them, or at least pass through their woods ; for 
the very thought of "the man of prayer" having been through their 
country would, he said, be sufficient to remind them of their duties 
and make them better. E\-en those who remained in their heathenism 
retained for the black gown a reverence which is almost beyond descrip- 
tion. 

The Indians of Elkhart county had been subject not only to the 
influences of Catholicism but to those of Protestantism. .\s early as 
1817 a Protestant mission called the Carey Mission had been estab- 
lished at Niles, Michigan, the influence of which was felt over a wide 
region of country. But French Catholicism had a more powerful in- 
fluence than Protestantism over the Indians. One reason for this was 
diat the Protestants had not been at work as long as the Catholics. 
The beginning of their missionary efforts did not date back to the first 
half of the seventeenth century. And their labors did not cover so 
wide a territory, their ministers did not penetrate e\erywhere with a 
spirit of self-sacrifice, like the priests. But the inain reason for the 
more potent influence of the Catholics over the Indians is to be found 
in their ritual. The ritualism of the English Episcopal church at that 
time was at a low ebb, even if the Indians ever saw it. and the other 
churches were not ritualistic at all. The Catholic church, on the other 
hand, preserved her ritual in all its elaliorateness. It was a system of 
symlx)lic teaching: e\ery particular of it meant something. And to 
symbolic teaching the Indian mind is peculiarly susceptible. The In- 
dian thinks by means of the objects which are liefore him. He speaks 
liy the use of things. He is of a sensuous nature, incapable of abstract 
speculatic^n and interior thought. The ceremonies of the Roman Catho- 



HISTORY' OF ELKHART COUNTY 15 

lie cliurch are well adapted to occasion certain mental states in those 
who witness them, and the Indian mind in its simplicity was good 
gronnd for this. This was probahly the main reason why Catholicism 
exerted a more powerful influence than Protestantism over the Indians. 

In treating of the Indian history of Elkhart county in particular 
little of real moment is found save those ever interesting reminiscences 
lit the pioneers' relations with the red men of the furest. Of that per- 
ennial enigma of aboriginal American history — the mound builders, or 
however else may be designated that race of men whi), before the Indian 
of historic times, and of greater degree of culture and less barbaric than 
their successor, inhabited the Mississippi valley — little can be said as 
bearing directly upon the history of this county. In various portions 
i)f northern Indiana are found remains which would indicate a prehis- 
toric race, but in Elkhart county no mounds or other evidence of mound 
builders have been reported. Tlie stone spear points and arrow heads 
picked up from surface were as probably lost there by American In- 
dians during hunting or hostile excursions as by mound builders at an 
earlier period. 

But of the historic Indian^ some of the oldest residents of Elkhart 
county, when children, had knowledge and no doubt lived in mortal 
dread of them. Some can recall the more important of the Indian 
trails which, during the twenties and thirties, l>efore highways were 
opened, formed the easiest routes of communication from one part of 
the country to another. I'he best known of these was the old trail 
from Fort Wayne to St. Joseph, which ran across the bottom lands of 
the Elkhart river, skirting the eastern side of the prairie and passing 
through the present site of Goshen. It was along this route that the 
mail carrier made his occasional trips, so eag'erly anticipated by the 
hard-working settlers, and which were almost the only source of infor- 
mation they had concerning the notable occurrences of the outsitle world. 
On the edge of Elkhart pran^ie some of those living to-day can remem- 
ber the IncHan corn I'lelds which afifordefl the niugh sustenance to the 
red men, and within the past years many Indian relics are dug up in 
the plowing and during exca\-ations for buildings. 

ToO' often tlie views of the present generation concerning tiie 
"noble red man" are (obtained from the romantic and esthetic pen pic- 
tures of a Cooper or a Longfellow. But unhappily a true acquaintance 
with the actual life and character of tlie Indian not only quenches the 
ardent sympathy with an unfortunate race but makes us believe that 



16 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

the Indian was essentially and usually a sordid, shiftless, unimaginati\e. 
vulgar and brutish creature, living from hand to mouth, with no ambi- 
tions beyond a satisfaction of bestial desires, and with few of the moral 
virtues which civilized man observes. The Indians in this vicinity fre- 
quently came and camped around the settlers, begging corn and squashes 
and giving- venison in return. They were notorious thieves, and would 
steal anything that their hands touched, so a sharp watch was kept 
on their movements when they \\'ere in the neighborhood. 

The life of the Indians was monotonous, varied principally by 
their feasts and dancing and enlivened by the fire-water which the 
white man had introduced, among other marks of civilization. An 
early settler thus describes the first view he had of an Indian camp 
upon arriving at Boyd's landing in this county : "The Indians and 
squaws, with their pappooses, having had a plentifuly supply of whiskey, 
were dancing around the fires in high glee. It was toward evening 
and the snow was on the ground nearly two feet deep. I saw them 
scrape away the snow near the logs and Ijuild fires against them, and 
then, spreading down their blankets, they would sleep with their pap- 
pooses during the night." 

The Indian tribes were not permanently removed from northern 
Indiana for some years after the organization of the county, and as 
a consequence nearly every person who lived in the county during the 
thirties saw more or less of this wandering people. One interesting 
incident is related by Dr. W. H. Thomas, of Elkhart. It was in 1829 
that his father, Thomas Thomas, settled in a log cabin on Two Mile 
Plain. The family was composed of his mother and three small chil- 
dren. One day in the spring of 1830 Mr. Thomas had started for the 
grist mill at Carey's Mission, twenty-two miles away, and ]\Irs. Thomas 
was left alone with the children with no neighbors within a mile. While 
she was doing the morning work about the calsin. a big Pottawottomie 
Indian rode up to the door on his pony, and as he was a little the worse 
for wear owing to potions of fire water, he demanded admittance and 
wanted to ride his pony right into the caliin. Mrs. Thomas shut the 
door of the cabin in his face. The Indian then rode up and kicked the 
door open. Three times this was repeated. Finally the frightened 
W'Oman slipped out of the rear door and secured a large broad hoe 
that stood there. When the Indian for the fourth time kicked open 
the door the brave woman rushed out and struck him full in the face 
with the blade of the hoe. Stunned by the l>low the red skin rolled 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 17 

from his pony and lay upon tlie ground in an unconscious condition. 
W'ithin a sliort time a band ot Indians rode up to the cabin and Mrs. 
Thomas thought that she would surely be murdered, but the Indians 
took the matter as a joke and liegan to jibe the prostrate Indian for 
allowing a white-faced squaw to knock him down. They then rode 
away and never after molested the brave woman, who had displayed 
courage in the face of such odds. 

The horrors of Indian war, massacre and pillage were never visited 
upon Elkhart county. For that reason the early inhabitants had every 
cause to be grateful, and progress along all lines was never checked by 
Indian strife but went on naturally and substantially to the permanent 
welfare of the whole countv. \\'hat this freedom from early wars 
meant to the growth and prosperity of all this part of the state can 
be fully realized only in contrast with the conditions which prevailed 
in the founding of the colonies along the Atlantic coast or in the settle- 
ment of many parts of the far west. The hardships incidental to the 
clearing of the primeval forests and the making- of fertile fields where 
for centuries laefore had lain the prairies under the alternate bloom of 
summer and the sere of winter, were not the only obstacles confront- 
ing the American pioneer in many portions of this great country. In 
many regions, otherwise fertile and a very Eden for the agriculturist 
and enterprising business men, civilization has been retarded even to 
the late years of the past century because the Indians contested every 
step of advance made by the white man. 

To prove the disastrous ettects wrought upon the rapid settlement 
of a country through the presence of hostile Indians, we may cite the 
incidents of the Black Hawk, or, as it is also known, the Sac war, 
as far as they concerned the people ni this part of the state. The 
state of affairs Was well described in a paper read by Hon. Joseph H. 
Defrees at an old settlers' meeting many years ago. "In the spring 
of 1832 what is commonly called the ' Sac war ' took place. The inhabi- 
tants of the whole country were alarmed : in imagination the toma- 
hawk and scalping knife gleamed before us, red with gore; scouting 
parties were sent out in every direction ; people left their farms and 
homes ; !:'ome went hack to the ' settlements,' and others congregated 
at Niles. South Bend and Goshen, these being the jjrincijial villages 
in the country, h'orts were erected. Fort Beane, as it was called, in 
honor of Captain Henry Beane, stood out prominent to view on Elk- 
hart Prairie, on the land of Olix'er Crane, for some time after the war. 



18 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Colonel Jackson was dispatched to Indianapolis to solicit aid from 
the government, and the citizens generally manifested a conrage and 
bravery worthy of their sires. A few weeks, however, dissipated all 
fears: it was soon ascertained that mi hostile Indians had been nearer 
than one hundred miles west of the then \-illage of Chicago. The 
whole circumstance was that Black Hawk with a portion of his tribe 
and a few of the F(.)x Indians were in the habit annually of passing 
around the southern bend of Lake ^Michigan mi their way to Maiden, 
Canada, where presents were distributed to them by the British gov- 
ernment: and u])on their trip this spring they had some difficulty with 
a few pioneers in the territorv that now comprises the state of Iowa, 
the Indians having made their reprisals on the provisi(.ins of the settlers. 
Their march north, however, was soon checked by a few volunteers 
sent out Ijy the go\ernment of Illinoi,^. Notwithstanding that the 
Nortln\.'cstcni Pioneer was sending luit its weekly issue to the people 
in the country, and advising them not to be alarmed, and to those who 
contemplated removing here not to sta\' back or direct their ste]is else- 
where — still the 'Sac war' retarded, to a great degree, the improve- 
ment of and immigration into the country that year." So p(jtent a 
factor is fear and rumors of war in the settlement of a new country. 

A reminiscent story, C(.nicerned with the e\ents of the Black Hawk 
war, and which has already lieen read by many in this county, never- 
theless contains so many glimpses of pioneer life and custom and of 
familiar men who figured so ])rominentI\- in that earh' dav that it 
may most appropriately be repeated here and form a jiart of this per- 
manent record of Elkhart county. 

It was a warm July afternoon — so runs the narrative. From the 
door-yard of a country b.ouse. situated u])on a little eminence, where 
prairie and timber land intersect, could be seen the finely cultivated 
farms of perhaps twenty lords of the soil, while scattered over the Iiroad 
jilain before me could be seen the adioining projirietors, with laborers 
and teams, actively storing away the fruit of a summer's labor, \\-hile 
just to the left, nestling amid shrubs and trees, was a f|uiet, and from 
my point of obser\-ation, jiretty little \illage. An occasional flash of 
lightning and the muttering of distant thunder gave evidence of an 
approaching storm: just before me. looking out upon the beautiful 
scene, with memories of the past evidently flitting across his mind, sat 
an old gentleman, full of years and in the enjoyment of those high 
Cjualities of mind and soul that come from a well spent life. Intend- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 19 

iiii^ to obtain a recital of earlv incidents. I oliservecl : "You were here 
very earl}- in the histor}- of this locality were you not?" He replied: 
"Yes, before the county was organized or a single white settler was 
in 'all this region, I ^•isited this prairie for the first time. I was an 
early settler of Elkhart Prairie and lived near the river of that name, 
upon the farm now owned l]y Matthew Rippey and occupied by Mr. 
Graham, formerly a Methodist minister near here. One morning ver}' 
early — for we did not sleep late in those days ; muscle, pluck and patience 
were all \\ e had then out of which to make a lix'ing for those dependent 
on us — Colonel J. Jackson, my nearest neighbor, greatly excited and 
in haste, came to mv house, -\s he approached he cried out: "(iet yiiur 
gun and ;unmunition and provisions, and meet us at Goshen at eleven 
o'clock; the Indians are near Niles. murdering the whites, and they 
want our aid.' 1 wanted him to sto]i and gi\'e me more particulars, 
but he would n( it e\en pause for a moment ; replying that he must hurry 
and notify the neighbors, he passed out of view. It seemed to me 
the Colonel was unnecessarily alarmed, luit ciincluding to meet them 
at Goshen we set about getting ready. 

"While I half-soled my shoes for the trip my wife prepared some 
provisions and molded bullets to enable me to do service. \Vhile so 
engaged John Elsea. my nearest neighbor, came over and proposed 
to stay and look after botli families while T went. My shoes now 
being repaired, we got out my old knapsack, which had been in service 
in the border Indian wars, and with ammunition, provisions and my 
rifle I started on foot for Goshen. \\'e had no roads then. It was 
across the country or upon the Indian trails, just as you chose to go. 
Arriving at Goshen, the first man I met was Colonel Jackson. 'If you 
want any Indians killed, just bring them along noAv, Colonel.' was 
my salutation. \\'ith a hearty laugh and strong old-fashioned shake- 
hands, which made one feel better for it. the Colonel greeted me. By 
this time many had arrived, armed with shot-guns, mu.skets, rifles, a 
few old-fashioned horse-pistols, butcher-knives, etc.. readv to march 
out to the aid of the pioneers, who. like ourselves, had left the com- 
forts of ci\-ilization to hew out homes for their wives and little ones 
from the wilds of a new country. We met together, and then details 
of various reports were given. Colonel Jackson produced a letter which 
had been written to him from Niles and sent in haste by an express 
rider, asking him to call out the militia and come to their rescue, as 
the Indians were near them, coming from the west, murderins: the 



20 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

people. We concluded to send two messengers at once to Niles to get 
more specific information. They were to return the next day. We 
did so, and the town was full. Men, women and children had heard 
the reports and came flocking into town in every conceivable way — 
some crying, others swearing. To add to the confusion, it was said 
at the meeting that the Indians on and around this prairie were pre- 
paring for war ; that they were having war dances every night, and 
had bushels of bullets already molded. It was determined for safety 
to build a fort at Goshen, intcj which the women and children could be 
gathered, and a day ^^•as iixed for its commencement. 

"In the meantime the men sent Dut to Xiles returned with the 
information that it was a false alarm, that there were no hostile In- 
dians east of Chicago; but at that place they were perpetrating out- 
rages, and it was expected hostilities would open over the whole 
frontier. There were no contradictions, however, of the rumors of 
h<;stile demonstrations among- the Indians in what is now Kosciusko 
C(;iunty : sn it was determined to go on with the fort. I had made 
up my mind that the whole story was a fabrication, and determined 
to visit the Indians on this prairie, in jjerson, and ascertain the truth. 
1 was wholly unacquainted with the country. There were no r(jads, 
no settlers that I knew of. no white men with them of my knowledge, 
the reports were alarming in the extreme, yet 1 did not believe them. 
If they were true it was important to know the worst at once, and 
prepare to meet the enemy. If untrue it was important to allay the 
excitement an<l alarm so that people could again go quietly to their 
work. John Elsea promised to accompany me, Ijut he too was ignorant 
of the country, of the tribes we were about to \-isit. of their language, 
and what to us was more in.iportant than all, of their intentions. 
Whether we were to come upon these barbarians in their haunts, 
painted for the war dance, with murder in tlieir hearts, was to us a 
very serious question. 

"We determined, howexer, to go, and Iiidding farewell to those 
nearest and dearest to us, we crossed the ri\-er and started out alone 
into the wilderness. There was no road, no improvement, no human 
habitation between Elkhart river and the east side of Wig Turkey 
Creek Prairie. With nothing to guide us Init an Indian trail, which 
we finally came upon, we moved forward. As we apj^roached the 
prairie the trail became more and more lieaten, until at last we arrived 
in sight of an Indian village. It was located on what was for a lone 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 21 

time known as the Rosseau farm, subsequently owned by Charles Rip- 
pey; farther south was another village called Wautee Papoose. 
W'auljee was the chief of this tribe and lived at the village first men- 
tioned. We were a little way off when the savages first saw us ; they 
became greatly excited at our approach ; immediate confusion was the 
result. Hurriedly they commenced to assemble. Being satisfied I 
could pacify them if I was able to reach them before hostile demon- 
strations commenced, we l>otli ]nit spurs to our horses, and at full 
gallop dashed into their cam]), thus placing ijurselves in their power. 
The whole population, squaws, dogs and all, were in a tumult of 
excitement, and gathering around us demanded to know our business. 
We told them we were after seed corn to plant. The old chief Waubee 
informed us they had none; but we could get it at another village 
some six miles away to the southeast, and directed us on our trail. 
Spending an hour or two with the barbarians, looking for war paint, 
clubs and bullets, we took our deijartnre. 

■■Tra\'eling up another trail, \\e now came to a second village, 
where the town of Oswego now stands. Squabach was the head of 
this \il!age. The noble savages here formed a semi-circle, squatted 
down on their haunches and remained perplexingly silent for over an 
hour. Their toilet was not verv elaliorate. The young ladies n(.iw-a- 
(Ia}-s who go into ecstasies over the latest novel and think it so romantic 
and who faint at the sight of a rat would not lia\e followed theirs 
as the most becoming fashion. \\'e could neither please nor anger 
them. Perfectly motionless and expressionless, they sat for over an 
hour. Disgusted, we were about to depart, when the chief spoke to 
a little Indian, who suddenly darted off into the woods. We concluded 
to await the result of this movement. Presently an Inrlian came for- 
ward anfl in fair English gruftty said: '^^■hat you want here?' In- 
stanth' we spoke the magic word ' seed-corn," and then the duskv sa\'- 
ages all arose, talked and gave us a cordial welcome. Their squaws 
had ])een planting, and after an hour or two of loitering around their 
wigwams we departed. Everything ga\e e\idence of (|uiet. We 
camped near what is now Leesburg. ]\Ir. Elsea gut four logs to- 
gether in the shape of a foundation for a house, near where the old 
Metcalf Beck store-house stands, and formally made his claim to the 
land, intending next fall to move his family to that spot of mother 
earth. Before he returned others jumped his claim and became owners 
of the land. We went back to our homes, reported the Indians all 



22 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

peaceful, and this allayed tlie excitement. They settled at Goshen, 
however, to hnild a fort, got the finuKlation laid and disagreed as to 
its name, and so the work was aljandoned. Now all thusc \\ Im were then 
young men in the prime of manhoud. full of energy and activity, are 
either gathered to their fathers or are in the decline of life. The 
mothers of the daughters whc! nuw li\e in ease, and many of whom 
pride themselves on white hands and pretty feet, rather than clear 
heads and hra\e hearts, are now gone or hmken in health. W'e shall 
all pass awa}- S(jon t(j some other land. l)nt it is a happy thought that 
we have set a good example for our children. W'e lia\e laid the foun- 
dation of future prosperity strong and deep, and tlmse now in the 
prime of life need only to build upon it." 

Before the close of the thirties was witnessed the last exodus of 
the red men from the forests and prairies of northern Indiana which 
had so long been their home. In JS37 Colonel Pepper convened the 
Pottawottomie nation at Lake Ke-waw-nay for the purpose of remo\- 
mg them west of the Mississippi. In that fall a small party of about 
a hundred were conducted to their future home, and the regular emi- 
gration of the tribe, to tlie number nf .about a thousand, took place 
m the summer of 1838. under the command of ( ieneral Tipton and 
Colonel Pepper. 

As a former liistorian has said, it was a sad and mnurnful spectacle 
to witness these children of the forest slowly retiring from the home 
of their childhootl, that contained not only the gra\es of their revered 
ancestors, but also man)- endearing scenes to which their memories 
would ever recur as sniniy spots along their pathway through the 
wilderness. They felt that they were bidding farewell to the hills, val- 
leys and streams of their infancy; to the more exciting hunting grounds 
of their advanced youth, as well as the stern and Ijlondv battlefields 
where they had contended in their riper manhood. All these they 
were leaving behind them to be desecrated by the ])lowshare of the 
white man. As they cast mournful glances back toward these loved 
.scenes that were fading in the distance, tears fell upon the cheek of 
the downcast warrior, old men trembled, matrons wept, and sighs and 
half-suppressed sobs escaped from the motley groups as they passed 
along, some on horseback and others in wagons. Ever and again one 
of the party would break out of the train and flee back to their old 
encampments on Eel river and on the Tippecanoe, declaring death to 
be preferable to- banishment from their okl homes. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 23 

An enforced remo\"al (if n [leople from tlieir ancestral aljodes is 
always a pitiable spectacle, and the pages of history contain no sadder 
chapters than the descriptions of such a scene, as witness the expulsion 
of the happy Acadians and the events described in the mournful pages 
of " Evangeline." But generally the wise statesmanship of the times 
has justified '^ucli removals, and perhaps it is a part of human destiny 
that the weaker nation must give wa}- to the stronger in order that 
" the fittest may survi\e." I'ut ne\-ertlieless it canncit be too strongly 
insisted upun that there should be a rigorous self-searching as to 
motives in such matters, whether mi the part of the government or 
the incba-idual. 

Several years -itfter the removal of the Pottawottomies, the JMiamis, 
liaving ceded their lands to the United States, were also removed to 
their western homes under escort of United States tix)ops. Thus de- 
parted the last of the red men. the land they had once roamed over at 
will was free for the use and occupati<in of the white settlers, and 
though the dispossession of the Indian from his ancient home seems 
regrettable, yet it is justified by the wonderful civilization which now 
flourishes \\'here once the savage and the wild animal held complete 
sway. 



24 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 



CHAPTER HL 
EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

These were honored in iheir generations, and were the glory of the times. 

— Ecclcsiastiius. 

It would be indeed interesting- to know the time and the exact cir- 
cumstances of the coming of tiie first civiHzed man tO' the country about 
the confluence of the Elkhart and St. Joseph rivers. With such a record 
we could place a definite starting point for the history of Elkhart county. 
From what has preceded we know that for many centuries the American 
aborigines roamed at will over these prairies and through the wood- 
lands, but they left hardly a trace, much less an institution or enduring 
monument, of their lives and customs. ( )iily with the advent of the 
enterprising European has any social nr constitutional fabric worthy of 
the name been pieced together in the new world. 

It is a matter largely oi histurical conjecture that LaSalle or some 
of his followers, in their canoe voyages down the St. Joseph river, 
during the latter years of the seventeenth century, may have penetrated 
as far as the present county of Elkhart. During the years that followed, 
with the increase of intercourse between the French posts on the Missis- 
sippi and Canada, and with the missionary zeal of the Jesuit priests 
extending their proselytizing endeavors further and further among the 
Indian tribes east of the Mississippi, there, doubtless passed over this 
county many explorers, adventurers, soldiers, hunters, trappers, traders 
and missionaries, although it does not appear that this county lay in 
the direct route of travel during those days. But here again a mere 
more or less conjectural statement of the fact is all that the historian 
is permitted to make, for Elkhart count}- at the beginning of its actual 
settlement felt i-|o iiifluence frmu these ]ieo])le of the jiast and her subse- 
quent career was in nowise affected by their chance coming and going. 

But with the passing of French and then of English control and 
the establishment of Arnerican sovereignty over all this region north of 
the Ohio to the Canadian border, it was inevitable but that the westward 
tide of civilization should some day touch and overflow the beautiful 
country along the Elkhart and St. Joseph rivers. Before the dawn of 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 25 

the nineteenth century that restless throng of pioneers had penetrated 
and founded social communities in Ohio and Indiana, pushing before 
it the native sons of the forest and by force of treaty and purchase 
dispossessing them of their lands. But a number of years passed after 
the formation of Indiana Territory, and more years even after Indiana 
became a sovereign state, before a record of permanent settlement in 
Elkhart county can be set down with definite certainty. 

Not alone the Indians and wild animals left their beloved liaunts 
and fled before the approach of the white settlers. There come down 
to us in the history of Elkliart county, as also in the annals of nearly 
every similar community, several cases of "relapses" from civilization; 
in other words, instances of men, once integral parts of the social fabric, 
Avho, because of natural aversion to their fellow men, by reason of some 
great sorrow or the commission of crime, severed their connection with 
society and thenceforth chose to live apart from the vi-orld and to bury 
their existences and deeds in the depths of the wilderness. Of these 
restless wanderers, haunting the mid-shores between barbarism and civili- 
zation, there are several instances in Elkhart county. 

There was the old French trader Rosseau, who turned his spright- 
liness of character to rare account and made himself thoroughly at home 
in the wigwams of the red men. even as he did subsequently in the 
homes of the hospitable pioneers, and withal led a very romantic career. 
He is supposed to have settled on Elkhart prairie, to the southeast of 
Goshen, in the year 1815, and for many years both before and subse- 
c[uent to this date he traded with the Indians of the vicinity. His 
residence thus fixes one of the earliest dates in the history of the co■unt3^ 
He is the best known of the various French traders who had their abodes 
in this part of the country during the early years of the past century. 

Another early character was Joseph Noffsinger, the hermit sciuat- 
ler. who is said to have made his home at the junction of the Christiana 
and St. Joseph streams — now in the city of Elkhart — as early as 1821, 
but as soon as permanent settlement began to be made in this \icinitv, 
about 1828. he withdrew. Very little is known of him, as he seems 
to have avoided all social commingling either with the red men or the 
settlers. 

The Carey Mission, on the banks of the St. Joseph, near the present 
Niles. Michigan, was a social and religious center during the twenties 
whence emanated various colonizing streams into the various sections 
of the surrounding country. Isaac McCoy, a minister of the Baptist 



26 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

churcli, and one of the founders and principal workers at this mission, 
came from tlie east on his way to this mission, and in the spring of 1824 
crossed the St. Joseph at its junctiun with the Elkhart. To the stream 
flowing- down from the north into the larger river he gave the name 
of his wife, Christiana, which as the jjresent name of the little creek 
remains as a memorial of that de\'oted pioneer missionary and his fol- 
lowers. 

When we reach the ]jerio(] of permanent settlement, we may only 
for the first year or so deal witli indi\-iduals, after which the settling 
up of the county can be dealt with nnly by general statement as to com- 
munities and larger centers, b^or it seems that the tide of emigration 
which flowed into northern Indiana was not intermittent, nor did any 
appreciable time intervene 1>etween the first ripple of settlement upon the 
Elkhartian shores until the full current was running fresh and strong, 
with no lull or resurgent flow up to the present day. The counties of 
northern Indiana did not feel the impulse of migration and occupation 
until tlie late twenties, but in less than a <lecade thereafter social order 
and industrial enterprise were thoroughly established and the pioneer 
epoch was really over. 

b'rom the a\-ailable data concerning the earlv settlement. of Elkhart 
county it seems impossible to fix upon the first permanent settler with 
any degree of certainty. The year 1827 is the date most commonly 
assigned for the first settlers. Matthew Boyd was one of the first, if 
not the first settler on Elkhart prairie, and in 1828 he completed the 
erection of a log house at Elkhart Crossing. In the earh- davs Bovd 
ran a ferry across the Elkhart river at Benton. He was a red headed 
Irishman and \ery droll, and his characteristics made him a well known 
personage in the neighborhood. In the summer when the water was low- 
be was in the baliot of going a little way down the stream and felling a 
number of trees across the ri\-er, thereby causing a dam and the conse- 
quent raising of the water so that toll could be demanded from the 
unsuspecting traveler for the use of Boyd's ferrv. .Vnother comer in 
1827 was William Simpson, who took up liis abode near Boyd, and 
Elias Riggs made his home on the edge of the prairie somewhere near 
these two and in the same year. In the southwest corner of Pleasant 
Plain, near the present city of Elkhart, there settled in the fall of 1827 
Jesse Rush. On May 16. 1828. Mrs. Rush bore twin children, a son 
and a daughter, and it is claimed that these were the first white children 
born in Elkhart county. Isaiali Rush, the son, has for manv vears been 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 27 

a familiar tigure un the streets of Elkhart. There is at least one other 
claimant for the honor of being the first horn in this connty, and that 
is Air. John H. Viulette, who was born near Goshen, but not till Novem- 
ber, J 829. If the dales are correct as given, there can be no question 
as to the proper priority. 

Elias Carpenter settled upon Elkhart ]jrairie in i8j(j, ami the next 
year mo\ed into a log house located on the hill (_)\'erlooking Rock Run, 
and within a huntlred yards of the Noble Manufacturing Company's 
plant in (ioshen. Dr. C. C. Sparklin, of Goshen, says: "My father, 
Aztl Sparklin, settled on i'llkbart prairie in 1829, coming from Conners- 
ville. He was a Methodist nnnister and administered to the spiritual 
as well as the material wants of the early settlers. The house where we 
lived was built of logs and the location haiipened to be an excellent one, 
as the state road \vas afterwards constructed within a few rods of the 
house. The nearest neighbors were John Violette and Israel Hess. 
Banking in those days was done at I'ort \\'ayne, fifty miles awav, and 
three days were consumed in the trip." 

In the spring of 1829 there arri\ed. over the frozen roads. Colonel 
John Jackson, who purchased of Elias Riggs and William Simpson their 
claims on Elkhart prairie in Jackson township, and these two men then 
mox'ed across the line into what is now the southeast corner of Elkhart 
township, and became, in all probability, the first settlers in the township 
wdiere Goshen is now situated. Colonel Jackson had an interesting his- 
tory, and was acquainted with this county long before he became an 
actual settler. He played a valiant part in the war of 1812 under General 
Harrison. After the British and their Indian allies were driven from 
Fort Wayne, Colonel Jackson was a member of one of the detachments 
sent north in pursuit of the liafiled enemv, who sought refuge in some 
of the Miami and Pottawottomie villages along the northern border of 
this state. In September, 1812. the \illage of Obsbenobe was destroyed 
by fire at the command of the American ofiicers. This Indian town 
stood near the present site of Benton, a few miles to the southeast of 
Goshen. Colonel Jackson was attracted I)y the beauty and fertility of 
this section of the comity, and. when settlement was directed this wav 
he came to cast in his lot with the new country, where he became notably 
identified with Goshen and the entire history of the county. 

Among other early residents of Elkhart township would l>e found 
the names of Mrs. Susan Nickerson, l^etter known as Mrs. Wogoman, 
who was here in June, 1828; John B. Cripe. in March, 1829: Balser Hess 



28 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

and his brothers; \\'ilUam Felkner, Solomon Hockert, the Frier brothers, 
and many others. 

Among the first comers to Concord township one woukl name 
Isaac Compton, who with his brothers James and John settled here in 
1829; Dr. Havilah Beardsley, the "Father of Elkhart," William Dobson 
and Jesse Morgan, also settlers of 1829 on Pleasant Plain; and in the 
fall of the same year came Peter Tuley, Peter Diddy, Associate Judge 
I. jNIiddleton and Mr. Betteron, with the arrival of many others during 
the immediately following years. 

Immediately following Colonel Jackson's settlement in Jackson 
township came Mr. Thompson Weybright and Mr. Rippey, who located 
on the east side of the river. The next settlements were made on the 
"Barrens" in the northern part of the township, between the river and 
Turkey creek, among the names mentioned here being Mr. Steward. 
John Rohrer, David Rodibaugh. Jonathan Wyland. Benjamin Bennett. 
Daniel Studebaker, Allen Conley and Thomas Hall. 

Benton township was one of the first sections of the county toward 
which migration turned. Matthew Boyd, who arrived in 1828, has 
already been mentioned, and others that .should be mentioned were 
Martin Vance. Solomon Hockert, Peter Darr, Z. Butler, Mr. Hire, 
the Ott family, John Longacre. and the Juday family. 

^liddlebury township, which also felt the earl)- impulses of settle- 
ment, had among its pioneers Enoch Woodbridge and family, who came 
in iS^2. Solomon L. Hi.xon was another early comer. It is said that 
James P. White came to this county in 1830 and made settlement in 
Middlebury township. His daughter, I\Irs. Phebe Cornell, died in De- 
cember, 1904. 

In Cleveland township there are mentioned, as having come in 
about 1830, Francis Rork, John and Frank Bashford and Mr. Bogart, 
who located on the western side of the township, and Mr, Rork's house, 
which was kept for the accommodation of the public for some time, was 
the first erected in the township. In 1834 came Mr. Dibble, Mr. Smith, 
D. J. and R. B. Clark, Silas T. Matte )x, and thereafter the country 
rapidl}- settled up. 

In a graceful bend of the Elkhart, where the town of Bristol now 
stands, and near the mouth of the Little Elkhart river, in Washington 
townshi]!, in the year 1829, the Nickolson family, who we are told were 
the first to locate here, stopped to make their home. James Nickolson 
was the father of this family, and his sons were Samuel V., David T. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 29 

and George. About the same time came Peter Marmen and Aaron 
Brown, all of whom made pre-emptions and thus began the actual ^York 
of settlement; while, also in 1829, came Reuben Bronson and his brother- 
'in-law, James Cathcart. 

The dates of the arrival of the first settlers, and of the organiza- 
tion of the township of Baugo, and other items of its history are almost 
buried in obscurity. The old pioneers that effected the first settlement 
in the midst of hundreds of wild savages of this township have long 
since passed off the stage of action and been laid beneath the sod. Ac- 
cording to the most authentic evidence, William Mote was the first set- 
tler, the date of his coming being 1830. The next was John McNey, 
and then followed James Davis, John Barnes, Mr. Kellog, Jacob Rupel 
and William Richason. 

To Thomas Carick and father, and a person named Stutsman be- 
longs the honor of being the first settlers in Jefferson township. The 
former pre-empted the southwest quarter of section 21, but paid very 
little attention to farming, most of his time being spent in hunting and 
trapping-. James Wilson also settled about the same period, to be soon 
followed by James DeFreese, who was the first justice of the peace 
elected in the township. Other names that appear on the record of early 
comers, though perhaps not in consecutive order, are Joseph Gardner, 
William and Joseph Newell, William ]Martin. Elijah 'Adams, James 
Kane, John Neff, John Wilson, Ozias Stotts, R. C. Lake, Abner Blue, 
Joseph D. Knox, Israel Wolf and P. W. Boler. 

In that fertile agricultural township now known as Clinton there 
are named, as voters at the first election, in August, 1836, the following: 
Solomon Benner. William Pearman, William Carmien, Wilson McCon- 
nell. Enoch Bomber, Samuel Thomas, Jacob Baker, Isaac Biby, James 
Acton, Peter ^Nlont, Martin Biles, George Biles, William Denney, John 
Denney, George Zullinger and Colonel Denney. From this number 
there was no doubt one who might claim priority of settlement, but the 
record is not at hand. Elias Simpson, son of 'William Simpson, was 
the first white child ijorn m the township. 

In Harrison township the early date connected with its settlement 
is 1831, in which year Daniel B. Stutsman, one of the sturdiest samples 
of Elkhart county's pioneers, erected his log cabin, moved into it and 
commenced the work of clearing the virgin forest. His was the first 
white man's axe that was heard in the township, and for some time his' 
was the only effort at permanent settlement in the township. In 1833-34 



30 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

there came David ^'. Miller, Conrad Brumbaugh, James and William 
Stewart and Samuel Buchanan, followed in 1835 l)y James McDowell 
and Christian S. Farber. 

Osolu township received its first settlers in 1834, when Samuel" 
Simonton lucated on section 9. Abraham Heaton located on sectiiju 25, 
and Fhilip Mechling on section 26: and in 1833 James and Ezekiel 
Compton, Mrs. Long, a widciw, J(jhn Gardner and Mr. Nutting formed 
a settlement on Cliristiana creek. 

.\Ithough what are now Concord and Elkhart townships seem to 
ha\e recei\-e(l the luilk of early settlers, yet the county as a whole was 
([uite equahl}- settled and no on,e part seems to lia\e escajjed the home- 
finder for \erv long. Lnion townsh.ip. on the southern line of the 
county, Ijegan to be settled in 1834, in .\|)ril of which Daniel Bainter 
built tlie first cabin in the townshiji. Mr. Bainter also deserves mention 
as one of the first men to become acquainted with this county, for he 
passed through it with his father, on the wa}- to South Bend, in the 
year 1827. Some time after Mr. Bainter, John Walburn moved into 
the township. He drove a wagon from Ohio, and in order to get to his 
land had to cut a road for some distance. Thereafter the settlers came 
rapidly, and some of the first names to be encountered are Daniel Lan- 
ders, John Pippinger, Christ Louder, Mr. Sheline, Cotner Strycker. 

In 1833 \\'illiani Hunter is said to have located in the southern 
part (if York township, near the Little Elkhart ri\-er. In 1834 this 
aihenturous pioneer received considerable reinforcement in the persons 
of J. N. Brown. J. and William Cummins, William Hall, Friend Curtis, 
David Ebi, Hiram Chase, E. Bonney, John and Ruby VanFrank, Ed- 
ward Joyce and A. Arnold, all of whom settled on the Vistula road and 
became the nucleus for a rapidly expanding population. 

Olive town,ship honors the name of Jacob Sailor as its first settler, 
who came in the early part of 1834, and was soon followed by Cornelius 
Terwilliger, Frederick Morris, Samuel and Levi Martin and David 
Allen; and in a short time later came Daniel Mikel, who had been in 
the county since 1829. 

The annals of tne Morris family of Olive township, represented by 
Cornelius Morris, are filled with mteresting items concerning the earlv 
history of tliis township. Isaac Morris, a brother of Frederick, above 
mentioned, came to Elkhart county in 1835, settling in Baugo township 
as it is no\v lx)unded, but after a year moved down into what was then 
still kn(iwn as Baugo township, but which is now Olive townshi]). He 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 3i 

purcliased forty acres of land and entered one hundred and sixty from 
the government, this land being so located that it was situated in sec- 
tions 13. 14 and 2^. The conventional log cabin was the first Morris 
home. After the township of Olive was formally organized in 1839, 
the Morris brothers, with Messrs. Allen, Martin and Sailor, and tme 
other, held the first election for township offices. That primitive election 
is worth menti')ning. The ballot box into which the si.x x'oters cast 
their ballots was ;in (ild-fashioned blue porcelain sugar liowl, which is 
still treasured in the home of Cornelius Morris, and the latter"s mother 
held this queer ballot bn.x while the six citizens placed in it their votes. 
No mention is made of an attempt to stuff the Ijallot bo.x. and with such 
a fair custodian in charge it would not have been permitted. 

Locke township, the last one in chronological order, situated in the 
southwest cm-ner of the county, had as its first settler Samuel Lockwood, 
and from him the townsbii) was named. He came here in the fall of 
1836. from \'ermont, and ten days later Abner Hibray and John Pitts 
located in the neighborhood, and there was soon a fair-sized community 
of people working under pioneer conditions to make homes in the wil- 
derness. 

Mr. P. M. Henkel affords a clear exposition of a ver_\- important 
cause which made the western portion of the county tardy in settlement 
as compared to other sections. In the early forties, states Mr. Henkel, 
"much of the western portion of the county was still in the state of 
nature. Large bodies of land were held by non-residents with the hope 
That by the labors of the pioneers they would become valuable. That 
part of the county was then but sparsely inhabited. True, the Walburns, 
the Sheetses, the McCoys, the Pippengers and the L'lerys had penetrated 
the forest, built their cabins, felled the trees and opened the roads, to 1>e 
followed by others who should take up the work after them. For ihe 
time being they were willing to endure all the privations and hardships 
incident to pioneer life for the benefit of their successors. 

"Dr. E. \\'. H. Ellis, then auditor of the county, conceived the idea 
of compelling the non-resident landowners to contribute by the way 
of taxation to the building of roads and schoolhouses. For this pur- 
pose he induced the legislature to pass a law by which he could assess 
one and one-fourth cent on each acre of land for road purposes. The 
citizens had the privilege of working out the tax, while the non-residents 
had to pay in money. This money when collected was returned to the 
township from which it came, where it was applied to the purpose for 



32 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

which the tax was. raised. Tlie eiTect of this law was in induce the 
non-residents to dispose of their holdings and permit those lands to pass 
into the hands of actual -settlers." 

W'hile we are pursuing the subject of early settlement we may be 
permitted to repeat some reminiscences bearing upon this phase of the 
county's history. It is said, and there is much truth' in the assertion, 
that a trustworthy history cannot be written from tradition or the 
memory-reports of men concerning the events of the past. The best 
memory is none too trustworthy, of which fact no one would l>e more 
certain than a practical business man, who has learned that the only 
safe method of transacting' business is to record every detail in black 
and white. Then, there are various points of view from which an event 
may be observed, and while the judgment of each individual is unpreju- 
diced and true from his standpoint there is likely to be a confiiction 
as to matters of fact and detail among all who report the event. Thus, 
a history of any community, even though it go back but a few }ears 
in the past, may err in details, unless every point can be established by 
authentic and unbiased record. But \\here the records after all l>ut pre- 
sent the skeleton of history, it is a pleasure to turn to the memories 
of men w^ho have lived and experienced the scenes described, and from 
the tablets of reminiscence transcribe a few pages that will lighten 
still more the scene curtain of the past. At a meeting of the old settlers 
in 1879 there was a symposium of anecdotes • and memories of early 
days, and it will he worth our while to repeat the substance of some of 
those addresses. 

William P. ^Martin said he had been through this part of the 
state as early as 1822-23. liefore any sign of settlement was at Goshen, 
anil had camped on his se\eral trips on the spot where the Rowel! foun- 
dry was afterwards located. 

(George Nicholson stated that lie settled in Washington township, 
August 31. 1829, four months after the first settlement had been made 
there, on April 27, 1829, by Aaron Brown and three others. He had 
since been a resident of Washington township; was one of the \-oters 
in Concord township at the first election ever held in the county ; had to 
go with his grist to Ford's mill on the Dowagiac, and on his route 
bad tn lord the St. Joseph with an ox team, and be careful to select, 
in the winter, a time when the ice was not running. At the close of 
Air. Nicholson's remarks a call was made for all persons present who 
bad voted at the first election in the county to rise, whereupon Tnhn 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 33 

W. Violette, H. Stauffer, John Jackson. William Carmien, E. Carpenter 
and Mark B. Thompson rose ni). 

Col. John Jackson, another siiokesman, related his experience in 
the war of 1812. when his company followed the Indians t<j this county, 
crossing the Elkhart at I'cnton and jireparing to attack the village of 
the Pottawottomies there, but fcjund it deserted. When he first entered 
on the prairie he thought it the most beautiful country he liad e\'er seen, 
and resolved that when the war should close he would come and make 
it his home. He heard in 1827 that the Indians had sold their lands 
to the government, and with a neighbor came here to select a home. 
When he arrived he could hear nothing of the sale by the Indians, and 
went down to Beardsley's prairie to see if he could find other country 
as beautiful as Elkhart prairie, but was disappointed and came back. 
He had been told by one Rossean, a Erenchman, that a treaty of pur- 
chase had jjeen made with the Indians at Carey ]\Iission. He selected 
the .spot where he later had his home and returning to Ohio- brought 
back his family, driving three yoke of oxen. He crossed the Elkhart 
on the ice \\here Benton now is, and found that Mr. Riggs had settled 
on his chosen land; he bought the land of Riggs and the next spring 
went to farming. He had to go forty miles to^ mill, and the nearest 
blacksmith, shop was at White Pigeon. They used to have religious 
meetings at Riggs' house. Some one asked him to request of Riggs 
the use of his house, and he did so, and found Mrs. Riggs very much 
rejoiced.- she being a memlier of the church. They had meetings there 
often, prayer meetings. 

Another speaker at this meeting of 1879 was E. M. Chamberlain, 
who came to Indiana in 1832 and to Goshen in 1833. When he came 
to Goshen there were no bridges across Elkhart river, and he crossed it 
as a foot passenger on a sycamore tree which had fallen across the 
stream where a bridge .was later placed. There was a ford for teams 
a mile and a half northwest of town. 

Dr. Cornell, who came to the county in June, 1834, and who hafl 
got his education in schoolhouses with greased papers for windows, 
spoke of his holding the office of assessor in 1836, and presumed that the 
reason why the people had elected him to the office was that he had 
once seen a deer, had pursued it on horseback, and caught it after 
running six hours, which circumstances amply demonstrated his fleet- 
ness and persistency — qualities essential to the office. 

Mr. Elias Hess, one of the first settlers on Elkhart prairie, having 



34 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

located there on April 5, 1829, said he came from Ohio with an ox 
team, and was twenty-one days making the trip, having- to cut his own 
road most of the way. When he first entered upon Elkhart prairie he 
thought it, in size, a large farm. He had to use seven yoke of oxen to 
plow the prairie sod. The settlers had interesting experiences with their 
cattle when they strayed. The animals were always belled, and it was 
necessary to rise early in order to find them. They would wade the 
river and launch out into the woods, with ears attent to catch the 
tinklings, and as they pushetl on the crackling brush would call their 
attention to a deer, or a turkey would gobble, further on a wolf would 
howl, but it was often days before the lost cattle could be found. 

Another entertaining speaker was John W. Irwin, who said he 
came to the county May 5, 1832. He used to do his milling at McCon- 
nell's mill, on the east side of Goshen, and his grist of two bushels of 
grain was a whole day's grinding, ^^'ol\■es were plenty, and premiums 
were offered for their scalps. One man had a large trap made of logs, 
and set with triggers, and once when he w'ent to examine it he found 
something wrong, stepped into it. sprung the triggers by accident and 
caught himself, and would have perisheil had not some of his neighbors 
come to his relief. 

From these accounts we can gain some understanding of how this 
county began to take on the garli of civilization, and who were the 
men and what the circumstances which entered into the settlement of 
a county which in the subsequent three-quarters of a century has grown 
so great. 

In the settlement of Elkhart county there were happily very few 
retarding influences. The presence of the Indians, and the fears aroused 
in prospective settlers by the Black Hawk war and similar troubles, 
no doubt acted as a check for a short time, but the sweeping flood 
of migration was too strong to be held back long. It is very remark- 
able that this beautiful region of country should remain absolutely 
unsettled until the year 1828. and that settlers from different parts of 
the United States, without any preconcerted action or communication 
with each other, should begin to pour in just at this time; but so it was. 
Here different families for the 'first time met each other, and here 
their lives were first united in the same community, and in manv cases 
by marriage in the same home. 

Hardly any of those early settlers remain. On the long and weaiy 
march they ha\-e been dropping out one by one until, of the pioneer 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 35 

warfare, onlv a few veterans are left. It would be impossible in a 
work like this to trace the lite histor\- and describe the end of each of 
them, and for this there would not be sufficient space. But when we 
find chronicled in the year 1905 the deaths of such notable chara.cters 
as Anthony Defrees and Joel P. Hawks, who were among the very Ia,st 
of the living links which tie us to the past, this chapter seems an oppor- 
tune place for recalhng some events of their long careers. 

Joel P. Hawks, who passed away April 8, 1905, and who is referred 
to many times in the pages of this work (see his sketch), was born in 
1822, and since he was thirteen years old lived in and about Water- 
ford, where the family were prominent in business and industrial affairs, 
-SO that seventy \'ears of his life had Iieen passed going in and out among 
the ]3eople of this county. 

The life of Anthony Defrees, as portrayed in a sketch published in 
the Democrat at the time of his death, is of such peculiar interest to 
a!id connection with this history that we c|uote it entire : 

Anthony Defrees was born in Sparta, Tennessee, November 14, 
i8t6. His parents removed to Piqua, Ohio, when he was about four 
years old, and from tliere he came to South Bend in 1832. His brothers, 
John D. and Joseph H. Defrees, had settled there, and in 183 1 had 
establisi'.ed the first newspaper in northern Indiana, the Nortliiacstem 
Pioneer and St. Joseph InteUigcncer. j\Ir. Defrees became associated 
with his brothers as an assistant in the iniblication nf this paper, the 
name of which was afterward changed to the St. losepli, Beacon and 
Indiana and Micliigan Intelligencer. This newspaper aihenture du! 
not prove altogether satisfactory, and it was tlmught that the future 
prospects for the paper in the village of South Bend were not prom- 
ising, so the Defrees brothers began to look alx)ut for a better field. 
At first Chicago was considered, but the project of building up a newr- 
pa])er tliere was soon dismissed because it was supposed that what was 
then a mud hole would never become much of a business center, and 
there seemed to lie less prospect that it would ever become a residence 
city. White Pigeon, half way between Detroit and Chicago, had already 
l^ecome a prosperous town and seemed to give promise of great things 
for the future, particularly as it Avas the gateway through which passed 
all the immigrants who came to settle in northern Indiana and southern 
Michigan. John H. Barry, afterward governor of Michigan, made to 
John D. Defrees a proposition to start a paper there and the prop<^sition 
was accepted. 



30 HISTORY OF ELKHART COL'XTY 

John 1). and Anthony Uetrees removed Xn that place, and John D. 
estabhshed the Micliigciii Statcsiiuiii and St. Joseph Chromclc. Anthony 
assisted his brother in tlie pubhcation of this paper during the short 
time from December, 1833, to the following summer, when it was 
sold. Aleanwhile. in 1833. Joseph H. Defrees had removed to Goshen 
and engaged in the mercantile business. Goshen then consisted of 
about forty houses, most of them log cabins, and its population was 
about two hundred. In the fall of 1836 a proposition was made to 
the subject of this sketch to start a paper here, and he was offered the 
loan of sufficient money to purchase the necessary equipments. The 
proposition was accepted, and with the four hundred dollars raised for 
this purpose Mr. Defrees started for Cincinnati to purchase the outfit. 
He started out mounted on an Indian jiony. but when he had got as 
far as Wolf Lake in Aoble count}- the nuid was so deep that the pony 
gave out. and he was obliged to leave it and proceed on foot. He sent 
the pony back with the mail carrier, who was passing through on his 
way from Fort Wayne to (losben. ;nid started on with his valise on 
his shoulder, making his way in tlial style to Piqua, Ohio. At that 
place be met Charles L. ]\Iurray. then a young man and who was des- 
tined afterward to become prominently identified with the journalism of 
northern Indiana. A iiartnership was formed between the two, and 
together tiiey proceeded on to Cincinnati, traveling from Piqua to Da_\'- 
ton by stage and from Dayton to Cincinnati by canal. 

There they made their purchase, consisting of a Franklin press, 
the necessary type and other materials. 'This was transpijrted by canal 
as far as J3ayton. where it was transferred to a co\-ered wagon or 
schooner, as it was called in those days, and drawn by six horses. In 
this way it was brought to Goshen, where it arrived in January, 1837. 
The paper was established and named the Goshen Express, the first 
issue appearing January 2~. It was located in a one-room frame build- 
ing on the west side of Main street, between \\'ashington and the first 
alley north. The files of this paper, the first e\er published in Goshen, 
are now in the possession of J. .A. Beane of the Dcinocmt. 

Mr. Defrees was associated with the jiaper but four months, when 
the partnership between himself and Mr. Murray was dissolved, and he 
removed to Elkhart to engage in business with his brother James. After 
his brother. John D. Defrees. became editor of the Indianapolis Jmirnal, 
Anthony removed to that city to acce^it employment on the paper, and 
in that capacity he remained for a number of years. Lew ^^'allace, 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 37 

afterward thf renowned author of "Ben Hur," was connected with the 
paper at the same time, and the two became ver}- intimate friends. It 
is a somewhat pecuHar coincidence that although half a century has 
elapsed since they were thus associated General Wallace and JNIr. Defrees 
should pass away within a few weeks of each other. During his stay in 
Indianapolis ]\Ir. Defrees also became acquainted with Henry \\'ard 
Beecher, who was then pastor of a church in the capital city, and he 
occasionally met Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Trihiiiw and 
the foremost journalist of the United States. 

I-'rom Indianapolis Mr. Defrees removed to Terre Haute, where in 
18O4 he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Singer, who' survives 
him. In Terre Haute he was engaged in the milling and manufacturing- 
business, having a large flouring mill and also a stave factory. From 
that city in the early '70s he removed to Santiago, California, where 
he engaged in mining. In 1882 he returned to Goshen, conducting a 
grocery store for sixteen years. For the past six years he had lived 
a retired life. Besides his \\ife. JNIrs. Elizabeth Defrees, he is sur- 
vived b}- twd daughters, ]Mrs. R. F. Dale of Boone, Iowa, and Mrs. 
H. E. Bullerdick, of St. Louis, Missouri : two grandsons, Defrees Ar- 
nold and Frank Dale ; one brother, Rollin Defrees of Indianapolis ; 
three sisters, Mrs. James S. Frazer of Warsaw ; Mrs. J. S. Mather 
of Middlebury, and Mrs. Margaret Smith of Miami, Florida : and many 
other relatives. Two of his brothers, John D. and Joseph H. Defrees, 
already mentioned, were well known in northern Indiana for manv 
years. The former, Ijesides being prominentlv identified with Indiana 
journalism, was for a numl>er of years public printer af ^^'ashington. 
The latter was one of Goshen's leading merchants, was president of the 
City National Bank and served a term in Congress. His father also 
came to this county in 1836, locating in Jefferson township on what is 
generally known as the Stephen Miller farm, and was one of the thirteen 
voters who v(.ited at the second township election in 1837. 

The career of Mr. Defrees, as will be observed, was somewhat 
e\entful, and his long life was one of industry and usefulness. He 
was identified with man}' enterprises for advancing the interests of the 
several communities in which he lived. Coming here when Elkhart 
county was only a wilderness, his name is associated with our county's 
pioneers, and he will be remembered, too, as one of Northern Indiana's 
pioneer newspaper men. Although modest and unassuming in his 
character, he was recognized wherever he was known as a man of 



38 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

sterling" worth. He was a congenial companion, a good neighbor, a 
stanch and loyal friend. The period of his retirement, passed among 
his friends, amid congenial surroundings and with agreeable compan- 
ionship, was a fitting close of a life of activity such as his had been. 
Those who knew l^est will say that on this 7th of March of the year 
1905 there was borne to his rest one of Goshen's most exemplary 
citizens. 

The settlers of this county had many hardships, but had less to 
contend with than the settlers in most other sections of the country. 
Here, rich prairies covered with grass invited the plow of the husband- 
man, the groves furnished an abundance of timber for fencing, and 
large returns for labor were promised frnni the Aery first year of settle- 
ment. [Mills were soon built and other con\eniences came rapidly. 

We find here a reason why so large a proportion of our settlers 
became permanent residents. In other counties many families soon 
passed to regions further west. They A\ere a restless, adventuresome 
class that loved frontier life. They followed the Indians and the deer 
to the setting sun until the ocean stopped them. They filled a gap 
between savagery and civilization, and helped prepare for the perma- 
nent settler. But Elkhart county had compars^tively few of these. Here 
the conditions were dififerent. There was no such gap to be filled. The 
Indians were not so savage, and nature was not so \\ ild. In general the 
settlers were of excellent stock and of sterling character — just such 
stuff as states and empires are made of. And when we consider the firm 
integrity and- remarkable ability of our early settlers we cannot but feel 
hopeful and confident for the future, as well as pleased for the past and 
present of Elkhart county. 




ELKHART COUNTY COURT HOUSE 

BUILT IN GOSHEN 1870 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 39 



CHAPTER IV. 
ORGANIZATION. 

The heavens themselves, the planets, and this center. 
Observe degree, priority, and place, 
Insisture, course, proportion, season, form. 
Office, and custom, in all line of order. 

— Shakespe.\re. 

Before describing the process of organization of Elkhart county, it 
may assist in our comprehension of the place of this county in general 
history to present a resume of the larger political division of which 
Elkhart county forms a substantia] and integral though in extent com- 
paratively small part. \M:at is nov.- the state of Indiana is one of 
the older portions of our repulilic. For, while as a settled community, 
it has not the Itjng record of annals such as might be read concerning 
the original thirteen colonies that formeil the bulwark of our nation 
in its first stages of independence, yet the territory about the Wabash 
has long been a part of the "known world," and as such claimed by 
different nations in their struggle for new world empire. 

The present state of Indiana was once embraced in^ that vast but 
largely fictitious empire known as New France, discovered by the valiant 
La Salle and his associates and claimed by them for King of France. 
This intangible and unenforced authorit}' rested tipon the inland empire 
from the Alleghanies to the Mississippi from the early period of the 
closing years of the seventeenth century until the middle of the eigh- 
teenth. During the Seven Years" war, the American phase of which 
is more familiarly known to ns as the l-"reiich and Indian war, and 
which terminated in the memorable treaty of 1763, all the possessions 
of France in the new world, including Canada and the region between 
the Atlantic colonies and the ^lississippi, came under the flag' and sov- 
ereignty of England. 

For a1;out fifteen \ears subsequent to the peace of 1763, Indiana, 
as we now know it, continuetl under the crown of King George. Then 
came the American Revolution, and while its greater results were the 
freeing of the colonists from the domininu of the mother countrv, an- 
other notable result, often forgotten in the glorious brilliancv of the 



40 HISTORY (31' ELKHART COUNTY 

achievement of independence, was tlie acqnisition of the vast country 
so long known as the Northwest Territory. This region, of such 
imperial magnitude and to which has since been shifted the center of 
our republic's population and industry and commerce, was obtained by 
result of conquest, whereby American arms were clearly victorious, 
whereas we failed during the Rexolution in our attempts to conquer 
Canada. 

It was due to the brilliant campaigns and the military daring of 
the young Virginian, George Rogers Clark, that the Northwest Terri- 
tory was conquered. Setting out with a small force of men, under 
the auspices of the Virginia government, in i//i>. in a few months 
he had taken possession of most of the country north of the Ohio, east 
of the Mississippi and along the Illinois and ^^"abash rivers, including 
the famous post of Vincennes. and. moreover, he held this \-ast re- 
gion against all subsequent expeditions of the British, so that the area 
of his conquest remained in American possession until the close of the 
war and by the treaty of Paris, in 1783. was confirmed as a part of 
American sovereignty. 

By the famous Ordinance of 1787 Northwest Territorv was organ- 
ized, and there was provided a temporary go\-ernment directed by of- 
ficials appointed by Congress. Perhaps the most celebrated provision 
of the ordinance was the prohibition for all time of slaverv in the ter- 
ritory. It was also provided that six states should be formed from the 
Northwest Territory. 

May 7, 1800, Congress, upon petition, divided Northwest Terri- 
tory into two separate governments. Indiana territory l>eing composed 
of that region lying west of a line beginning opposite the mouth of 
Kentucky river and running to Fort Recovery, and thence extending 
due north to Canada, Indiana Territory, as then organized, included 
the county of Knox, upon the Wabash., from whicli has sprung the 
state of Indiana: from the other divisions, or counties, of the terri- 
tory, have been formed Illinois. ]\lichigan and part of ^^■isconsin. In- 
dian titles to the lands of the territory were gradually extinguished by 
treaty and purchase, and in a tew years most of the countrv was open 
to the onward advance of civilization. Michigan Territorv was in 
the meantime set off. and by 1808 Indiana Territory, having five thou- 
sand free white males, assumed the second grade of territorial govern- 
ment, and in February. 1809, Congress restricted its limits and pro- 
vided for a territorial legislature. Thenceforth the limits of the terri- 



HISTORY Ol'" ELKHART COUXTY 41 

tory were practically those of the present state. In 1816 it was ascer- 
tained that Indiana Territory possessed a population entitling it to inde- 
pendent statehood, and Congress therefore authorized the election of 
a convention to form a state constitution, and on April 19, 1S16, the 
forty-first anniversary of the hattle of Lexington, Indiana was formalh- 
admitted into the L'nion of States. 

It may not he uninteresting at this point to consider hriefly a point 
of histor\- with which no doubt very few inhabitants of Elkhart county 
are familiar, and most of the events connected with which occurred 
before Elkhart county was a political entit}'. But had government poli- 
cies taken a little different turn, Elkhart county might have been 
diminished in territorial extent nearly one-half and the northern bound- 
ary might to-day be running onh' a short distance north of the city 
of Goshen. In the early thirties the questions brought up b}' reason 
of this bcjundarv \evy nearly precipitated a ci\'il war and attracted na- 
tional attention. 

If anyone will take a map covering the area of Indiana. Ohio and 
?\Iichigan, he will see that the northern boundary of Ohio is not on 
a line with the northern boundary of Indiana. The northwest corner 
of Ohio does not join the corner of Indiana, but is further down and 
runs a little upward, or north of east. In answering the question why 
this boundary is so. there is involved the history of three different 
boundary lines which ha\e had intimately to do with the area of Elk- . 
hart county. 

In the Ordinance of 1787 above referred to there occurs the fol- 
lowing sentence: "If Congress shall find it hereafter expedient, they 
shall have authority to form one or two states in that part id' said ter- 
ritory which lies north of an east and west line drawn through the 
southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan." This is known as 
the ordinance or old Indian boundary line, and by reference to^ a maj) 
it would be seen to run, acciirding to the intent of the ordinance, ten 
miles south of the present northern boundary of Indiana. 

By the act of Congress, May 7, 1800, the north line which sepa- 
rated Indiana Territory from Northwest Territory divided the Michi- 
gan country into two parts, and the eastern part, known as Wayne 
county, was supposedly to be henceforth identified with tlie fortunes 
of Ohio. In a short time the population of Ohio had so increased that 
statehood was in sight, and in the enabling act for the establishment 
of a state government passed by Congress in April, 1802, the old ordi- 



i2 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

nance line running due east and west "through to the southerly extreme 
of Lake Michigan" was specified as Ohio's northern boundary. 

Wayne county was thus left out in the cold and was attached 
to Indiana Territory. In 1803 Governor Harrison formed a new 
Wayne county which comprised almost all of what is now ]Michigan. 
North and east it was bounded by Canada, but on the other sides it 
was bounded by a "north and south line through the western extreme 
of Lake Michigan" and "an east and w^est line through the southern 
extreme of the same." In Jantrary, 1805, Wayne county was formed 
into Michigan Territory, with boundaries the same except that on the 
west the line extended through the center of Lake Michigan. 

In the meantime the people's knowledge of geography had in- 
creased sxj that the citizens of Ohio and Indiana well understood that 
the northern boundary as laid out on the ordinance line would cut off 
a larg^e and valuable slice of territory from their respective common- 
wealths. Agitation was increasing and the attention of the authorities 
at Washington was being drawn out to this controv'ersy on the frontier 
wilds. Finally, yielding to the urgency of the Oliioans, the president 
ordered a survey, which was made in 1816. However, the line was 
run, not according to the president's direction but according to the pro- 
viso of the Ohio state constitution, from the southern extreme of Lake 
Michigan to the northernmost cape of Maumee bay. This is known 
as the Harris line, and its north of easterly course marks the present 
northern boundar_\- of Ohio, thus accounting for the irregularity men- 
tioned above. 

But now comes the third northern boundary line. \Mien Congress 
admitted Indiana as a state it fixed the northern boundary by a line 
drawn due east and west "ten miles north of the southern extreme of 
Lake Michigan." ^Michigan Avas thus deprived of a strip ten miles 
wide and a hundred miles long, an area which very materially affected 
the size as also the political history of the northern fringe of counties 
in Indiana. 

As far as Indiana was concerned tlie question of boundarv was 
the occasion of \-ery little furtlier anxiet}-. and by cnngressional act the 
northern line of the state was accurately and authoritativelv surveyed 
in 1827, the \-ery year in which Elkhart county was occupied bv its 
first settlers. But between the territory of Michigan and the state 
I'.f Ohio in particular raid of Indiana incidentalh- there was waged a 
bitter contest, which at one time rose to a situation of armed camps 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 43 

and actual warfare. The Harris line cut off from Michigan a very 
valuable and thickly populated piece of country, and the people of tlie 
territory by no means readily acquiesced in its cession to Ohio. The 
final settlement cannot be described in these pages, but an account of 
it is full of national interest and involves many serious problems of 
national politics during the thirties and forties. In fact the boundary 
dispute delayed the admission of Michigan into the Union, the act for 
its admission not teing approved until 1836, and even for some years 
thereafter the Michigan statesmen did not allow tlie matter to entirely 
rest. 

During the dispute Indiana had no occasion to act save through 
her representatives at \A''ashington. Her northern boundary had been 
fixed satisfactorily to herself, and she rested in the authority of the 
national government. She naturally sympathized with Ohio, and the 
matter was discussed more or less by her public men ; but that was 
all. ^^'hatever struggles might have been had afterward, the main 
dispute which actually existed was between Michigan and Ohio, and 
wholly with regard to the tract east of Indiana. The ten mile strip 
which had been given to Indiana was another matter, it was bounded 
by a different line from the Harris line. The matter was no^ doubt 
discussed in Elkhart county, and a certain interest was taken in it 
here; for the citizens were intelligent people. Their influence was 
exerted through those who represented them in the state legislature 
and in Congress. But the scene of action was too remote for it to 
cause any great excitement here. The county was more interested in 
her own development than in anything else, even politics were lost 
sight of in tlie united efforts of all parties to develop the resources of 
the county, her northern boundary had been fixed by Congress, and 
she rested secure in her organization. 

Thus far we have mentioned the county and townships of Elkhart 
as though they already existed at the earliest day: but they did not. 
They were only in possibility, not in fact; only in potentiality, not vet 
in actuality. During the late twenties many settlers had come, but 
they were a law unto themselves. And well was it that they possessed 
the Anglo-Saxon genius for law and order and the "enjoyment of mine 
without injury to thine;" otherwise there would have been anarchy. 
But though the early settlers were in a sense without law they were 
not against law, and at the proper time steps were taken toward county 
organization. 



44 HISTORY OF ELKHART COL'XTY 

Among the constantly manifested traits of the American pioneers 
in iheir pushing out into new and undeveloped countries, always re- 
mained the sense of social order, and with the building of primitive 
homes m the wilderness and the clearing of the forests there were 
always present the jjrinciples of common law and free political insti- 
tutinns. Therefore hardly had the settlers established their primitive 
hiinies -.vithin the confines of Elkhart county when the forces of order 
caused the people to effect legal organizatiim. 

Tlie iirominent men among the early settlers were in touch with 
the state ruulmrities. and in due time the legislature was api)rised of 
the existence (.)n the northern border of a comnninity desiring political 
<.rganizatii)n. Accordingly in the legislative session of 1829-30 an act 
was passed and was approved in January, 1830, incorporating the 
ciiunty of Elkhart. The following limits were prescribed by the act: 
■'The district of countr}' within the following boundaries shall form 
and constitute the county of Elkhart, to wit: Beginning on the north 
line of. the state, \\here the center line of range 4 strikes the same, 
thence east to the line dividing ranges 7 and 8, thence south to the 
line dividing townships 34 and 35 ncarth. and thence west to the central 
section line of range 4 east, thence north to the place of beginning." 

These are the limits of the county as the}- exist to-day. This county 
has not. in fact, experienced the usual mutations of boundary and ter- 
ritorial extension that have been true of many other counties, and in 
its general dimensions as in its township di\isions it has remained 
unchanged for over half a century. During the twenties .\llen county 
comprised the territory from which were later created the counties of 
Elkhart. Noble and LaGrangc. St. Joseph county was organized at 
the same time with Elkhart, and to them were attached, for county 
purposes, tlie region since divided into Lake. Porter, LaPorte. La- 
(Irange. Steuben and Kosciusko counties. 

By the act of legislature organizing the county a writ of election 
was also issued, md during the spring of 1830 the citizen voters of 
Elkliart coiun}- chose three justices of the peace to administer the affairs 
of the county. It is necessary to explain that during the first months 
of the county's existence the civil administrative powers were vested in 
a lioard of justices. This board was abolished bv legislative act on 
January 19, 183 1, and at the same time the board of commissioners was 
l:rought into existence. 

With the election of the l>oard of justices the countv became a 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 45 

civic community. In the office of the county auditor is an old record 
book, much smaller than the ordinary ponderous tomes used for record- 
mg official matters; its pages bear the stain marks of age, and as one 
turns over the leaves he can but feel a becoming reverence for the 
writers who liave long since passed from the stage of action. The 
chii'ographv in this book is by no means its least interesting" feature, fur 
although it is marked with the quaint and curious flourishes df the 
time its labored characters show the earnestness antl honest worth of 
the pioneer men upon whom devolved the direction of the county's 
affairs, h'rom the records in this liuok can be traced a fairl)- consecutive 
historv of the work oi organization of Elkhart count}' and of many 
other events which should form part of the annals of the county. 

Under date of June 28, 1830, the following record is of interest : 
"The board of justices for the county nf Elkhart met at the h<_iuse of 
Chester Sage in said county, the jjlace appointed Ijy law for tloing 
county business." This first county seat was located in the present city 
of Elkhart, on the bank of the St. Joseph river, just where the iMain 
street bridge crosses the stream. Thus it appears that Elkhart city 
has the honor of being the first C(iunty seat, and indeed at the time 
unfler consideration Goshen had not yet come into existence. 

One of the first acts of the Ixiard of justices was the division of the 
county into two townships, and the following record will show how 
that was done: "Concord township shall include all that part of the 
county northwest of a line beginning at tb.e western boundary of the 
county between townships 36 and ^j and running thence east to the line 
between 6 and 7, thence north to the state line, and all that part of the 
county southeast shall be included in Elkhart township." From this it 
would appear that Concord township included what are now Cleveland, 
Baugo, Osolo, Concord, Washington and Jefferson townships. Thus 
instead 01 drawing the dividing line straight across the countv lietween 
townships 36 and ^J, a block of almost two townships, now called Alid- 
dlebury and York, was set upon Elkhart townshi]). which made tlie area 
of the latter division much larger than Concord township. Did we not 
have the actual records of the board ])efore us, as above cjuoted. this 
division would seem almost inexplicable when taken in connection with 
subsequent township divisions. At the same time this boundary line 
explains the word "sontheast" employed in the above record, and with- 
out doubt marks the two original townships as the justices intended 
they should be. However, on the organization of Middlebury township, 



46 H] STORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

noted lielow, the phraseology used is, "Ordered tliat aU that part of 
Concord township in ranges 6 and 7 be set apart and known by the 
name of Middlebin\\- township." But range 7 was ne\'er constituted, 
so far as we have record, a part of Concord township, so that a dis- 
ci epancy at once arises between the records and the resuhant facts. 
1 he explanation which suggests itself most readily is that the clerk 
omitted the phrase "and of Elkhart township" directly after "Concord 
iMwnship" in the alx)\-c sentence; or that, in a day when the written 
wiird was onl}- a poor symbol for pioneer logic and deed, "in ranges 
6 and 7" was meant to be construed as including all that part of the 
county l}'ing north of the line between townships 36 and ^y and in 
Elkhart county. At the best, it is a mere interesting liit of ancient 
history in this county. 

In Elkhart township was included not only all the rest of the 
county as at present constituted but, for voting and other purposes, 
LaGrange, Xoble and Steulien counties on the east, and Kosciusko 
ci:iunt}- <:)n the south. 

It may be well at this point briefly to show how the present town- 
ships were carved from the original two. The first important change 
w.is made at the session of the lioard of justices on July 13, 1830, when 
ail the terrilnry east of Elkhart count^■ proper was f(irmed into a separate 
township and given the unwieldy Indian name Mong-go-ciua-nong, and 
so remained until the counties of X'oble, LaGrange and Steuben were 
erected therefrom. 

Jackson township was the first township to be erected with limits 
as they are to-day. This is a full congressional township and as such 
is designated township 35 north, range 6 east. This organization for 
civil purposes was effected in Xo\ember. 1833, and Colonel John Jack- 
son was chosen the first justice of the peace. 

In May, 1833, the commissioners made the following order : "That 
all the territory lying south of Elkhart county and attached thereto be 
designated and set apart and known by the name of Turkey Creek town- 
ship." Thus the old Elkhart township was again limited in extent, and 
a short time afterward Turkey Creek township became Kosciusko county, 
with which the history of this county has no more to do. 

Another division was effected by the board in March, 1834, when 
Middlebury township was set apart from all that part of Concord town- 
ship lying in ranges 6 and 7. The new division thus comprised that 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 47 

block of country now known as Middlelvur}-, York, Jefferson and Wash- 
ington townships. 

In January, 1835, Concwrd townsliip suffered another large diminu- 
tion of her original bounds. At that time all that portion of the county 
lying between the Michigan line on the north and the St. Joseph river on 
the south, St. Joseph count)- on the west, and range six (the western 
limit of Middlebury as above hxed ) on the east, was organized as an 
independent township, and was duh- named Clex-eland. 

Middlebury township as first constituted soon became too populous 
to remain as a single township, and on Alay 5. 1833, the commissioners 
ordered that all that portion of the township lying in range 6 be consti- 
tuted a township and named ^^'ashington. It was not long until this 
new division was also divided. 

In the progress of organization we now revert to the southern part 
of the county, where Elkhart township becomes divested of a large and 
fertile district. On November 2, 1835, tlie commissioners ordered that 
all the country in congressional township 35, in range 7, be known by 
the name of Benton township, and by this act the extreme southeastern 
corner was set off and designated as it is to-day. 

The county now rapidly assumed the Ixjundaries with which we 
are familiar at the present time. In the commissioners' record of March, 
1836, appears the following : " Ordered that all that part of Elkhart 
county west of range 5 east and south of the Elkhart river be set apart 
and known by the name of Baugo township." It therefore comprised 
that strip of country, three miles wide, on the western edge of the county, 
where now are seen three townships, and during the first years the frac- 
tions of the townships now in St. Joseph county were attached to Baugo 
township. 

At the same session of the commissioners, in March. 1836. an order 
was entered forming township 37 north, range 5 east, into Jefferson 
township. This division, created from the original Washington town- 
ship, is a full congressional township, except the triangular piece of 
section 31 cut off' bv the Elkhart river, and which. b\- order of the board, 
became a part of Concord township. 

The board met again in May, 1836. and directed that " a portion of 
Elkhart township in range 7 be set apart and be known by the name of 
Clinton." Elkhart township was by this restricted in size to three con- 
gressional townships, and at the September meeting in 1836, township 
36 north and range 5 east was constituted into Harrison township. 



48 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

In JaniKiry, 1837. the original township of Cleveland was divided, 
and township 38 north and range 5 east, south of the state line, was 
set apart and named Osolo township. 

In JNIarch. 1837, Union township came into legal existence by order 
of the commissioners. And on the same date and in direct consequence 
Elkhart township was reduced to its present limits, being, technically, 
tow-nship 36 north, range 6 east. 

Y^ork township came into existence at the same time with Union. 
This is the fractional township 38 north, range 7 east, originally a part 
of Middlebury, which, as one of the oldest and most extensive townships, 
on this tlate took on the limits by which it is sfill known. 

Two more tow'nships remained to be formed. Under date of No- 
vember 5, 1839, the commissioners directed that " fractional township 
36 north, range 4 east, be set ofT from Baugo township, it now Ijeing a 
part thereof." and named Olive. According to a former history, this 
township formerly comprised thirty-six sections, but about 1840 the 
western half was detached and given to St. Joseph county. There is 
no authority for this statement in the county records, as the alwve quo- 
tation therefrom shows. 

Locke township, the little division in the extreme southwest corner 
of the county, was the last to be formed, and it had a somewhat varied 
experience before organization. It is said that in the early days its 
citizens, si3 far at least as election purposes were concerned, had tc.i go 
into Harrison township to vote; they next voted in L-nion township, and 
then in Olive, and finally, in June, 1841, they were set off to themseh'es, 
the record being as follows : " Ordered that the congressional township 
No. T,^ north of range 4 east, in the county of Elkhart, and state of 
Indiana, and the same is hereby set off as a civil township to itself for 
the purposes of transacting" township business for said township: and it 
is further ordered that said township be known by the name of Locke: 
and it is further ordered that an election be held in said tow-nship on 
Saturday, the 24th day of July, 1841, for the purpose of electing a 
justice of the peace." 

Such is a brief account of the evolution of Elkhart countv from 
an unorganized region into its present shape and its present order and 
arrangement of to-wnships. With a county maji before one the pre- 
ceding description of the formation of townships would not be entirely 
prosaic reading, especially to one interested in the annals of bis countv. 
Now, however, we may turn to some other matters relating to the 
countv in its organized form. 




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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 49 



CHAPTER V. 
THE COUNTY SEAT. 

A HISTORY OF ITS LOCATION AND RELOCATION : BY H. S. K. BARTHOLOMEW. 

" For justice 
All place a temple, and all season, summer." 

— BULVVER. 

The history of the county seat of Elkliart county has its beginnings 
even before the organization of the county government. The legislature 
of 1829-30 enacted a law, which was approved January 29, 1830, and 
which Vv'as entitled .An .\.ct fnr the P'ormation of the Counties of Elkhart 
and St. Joseph. This law prn\-:ded for the appointment of five commis- 
sioners, who were to examine sites and select a seat ni justice for the 
county. The commissioners selected, and who were named in this act, 
were William G. Ewing and Hugh Hanna, of Allen county; Samuel 
Fleming and John Bisho]), of Wayne county: and John Bennett, of 
Delaware county. The}' were instructed to meet at the house of Chester 
Sage, whose location was not designated further than that it was within 
the bounds of the county, on the fourth Monday in May, 1830, and 
proceed to the discharge of their duties. 

In accordance with the provisions of this act the commissioners met 
Alay 24, 1830, at the residence of Chester Sage and began the work 
which the legislature had assigned to them. Two days later they met 
at the same place and reported thai the}' had e.xamined a numljer of 
sites and had selected the southwest quarter of section 24 in townshij) ^y 
north of range five east, as the site of the proposed county seat. This 
tract of land is in the present township of Concord, about a mile west of 
the line between Concord and Jeft'erson township, just a short distance 
north of ihe Elkhart ri\-er, :md almost directly across the river from 
die present county as\duni. The commissioners also reported that the 
land which they had selected was attached to the district of lands held 
for sale at the Fort \\ ayne land office and had not been previously offered 
for sale by tlie United States government. .\t that time there was no 
organized countv government and no authorities to whom these com- 



50 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

missioners could suljniit llieir report. They therefore adjourned May 
26 to meet agani on July 12, following. 

The same act which authorized the formation of the county pro- 
vided for holding an election of county officers and for electing three 
justices of the peace, who should organize themselves into a hoard and 
ha\-e charge of the county business. Accordingly an election was held, 
but at what date 1 have not been able to ascertain. The three justices 
elected at that time were James blather. Arminius C. Penwell and John 
Jackson. By another provision of the act above referred to, the house 
of Chester Sage was designated as the place for the meeting of the 
board of justices after their election. The board met for the first time 
June 28, 1830, and after transacting such business as came before it 
adjourned to meet m special session July 13. At that time the com- 
missioners above named formally presented their report of the selection 
of a site for a county seat. The report was received by the board and 
placed on record. What the cities of Goshen and Elkhart would have 
been had the county seat remained at the place first selected — for it is 
almost midway between the two — must be left to the speculation of 
those individuals who enjoy wrestling with that kind of problems. 

But that spot was not to be the real county seat, whatever ma\- 
have been the desires and expectations of the inhabitants of that early 
day. The legislature of 1830-1 passed an act pro\-iding for the reloca- 
tion of the county seat. The act was appro\'e(l February 10. 183 1. .\n- 
other set of commissioners was named, who were to examine the site 
which had been previously selected and also such other sites as might 
be considered eligible for this purpose, and decide whether or not tb.e 
public interest demanded a relocation. The commissioners selected at 
this time were L. G. Thompson and Attorney L. Davis, of Allen county ; 
Hiram Todd and Walter Wilson, of Cass county; and David Miller, of 
St. Joseph county. The place designated for them to meet and from 
which to proceed to the performance of the duties devolving upon them 
was at the mouth of the Elkhart river, and the time set for their meeting 
was the third Monday in March, 1831. The record of the board of 
justices shows that Anthony L. Davis, I.. G. Thompson and David Miller, 
a quorum of these commissioners, met on the day designated and pro- 
ceeded witli their work. On the 26th of AJay they submitted their report 
to the board. The report recites that they examined the se\'eral sites 
under consideration, including the one previously selected, and recom- 
niended that it be vacated and the countv seat relocated. The new loca- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 51 

tion selected was described as the south fraction of the northeast quarter 
and the north fraction of the southeast quarter of section nine in town- 
ship 36 north, of range six east ; providing that the two fractions should 
not exceed the maxnnum quantity of one hundred and sixty acres, to 
which the count}- had the right of pre-emption for county seat purijoses. 
The commissioners further recommended that, should the two fractions 
exceed the maximum quantit}', the first described fraction should be pre- 
empted and the second purchased by the count}'. The records shows 
further that the commissioners recommended the name of Goshen as a 
suitable name to be given to the town which should l>e built at the pro- 
posed seat of justice. The report was accepted and approved by the 
board of justices, the seat of justice was located and the name of Goshen 
was officially given to the site at that time selected. 

The opinion seems to be held by a great many people that the land 
included in the present court scfuare wa- acquired from Oliver Crane, 
one of the earlier residents of this portion of the count}'. It is also be- 
lie\e(l that he gave the land to the county with the stipulation that 
should it e\'er cease to be used for this purpose it should revert to his 
heirs. The records show, however, that this opinion was ndt well 
founded. The fact is that a tract of ninety-two and twenty-eight hun- 
dredths acres of land was acquired from the government by pre-emption, 
as had been recommended by the commissioners. This tract embraced 
all of that part of the present city of Goshen which lies between the 
Elkhart river on the west and Broad alley, now Cottage avenue, on the 
east ; and between Clinton street on the north and the first alley south of 
Washington street on the south. The deed of conveyance for this parcel 
of land was executed June 7, 1833, and is signed by Andrew Jackson, 
president of the United States, and attested by his private secretary, 
Andrew J. Donelson, and by Elijah Hayward, commissioner of the 
general land office. It states specifically that the conveyance is made 
in accordance with the provisions of an act of Congress passed in 1824, 
granting" 10 parishes or counties in each state or territory the right of 
pre-emption to quarter sections of land for seats of justice. The deed 
is recorded on page 98 in deed record number i of Elkhart county. 
Thus the county records completely controvert the time-honored tradi- 
tion that Oliver Crane donated to the county the land which is included 
in the present court park. 

There is another tradition, which seems to rest on a better founda- 
tion, that Oliver Crane first suggested the name of Goshen for the pro- 



52 HISTORY OI-~ ELKHART COL'XTY 

Ijosed county seat town, and that he did so because he had come from 
a town of that name in New York. Hon. John E. Thompson and the 
late Anthony DeFreese were questioned by the writer as to what they 
knew concerning this tradition. Both of them stated that for the past 
fifty years or more it had been generally accepted as true. And in a 
personal memoir b_\- the late Jnhn \\'. Irwin appears the following state- 
ment : " .\niong the principal men who were early settlers here before 
1832, the time of coming of Alexander Irwin, was Oliver Crane, who 
had come from Orange county. New York, the county town of which 
was named (joshen. It is understood that he was mainly influential in 
inducing those who liatl charge of laying out our C(.)unty seat town for 
the name given it. Mv father is claimed ti) have been consulted about 
the name in 183 1 and favored it, not from the standpoint of Crane, to 
follow a town name to which he was attached from local considerations, 
but from the fitness of the name as being a cnuntry rich and productive, 
as that of Goshen in Egypt, occupied, by the designation of Joseph, by 
his kinspeople during their sojourn in that country." (See Note i, 
below. ) riie public records appear to contain nothing either to prove 
or dis])ro\e this opinion. .\11 that has been found concerning the mat- 
ter is what has alreadv been stated; That the name was recommended 
by the commissioners who cho.se the site for the county seat, and was 
officially confirmed by the board of justices in whom was \'ested the 
authority to transact all county business. 

The name of Oliver Crane is prominently identified with the earliest 
history of the town of (Joshen in another wav, ex'en though he is not 
entitled to the honor of having given the court square to the public. At 
the session of the board of justices held May 2. 183 1, he was appointed 
agent for the county seat. This was just before the present site was 
selected. -\t the session of the board held June 21, after the count\' seat 
had Iieen relocated, he was ordered to lav off into lots the tract which 
had been chosen for this purpose. He was further ordered to advertise 
half of the lots to 1>e sold on tlie 2d day of July. In September of the 
same year he made his first re]iort. showing that he had sold fiftv-four 
lots, recei\ing therefor $2,607.75. In Xo\-ember, 1831, he was suc- 
ceeded by Robert Randall as county agent. It ajjpears from tlie record, 
however, that Crane was associated with his successor and with the 
county sur\eyor, George Crawford, in surve^'ing and laying out lots in 
the new town. The public records also show that t\\elve lots were re- 
served iiy the county for a iiublic square and jiublic buildings. These 



HISTORY Ol< ELKHART COUNTY 53 

lots are numbers 131 to 136, inclusive, fronting on Main street, and 
numbers 155 to 160, inclusive, fronting on Third street. 

Besides the tract which was acquired from the government by pre- 
emption, the county purchased of Oliver Crane another tract lying im- 
mediately north of it and including that portion of the present city of 
Goshen which lies north of Clinton street, cast of the I'llkhart ri\er and 
south of the Lake Shore Railroatl. Its area is twenty-seven acres, 
three roods and three rods, the deed for which was made September 2, 
1834, signed by Oliver Crane and his wife, Elizabeth Crane, and ac- 
knowledged before Peter L. Runyan, a justice of the peace. This tract 
was a part ni the northwest (juarter of section 9, township 36 north, 
range 6 east, and which was entered from the governmait by Ephraim 
Seeley August _'. 1N31. I'he two ])arcels of land which were acf[uired, 
the one by pre-emption and the other by purchase, aggreg^ated one hun- 
dred and twenty acres, six and two-sevenths rods. 

Ill order to make ihis sketch as complete as possible from the data 
which could ije found, it is necessary to refer once more to the act whicli 
authorized the organiz.itiou of the county and which also pro\-ided for 
the meeting of the courts up to the time when the public buildings should 
\x erected. The place designated by the act for the first meeting of the 
circuit Court was the house of Chester Sage, which was a log cabin 011 
the north bank of the St. Joseph river and iiearlv (jpposite the mouth 
or the Elkhart ri\er. The farm u]ion which he li\ed is now a part of 
the city of Elkhart, and the sjjot where the cal>in stood is about si.\t\- 
rods east of the bridge which crosses the St. Joseph at Main street. So 
that place was 1\v legal enactment virtually the earliest countv seat. The 
same act of the legislature which designated the place for the first ses- 
sion of the court also contained a provision that the circuit court should 
have authority to remove the ]ilace of meeting from the house of Chester 
Sage to any other place in the county previous to the erection of the 
])ul)lic buildings, after which all of its sessions were to be held in tlie 
court house at the count\' seat. 

It appears that the court availed itself of the authority granted it 
to remove to other places for holding its sessions. But one .session 
of the circuit court was held at the residence of Chester Sage, the place 
designated by law. That session was begun No\-ember 30, 1830. The 
next session was held in .\pril. 183 1, at the residence of Thomas 
Thomas, the county clerk, about three miles east of Elkhart on what is 
known as Two-Mile plain. (See Note 2.) The third term of the 



54 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

court was held m Octolicr. 1S31, at the residence of Thomas Frier, 
on what was then called Elkhart plain, but is now known as Elkhart 
prairie. The place referred to is what has been known for many years 
as the McConaughy farm and is now owned by Leonard McConaughy. 
The late Dr. E. W. 11. Ellis, in an address delivered at the Elkhart 
county fair in 1852, referred to this session of the court and stated that 
it was really the first session at which the full bench was represented, 
the Hon. Charles H. Test, the presiding judge, meeting with the court 
then for the first time. At the two sessions held after this, at the places 
above mentioned, only the two associate judges, Peter Diddy and Will- 
iam Latta, were present. The residence of Mr. Frier was then a log- 
cabin and the court held its session under the stately trees which stood 
in front of it. It might also be added here that James Frier was the first 
treasurer of Elkhart county and was serving in that capacity at that 
time. 

The fourth term, counting the two terms which were held by the 
two associate judges, as already mentioned, was held in April, 1832, 
and the sixth in May, 1833, both being held at the residence of Henry 
Dusenberry (Note 3), which was located in Goshen at the northeast 
corner of Main and Washington streets, where the Dewey block now 
stands. There is nothing in the court records to show where the fifth 
term was held, which was in- October, 1832. The seventh term was 
held in the court house, which is the first mention of that building in 
the circuit court records. 

The board of justices held all of its sessions from the first one, in 
June, 1830, already mentioned, to the May meeting in 183 1, at the 
residence of Chester Sage. In June and July, 1831, they met at the 
residence of Thomas Thomas. Up to that time the board of justices 
performed the functions which have been performed by the board of 
county commissioners. In September, 183 1, the first board of commis- 
sioners met at the residence of Thomas Thomas. (Note 4.) But two 
memlaers of the board were present : Edward Downing and George 
McCollum. At the next meeting John Jackson presented his certificate 
of election as a member of the board and took his seat. This meet- 
ing was held at the residence of George McCollum, which was located 
al»ut half way between Lincoln avenue and the next alley north on 
the east side of Alain street and opposite court park. Another session 
was held in January, 1832, at the same place. In Alarch, 1832, the 
board met at the residence of Luke Hulett, on or near the present site 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 55 

of the Baptist church in Goshen. From May, 1832, until August, 1833, 
the board held its meetings at Abner Stilson's tavern, located where 
the Kindig block now stands at the corner of Main street and Lincoln 
avenue in Goshen. In September. 1833, the board met for the first time 
in the court house. 

The residences of Chester Sage, Thomas Thomas, George McCol- 
lum and Abner Stilson were also the meeting places of the probate court 
from 1830 to 1833, the year when the court house was completed, from 
which time that court also began to hold its sessions in the court house. 

There is one thing quite peculiar that deserves mention, and that 
is the apparent absence of any record of the contract for the building 
of the first court house. The records of the board of justices, the 
commissioners', circuit and probate courts have been searched diligently 
but no such contract has been found. P. M. Henkel, former county 
auditor, in a paper read before the Elkhart County Historical Society, 
April 20, 1905, states that this contract was awarded to Jacob Stude- 
l>aker, who modeled the building after the court hoiise at Dayton, Ohio. 
The late Dr. M. M. Latta, several years before his death and before 
illness had impaired his mental faculties, made the same statement to 
the writer of this paper, and added also that the Dayton court house 
had been copied after the main building of Princeton College as it 
was nearly a centurj' ago. In the absence of any public records the 
word of these men, who were known throughout their li\es for their 
accurate knowledge of passing events and for the accurac}- of their 
statements concerning them, is the best authority that can be cited. 

As far as can be gathered from the public records, from recorded 
personal memoirs and fi^om statements of individuals still living who 
are believed to know concerning these matters, this is an accurate his- 
tory in detail of the seat of government of Elkhart county from the 
time of the county's organization until the completion of its first court 
'louse in 1833. Since that time there has been no change in its loca- 
tion, but it has remained continuously in the same place. 

( 1 ) Elisha Irwin, brother of John W. Irwin, states that his father, 
Alexander Irwin, first came here in 183 1 and returned to his former 
home in Pennsylvania in 1832, in which year he removed here with his 
family to remain permanently. This explains the apparent conflict in 
the dates of John W. Irwin's memoir. 

(2) Dr. W. H. Thomas, the only surviving son of Thomas Thomas, 
and John W. Ellis, a resident of Elkhart since November, 183 1, and now 
eighty-one years old, both concur in this statement as to the location of 



56 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Tliomas Thomas' residence. W'ilher L. Stonex, a grandson of Thomas 
Tliomas, thought it was in tiie next residence ci Mr. Thomas, now known 
as the Bradigum farm and located just northwest of the present city 
Hmits of Goshen. Mr. Elhs saj's that j\Ir. Thomas removed to this place 
in the latter jxirt of 1831, which was several months after the court met 
at his cabin on Two-Mile plain. 

( 3 ) The information concerning the location of this place was 
obtained from an address delivered by Hon. J- H. DeFrees.e in 1858. 

( 4 ) As Mr. Thomas removed to his farm near Goshen some time in 
1 83 1 it is impossible to ascertain at which of the two places this first 
session of the board of commissioners was held. 

THE COURT llOl'Si;. 

The history of the seat of justice would ni;t l)e (|uite complete with- 
out a brief description ui the building which for so many years has 
adorned the puWic square, and in wh(ise halls have teen discussed and 
acted upon the matters of deepest concern to the welfare of the county 
and where justice has been afforded to all employing the machinery of 
law for that purpose. The present court house was opened to the pub- 
lic in 1870. The old building having outlived its usefulness, it was de- 
cided by the people that a new building shoulil be erected. This was 
in the year 1868, and the commissioners wlm had charge of the work 
were James Becbtel. J. E. Thouipson and Nathaniel Thompson. The 
work on the building was begun the same year and completed in 1870. 

The earlv county fathers sliowed their wisdoiu in ])lanting nu- 
merous shade trees on the scjuare. si> that, during the summer season, 
the court house almost disappears among the emlxiwering foliage of 
maples and elms. Formerly the grounds were enclosed by iron railing, 
but civic taste has decided against this inclosure. A description of the 
building as it appeared before the recent remodeling gives the fi>llo'wing 
general features. Of classic model, its four large Corinthian pillars sup- 
porting a well proportioned entablature on the east and west sides, the 
building has much of the appearance of those ancient temjjles where 
justice was supposed to emanate fn^m the deities whose .shrines and 
marble figures were within its walls. The ground dimensions were, 
until the reconstruction, 8_' by jj feet, and from liase to cornice it is 
5 J feet. . 

Until the spring of 1903 the true s_\'mmetry ;ind simplicit\- of this 
structure were marred and thmwu out of balance liy the large clock 
tower on the south end. This height of brick and stone, although for 
many years forming one of the landmarks of Goshen, came into dis- 



HISTORY Ol" EI.KHART COUXTV 57 

fa\oi- when the plans were formulated fur the remodeling- of the court 
house, and along atout the first of last April the old clock, which for 
more than a generation had sounded the hours to children and chil- 
dren's children, struck for the last time, and a few days later the work 
of dismantling the tower was complete. 

The remodeled court house gives Elkhart county one of the most 
up-to-date and thoroughly convenient seats of justice in northern Indi- 
ana. Such changes are being made in the general features as well as 
the details that the next generation will be hardly able to image the 
old court house from what they see r)f the reconstructed e<lifice. As 
mentioned, the tower has been taken down. The building has been 
lengthened at both ends, but in form symmetrical with the old plan, the 
total ground space added being 87 by 70 feet, or a total additional floor 
space for the three stories of nearly 20,000 scjuare feet. While the 
general arrangement x)f the rooms remains the same, the reconstruction 
affords such expansion for all the different offices that they are prac- 
tically to be in new quarters, ample for all their present and future 
needs for some years to come. 

The principal entrances to the basement floor will now be at the 
north and south ends, although the former entrances will also remain. 
With much enlarged quarters, the superintendent of county schools and 
truant officer will retain the southeast corner, the surveyor will occupy 
the southwest room, and the connnissioners will hold their meetings in 
the northeast corner, while the remainder of the basement will be taken 
up by the modern fan heating" plant, janitor's rooms, etc. Stairs lead 
from this floor to the main floor. 

Going up on the main floor, one finds the most complete contrast 
between the new and old arrangement. Where as former!}- the east 
entrance had three doors, now a broad double-door affords the prin- 
cipal means of entering the building, b^rom this main hall br;uich out 
the two corridors w-hich, as the \-ertical axis of this floor, extend nearly 
the full length of the building. l''rom the south corridor doors open 
into the clerk's enlarged office, the office of the sheriff' (who in the old 
iniilding had \er)' small and inadequate room), and the recorder's 
office, in which has been liuilt a \ault of such proportions as w-ill ac- 
commodate the great bulk of \aluable records which accumulate there 
froi-n year to year. 

From the north corridor are entered the auditor's, on one hand, 
and the treasurer's office, on the other. At the north end of the build- 



68 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

ing is a large consultation room, communicating with both the treas- 
urer's and auditor's apartments, while each of these officials also has a 
private office. 

A broad stairway interrupted by one short landing, leads straight 
to the second floor. Opening into the hallway at the head of the stairs 
are, on the west side, the rooms of the assessor, the probate court, and 
the attorney's room, and, on the east, the jun,^ room, the library, and 
the judge's room. Especially notable and appropriate to the progressive 
spirit of the people of Elkhart county, is the new jury room. From the 
restricted, unsanitary, and inadequate quarters formerly provided for 
the deliberations of the twelve tried and true peers, the bailiiif now, 
when the trial is over, leads his charges into a spacious double apart- 
ment — a large room intended for the general sessions of the jury, and 
also, connected therewith by swinging doors, a smoking room. 

Double doors from the second floor hall open into the court room, 
which, already of ample dimensions, remains practically as it was. The 
enclosed space reserved for the attorneys and participants in the trials 
has been increased, and some changes of arrangement made. Desks 
and chairs for the members of the county bar are provided to the num- 
ber of forty, and these places are to 1d€ assigned to the members in order 
of seniority of admission to the bar. each seat being reserved exclu- 
sively for the use of its rightful occupant. 

Back of the court room are the offices of the court stenographer, 
the prosecutor's room, and two witness rooms, — the last being a notable 
improvement, there formerly being but one njom for witnesses, and an 
order to divide the witnesses meant serious inconvenience. 

The appropriation up to the time of this writing for this recon- 
struction is $68,000, but it is thought that nearly one hundred thou- 
sand dollars will represent the final sum expended upon the work. From 
it will result a building which, for efficiency of design and symmetry 
of architectural outline, will for many years to come be a credit to 
Elkhart county. 

THE ELKHART COUNTY ASYI.TJil. 

■■ In the early forties,." according to ]\Ir. P. ]\I. Henkel, " there 
was no asylum for the care of the poor and indigent persons. Such 
as were dependent upon public charity were farmed out by the county 
commissioners for their support by the year to the lowest responsible 
bidder. At this date (1845) ^^"t two persons in the county were thus 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 50 

provided for. The first farm purchased by the county to be used as an 
asylum for the poor was located in Jefferson township and consisted 
of eighty acres. A superintendent was appointed and all indigent per- 
sons transferred to his care." This poor farm was two and a half 
miles northwest of Goshen, and was known as the .\dam Harman 
farm. 

In 1847 Miss Dix, the eminent philanthropist and reformer of 
prison conditions, visited on her tour of inspection the institutions of 
Elkhart county, and her strictures relative to the county poor farm were 
especially severe. The poor house, to quote Miss Dix's report as it ap- 
peared in a local paper of that year, "is situated se\eral miles imm 
Goshen, and has a farm of eighty acres, forty of which are cultivated. 
No dwelling is as yet constructed for the poor of sufficient capacity for 
their suitable accommodation. The situation of this establishment is 
remote and difficult of access." Only three individuals were kept there 
at county expense at that time, so that it is hardly surprising that 
the home had not yet reached the dignity and efficiency of a public 
institution. 

Perhaps this criticism led to the action of the county board in 1833 
by wdiich a substantial building was planned for the accommodation of 
the county's almoners. This house was erected on Elkhart prairie, five 
miles southeast of Goshen, on the old Fort Wayne road. The poor 
house was burned in February, 1871, but was replaced by another in 
the summer of that year. In 188.2 the county commissioners traded 
with W. D. Platter for a marsh farm of 453 acres between Bristol and 
Elkhart on the St. Joseph river. This trade was rescinded by the new 
board of commissioners elected in 1882, and, Platter refusing to sur- 
render the old farm, a law suit followed. The case was in the courts 
two years, was tried in the circuit court at LaGrange before Judge Rob- 
ert Lowry, of Fort Wayne, who decided in favor of the county. Plat- 
ter took an appeal to the supreme court, where Judge Lowry's decision 
was affirmed, sO' that the county continued in the possession of its farm 
on Elkhart prairie several years longer. 

In 1885 the farm on the prairie was sold, and the site of the present 
institution was lx)ught of David Rupp, for the sum of five thousand 
dollars. The present Elkhart county farm is located at Dunlaps, in 
Concord township, half way between Goshen and Elkhart, and is reached 
by the inter-urban electric line. The farm contains one hundred and 
twenty acres, and the entire institution is a credit to the countv. If Miss 



60 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Dix were alix'e to-day and could \-isit tliis asylum her ad\-erse criticism 
would, without douht. he turued to words of praise and admiration of 
the efficient wa\- ui which the eleemosvnar\- affairs of the comity are 
administered. 

The asylum Ijuildiny, which was erected in 1886. the original con- 
tract price being $18,800, is a hrick huilding, two stories and l>asement. 
containing sixty-five rooms. The east side is for tlie women inmates, 
and the west for the men. At the time of the present writing an addi- 
tion, 31 by 60 feet, is being luiilt. in which will be located tlie hos- 
pital department, the rooms for the insane and the cells for the un- 
manageable inmates. At the ]jresent time there are 58 jjcrsons in the in- 
stituti(jn, this Ijeing about the average number. The largest number dur- 
ing the jiast year was 70 and the lowest 50. The jjresent superintendent 
is Air. John L. ^Varden, and under his direction are three ladv em- 
ployes, two men in the house and one on the farm, besides the fireman 
and janitor. 

COL'NT'i- J.\IL. 

In the report of Aliss Dix, abo\"e referred to, the count\' jail comes 
in for its share of criticism. "The Elkhart county jail, at (;<jshen,"'- 
sa\s Miss Dix, "is a two-storv lirick Inu'lding, containing four dungeons, 
two debtors' rooms aboxe, and the faniilx residence of the kee])er. This 
jail was about to be repaired, and it was heliexed that some impro\-e- 
ments as to drainage and ventilation might be introduced." 

The present county jail, on the west side of the court house square, 
in its exterior aspect resembles a pretentious private residence. Its re- 
construction to the jiresent condition occurred in 1870. costing the 
county over twenty thousand dollars. It is said that Ira .Storr was the 
hrst offender to lie incarceratefl in the old liuilding. 




THOMAS THOMAS 

FIRST CLERK OF ELKHART COUNTY 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 61 



CHAPTER VI. 
CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 

Government is a trust, and the officers of the government are trustees ; and botli 
the trust and the trustees are created for the benefit of the people. 

— Henry Clay. 

History is something other than Ijare chronicles of legislative pro- 
ceedings and official acts; yet, nevertlieless, it woitld be a serious omis- 
sion to fail to include in this volume some cursory mention, other than 
what has already been given, of various official acts by which the prog- 
ress of the county and its civic and material welfare have been ili reeled 
to the proper ends, and also the names df the most important of those 
men commissioned by their fellow citi;^eiis to perform, after the manner 
of our representative government, the diUies \\hich necessarily must Ije 
delegated by the many to the few. .\ntl. t(.o, in thus rectjrding some of 
the means by which the representati\-es of tlie people sought to perfect 
the efficiency of the body politic, we may learn mitch concerning the un- 
folding and development of our county into its present civic, social and 
material condition. 

An evidence of the strong tendency of the early settlers i:f this 
county for law and- order and the institutions of society may be found 
in the record of the first county election following the act of county 
mcorporation. There was Ijut a mere handful of people in this great 
district comprising Elkhart county and the territory attached thereto; 
none of the restraints of law were needed, and only the inherent desire 
of the American people to jiarticipate in self-go\-ernment cotild lia\-e 
urged this community toward civil organization. In this election there 
were polled in the entire county, including the territory attached, out 
of which several counties were later formed, but seventy-five \'otes. 
And it is presumed that the entire legal vote was cast, there l>eing a 
number of aspirants to places of honor and profit, whose res])ecti\-e 
friends were no doubt active in their behalf. 

At this first election in Elkhart county the foll<iwing men were 
chosen to administer the alifairs of the county : Thomas Thomas, clerk ; 
Eli Penwell, sheriff; William Latta and Peter Diddy, associate jtidges; 



62 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

J. A\'. V iolette. recorder: and James Alatlier, John Jackson and Arniin- 
ius Penwell, justices of the peace, wlio constituted the board for the 
transaction of county business until they were succeeded by the new!)- 
created board of county commissioners. The first three sessions r)f the 
board of justices were held at the house of Chester Sage, and in the 
fall of 1830 the first county court was held there by the associate judges. 
Peter Diddy and William Latta. The election for a state representative, 
sheriff and coroner, ordered to be held on the first Monday in August, 
1S30. \\as held, in Concord township also at the house of Mr. Sage. 
while the voters of Elkhart township cast their ballots at the school- 
house on Elkhart plain. 

One of the interesting provisions of this early board of justices 
was die fixing of tax rates. By the record we find that the poll tax was 
2,7^1 cents; a like amount was levied on each horse, one half that sum 
on each work ox; 25 cents was the rate for a silver watch, one dollar 
for a brass clock, one dollar for a four-wheeled carriage, and 75 cents 
for a two-wheeled carriage. These direct taxes probably were cheer- 
fully paid, although occasionally we find recorded the case of a man 
who had his tax remitted on the ground that it was unjustly large, (it 
being ordered in November, 1830, that James Compton be acquitted of 
the payment of 373^ cents for one horse wrongfully assessed.) In 1830 
the whole amount of revenue collected was $198, and the whole disburse- 
ment was $183.43, leaving a balance in the treasury. 

The last meeting of the board of justices was in July. 1831, and in 
the following September Edward Downing and George ]\IcCollum re- 
ceived their commissions and on September 5 were sworn in by the 
clerk and took their seats as the commissioners of Elkhart county. 

For nearly seventy years the board of commissioners continued to 
exercise, in each county of the state, the general administrative powers 
appertaining to county government. While this board was generally 
of the highest individual character, yet, by the nature of the powers 
vested tiierein, it was largely autocratic and irresponsible. The system 
of "checks and balances" has formed one of the inherent principles of 
our governmental system, as is seen In the universal division of powers 
among several bodies, each acting as a restraint upon the other. At the 
close of the last centtiry this fundamental principle was. by state legis- 
lation, applied to the administrative machinery of each of the several 
counties in Indiana. The verdict as to the efficiencv and value of the 
new svstem has been generallv favorable, as it is likewise commended 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 63 

by reason. While on the siiljject of cxaunty commissioners, it seems 
proper at this point to gi\-e a very brief explanation of the new feature 
which of late years has increased the length of the county liallot and 
added another complication to the problem of self-government. 

By an act of the general assembly approved March 3, 1899, there 
was created in the several counties of the state a body known as the 
Comity Council. Each county was divided into four councilmanic dis- 
tricts, each district comprising one or more entire townships : one coun- 
cilman is elected from each district and three are chosen in the county 
at large. The first election of county councilmen was held at the gen- 
eral election of November, 1900, the second in 1902, and thereafter 
the elections are to be held every four years. 

This County Council, in its workings, has original jurisdiction over 
the tax levy of the county and over the appropriations for county pur- 
poses. The trxing of county tax rates, where not already fixed by law, 
is vested in this council, and the povicr of appropriating money froiu 
the county treasury is vested exclusively in this body. To the council 
are submitted all the budgets or estimates of expenditure by the county 
officers in their respective departments and the county commissioners 
cannot contract or bind the county beyond the amount appropriated 
for each object in cpiestion by the council. Tlie discretionary 
powers of the commissioners are thus limited, and, while they have 
power to purchase all supplies, they can do so only on a written requisi- 
tion of the officer or employe for whom or for whose work the supplies 
are necessary. This council holds a regular annual meeting, fixed by 
law, but may also be called together by order of the auditor. In the 
list of county officials will be found the names of those chosen to the 
County Council of this county since the act of legislature went into 
effect. 

It is one of the happy features of American democracy that the 
workings of civil government have very few points of contact with the 
average citizen, who by casting an intelligent ballot sets the proper ma- 
chinery agoing and needs have little further concern with constituted 
authority. The will of the people works out in a natural and easy 
manner, and only occasionally, in such a county as Elkhart, is there 
anything approaching a large issue. Because the afifairs of local civil 
government are thus so largely a matter of course and take on the com- 
plexion of the every-day routine of household or personal life, the docu- 
mentarv records are on the whole verv uninteresting reading and ofifer 



64 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

only now and then something (_^f more than ephemeral note and wortliy 
to be set down in a history of the county. Therefore we shall close 
this chapter with some brief and casual items and then with a summary 
list of names of officials of Elkhart cotmty. 

The November session of the board of commissioners in 183 1 was 
held at tlie new county seat of Goshen and in the house of George Mc- 
C< ilium, and in the session of May, 1832. is found the following: " It 
is ordered that lot No. i be given to school district No. — for the con- 
sideration of the schoolhouse to hold courts in and other county business 
and elections for the term of two years, and said house to be ready for 
to hold court in against the next term of circuit court." In March, 
1834, the building of a county jail was ordered to be let at auctiim to 
the lowest I'idder, and also the building of a " stray pen,'" frnm which 
it is evident that population bad increased to the pciint where criminal 
humans and roving animals were a source nf troulile to society. .Vn- 
other evidence of the advance of Elkhart county in material improve- 
ment was the item of the record in May. 1834. by which the supervisor 
was ortlered to work tlie mads. By Se])teml)er, 1834, twenty high- 
roads had been ordered opened in the county, at almost every session of 
the board some new road being reported as viewed and marked, which 
shows the zeal with which the early county fathers applied themselves 
to the imjjroving the means of communication, liy which civilization is 
most surely promoted and secured. 

Some mention is necessary concerning th.e township ci\il go\ern- 
mcnt, in its historical aspect and the present system. In this regard the 
tendenc\' has been away from complexit}- of officials in numlier and 
duties toward the modern idea of " one man power " with more central 
responsibility. The first uniform plan of townshi]) administration was 
effected by the state legislature in the early forties. In accordance with 
this act for rendering the mode of township business of Elkhart county 
more uniform, the acting clerk of the county court gave notice that on 
the first Monday of April. 1841, each township should elect the following 
officers: Three town.ship trustees, one township treasurer, one town- 
ship clerk, two overseers i)f the poor, two fence viewers, a constable 
for each justice of the peace in the township. By this provision each 
township was burdened with the officia.l weight of at least a dozen men. 
and the whole plan was evidentl^• unwieldy. 

In February, 1859, an act of the legislature reduced the number 
of townshi]3 trustees to one. and \ested in that one the duties hitherto 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 65 

pertaining- to the inspector of elections, overseer of the poor and fence 
viewer, witii all the powers formerly belonging t(.i the three trustees. 
This greatlv simplilied system has proved in its workings all that its 
authors hoped for. and carefulness, efficiency and (lis])atch have charac- 
terized township admmistration. 

The progress of a county in a great measure depends upon the 
men wdio are elected by the people or ap]iointed by the state to direct 
its affairs. 

In 1905 the official directory for Elkhart count}' is as follows: 
Congressman for 13th district, A. L. Brick, of South Bend; state sena- 
tor. A. R. Beardsley, of Elkhart ; representatives. E. A. Dausman and 
H. H. Alosier: circuit judge. James S. Dodge; prosecuting attorne)-. 
\y. H. Duff; county and circuit clerk. Martin H. Kinney: county treas- 
urer. E. E. Drake; count)- auditor, O. H. Sweitzer; county recorder, 
O. C. Vernon; -heriff, A. E. Manning; superintendent of schools, (i. W, 
Ellis; assessor. Charles Bryner; surveyor. John L. Cooper; coroner. F. 
N. Dewey; board of commissioners: Charles A. Da\'is. Coshen : W'ilF 
iam Whetten. South district; Joseph Cainan. North district. 

Township Trustees, elected November 8, 1904, to ser\-e four years: 
Baugo. Cornelius O. Eh ret ; Benton, Henr)- Hire; Concord, O. C. Puter- 
baugh ; Clinton, Ed Bartholomew ; Cleveland, Andrew Zigler ; Elkhart, 
George S. Colilj; Harrison, Henry Bechtel ; Jackson. Charles Rohrer; 
Jefferson. W. W. Sliowalter; Locke. Levi Pippinger; Middlebury. \Vill 
H. Shultz; Olive. John M. Blocher : Osolo. John P. Bickel ; Union. Ed 
Mert; Washington. H. W. Kantz; York, Tracy Fisher. 

The first county council elected f<ir Elkhart county in November. 
1900. was as follo\\-s : Henry Zeisel. Jiiseph Smith. George Milburn. 
Daniel Zook, John Cook. Edward W. Walker and Ira Hapner. The 
second council, chosen in November. 1902. were John Zeisel, 1-". E. 
Hawks, B. B. Knapp. who were the three members elected at large ; 
and Dilman Rickert, for the first district; H. D. Sykes. for the second 
district; Valentine Berkey. for the third district, and Ira Hapner. for 
the fourth. 

The former incumlicnts of the principal count\- officers are given as 
follows : 

Judges of the Circuit Court of Elkhart County — Charles H. Test. 
Gustavus A. Everts, Samuel C. Sample. E. M. Chamberlain, Robert 
Lowry, E. A. McMahon, James L. \A'orden. Reuljen J. Dawson. ]\Iose« 
Kenkinson, Edward R. Wilson, Pliram S. Touslev, James D. Osbnrn, 



66 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

William A. Woods. James D. Osborne, appointed by Governor Gray, 
and elected for 6 years; John M. Vanfleet, 6 years; Henry D. Wilson, 6 
years; Joseph D. Ferrell. served till death; Francis D. Merritt, ap- 
pointed. 

County Clerks — 1830. Thomas Thomas; 1844, E. G. Chamberlain; 
1851. Owen Cotfin; 1854, Asa A. Norton; 1859, Milo S. Hascall ; 1861, 
Melvin B. Hascall (pro tem. ) ; 18G1, A. A. Norton, E. J. Wood; 1870, 
LaPorte HefYner; 1874, Thomas H. Daily; Otis D. Thompson, No- 
vember, i88j; Daniel Zook, November, 1886; Harry S. Chester, 1890, 
poet and musician; Geo. H. Fister, 1894; Louis A. Dennert, 1898. 

Auditors— 1841, E. W. H. Ellis; 1850, Robert Dowry; 1850, P. M. 
Henkel; 1859, E. W. H. Ellis; 1867, A. M. Tucker; 1874-82. C. D. 
Henkel ; 1882, Conrad L. Landgreaver; 1886, Conrad L. Landgreaver ; 
1890, George Milburn; 1894, Edward L. D. Foster; 1898, P. B. Berkey. 

Recorders — 1830, John W. Violette; 1836. E. G. Chamberlain; 
1843, George Taylor; 1850, Israel Wyland; 1859. Myron E. Cole; 1863, 
Benjamin C. Dodge; 1866, Michael Weybright; 1870, Lewis D. 
Thomas; 1874, W. H. Miller; 1878, Josiah Kronk; 1886, David W. 
Neidig; 1890, John B. Davenport; 1894. Cassius M. Immell ; 1898, 
William F. Peddycord. 

Treasurers — 1830, James Frier (who was removed in 1832 because 
he was not a naturalized citizen) ; 1832, Simeon Beck; 1833, J. B. Mc- 
cord; 1836, John Gilmore; 1837, Elias Carpenter; 1850, Sam Geisinger; 
1855, John S. Freeman; 1859, J. W. Irwin; 1862, George Sherwood; 
1864, Hiram Morgan; 1867, William H. Venamon ; 1872. Charles J. 
Greene; 1876, T. F. Garvin; 1878-1884, Geo. W. Rich; 1884. Cyrus 
Seller; 1888, Franklin G. Romaine; 1892, E. A. Campbell; 1894, Wm. 
H. Holdeman; 1898, I. O. Woods. 

County Surveyors — 1832. George Crawford; 1835, James R. Mc- 
Cord; 1859. E. J. Wood; 1861, A. W. Watters; 1873, George T. Ager: 
1876, Marion C. Proctor; 1878, Henry Cook; 1880-82, Henry Cook; 
1884, Henry Cook; 1888, Chas, L. Kinney; 1896, J. D. Lowell; igoo, 
D. F. Cordrey. 

Sherififs — 1830, Eli Penwell; 1832, James Beck; 1836, J. H. 
Defrees; 1840, Albert Banta; 1844, Eli Brown; 1848, Peter W. Roler; 
i8^o, D. B. Mather; 1852, C. W. Seely; 1859, George L. Keblinger; 
i860, A. C. Manning; 1862; William Vesey; 1864, John H. Violette; 
1866, E. R. Kerstetter; 1870, J. W. Egbert; 1874, Samuel B. Miller; 
1878, Christopher J. Gillette; 1880, Chas. E. Thompson; 1882-84, Chas. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 67 

E. Thompson; 1886, Robert E. Chatten; 1890, Elliott Crull ; 1894, H. F. 
Kidder; 1898, William O. Elliott. 

County SujDerintendents of Schools. — L. V. Vennen, Dr. Foster, 
LL.D., George I. Ager, Valois Butler, D. M. Moury, Piebe Swart, Sam- 
uel F. Spohn. George Ellis. 

County Agents. — 1830, Oliver Crane; 1831, R. B. Randall; 1835. 
Joseph H. Defrees; 1835, R. B. Randall. 

The first assessors were John Frier, in 1830, and Henry Beane, in 
1832; and the first coroner, in 1843, was Jacob S. Raymer. 



68 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 



CHAPTER Vil. 
PIONEER LIEE AND CUSTOMS. 

THE AIRLY DAYS. 

I want plain facts, and I want plain words, 

Of the good old-fasliioned ways. 
When speech run free as the songs of birds — 

'Way liack in the airly days. 

'J'ell me a tale of the tniitjer-lands, 

.\nd the old time pioneers — 
Somepin' a poor man understands 

With his feclin's, well as cars : 

Tell of the old log house. — about 

The loft, and the puncheon floor — 
The old fire-place, with the crane swung out. 

And the latch string through the door. 

Tell of the things jest like they wuz — 

They don't need no excuse : 
Don't tech 'em up like the poets does. 

Till they're all too fine fer use : 

Say they wuz 'leven in the family — 

Two beds and the chist below. 
And the trundle-beds 'at each belt three : 

And the clock and the old bureau. 

— James Whitcoiiii Riley. 

T(i describe a people's haliits, custnnis and manner of living i.s to 
tell some of the most interesting things that can lie told concerning' that 
people. For the successfnl performance of this task the writer ought 
to know whatever can lie known concerning that people's life and all its 
details. He ought himself to li\e th.c life he is trying to picture, to loe 
an eye witness of the scenes he is trying to describe, to- be on intimate 
terms with the indi\-iduals whose characters he attempts to portray. Well 
may one shrink from attempting :\ work like this if he have not that 
intimate personal acquaintance with the jieojile of whom he writes. In 
its absence lie must depend upon making ])roper use of whatever data 
are accessible to him in their various lorms. Something may be had 
from written records, something from the i:)ersonal observations and 
experience of individuals who have lived during or near the period which 
the writer is describing and something even from tradition. By mak- 
ing a judicious use of whatever is obtainable from these several sources. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUN'TY 69 

carefvilly examining all of the data that are to he found a rehahle his- 
tory may he compiled. These are the methods that have been employed 
in the preparation of this article. The aim has been to use only material 
that is of known reliability and to eliminate everything concerning which 
there is any doubt. Much has been gathered from the recorded experi- 
ence of those individuals who are thoughtful enough to commit to writ- 
ing for the l;enefit of future generations an account of those events in 
their own lix'cs which they deemed of sufficient importance to be re- 
membered, as well as the conditions which surrounded them in earlier 
da\'s. What the written records do not contain has lieen obtained from 
those pioneers' sons and daughters who are still \vith us, whose mem- 
ories go back to the days of the earliest settlers and who would not ven- 
ture a statement that they did not know to be accurate. 

The first settlers of any section of country, those who go beyond 
the borders of the colonies or communities which already exist and 
plant new settlements in the wilderness, must necessaril}- be strong, 
sturdv people. The hardships and pri\'ations which the\- must untlergo 
and the arduous labors which the}- must perform demand great physi- 
cal strength, almost unlimited powers of endurance and courage that 
never shrinks at danger. To leave liehind even the meager privileges 
of a frontier colonv and go far out into what is nothing less than a 
wilderness to establish a communit}' in a land of which saxages and w ild 
l)easts ha\e lieen the sole occupants, is b\- no means an easy thing to do. 
Much more different and far more to lie dreaded is an enterprise of 
this character for those indi\iduals who leave an older state, who go 
out from homes which have been long established and in which the\- 
have enjoyed comforts as well as the associations of neighbors and 
friends, to whom they are bound by ties which are painful to se\'er. 
Those of us who ha\e not passed through these experiences have no 
conception of what it means. E\'en when we read of them or hear 
them related by the pioneers themselves, we can form only a \-er\- in- 
adequate notion of what they were. To the people of the present dav 
the story of the piiineer's life sounds like a romance. To those who 
lived that life it was a stubborn realit\-. 

From the time when they left their homes in the older portions of 
the countiy, the east or the south, their hardships and privations be- 
gan. The means of transportation three-quarters of a century ago were 
ver}- different from those of to-day. There were no railways upon 
which the traveler could be Ixirne with the speed of the wind from the 



70 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

home which he was leaving to that which he was planning to build in 
the new country. , The slow, plodding ox team and the great lumber 
wagon furnished almost the only facilities for travel that were enjoyed 
in that period. Into those massive wagons, which were several times 
as heavy as those which are now in use, all of the articles of house- 
hold furniture were loaded, together with the few rude farming imple- 
ments and whatever else they might possess. Then began the long, 
wearisome journey toward the new countr}\ The roads over which the 
travelers passed were far worse than even the poorest and most neg- 
lected public highways of the present day. After they left the older 
portion of the country and began to approach the frontier they found 
only mud roads, and these became worse a.s they came farther from 
home. \A''hen they reached Indiana there was nothing but a trail 
through the woods, and often this was so soft that the wagons would 
stick fast so that they would have to be pried out of the mud. Some- 
times it would become impassable and a new way -would have to be cut 
out thn.iugh the woods, which made the ]3rogress e.Kceedingly slow. 
When there were several families mo\ing at tlie same time the teams 
would be "doubled up" when passing the bad places, and this was done 
quite frequently. There were no bridges, and all of the streams had to 
be forded. Oftentimes the rivers and creeks were so swollen by spring 
rains and thaws as to necessitate Avaiting a week or more before they 
could be crossed. Consequently many weeks and sometimes even 
months were consumed in traveling from the far eastern states. It has 
been said that occasionally after a whole day's travel the distance co\- 
ered was so short that one of the party of travelers would go back to 
the last night's camping place and bring coals with which to start a 
fire. Sickness frequently impeded the progress, and sometimes it would 
prove fatal, so that one or more of the party would have to be buried 
along the roadside, while the survi\-ors would proceed snrrowfullv on 
their way. 

.\lthough the obstacles encountered greath' retarded travel, thev 
were not sufficient to prevent those courageous men and women from 
jnishing forward to their destination. Nor were their trials and tribu- 
lations ended when they had arrived at their new home. This was 
really only the beginning of hardships which were to continue for years, 
and in the case of many of the first settlers throughout the remainder 
of their li\'es. The first requisite was that slielter should be provided 
for the family, which was done bv the erection of a cabin. This was 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 71 

of rude construction and, if possible, still ruder appearance. And be- 
fore even this much could be done, unless an open spot was found in the 
woods, a place had to be cleared large enough so that the cabin would 
be out of danger from falling timber when the clearing should be con- 
tinued. An excuse of a stable was also built, which one of the pioneers 
described as being a little colder than outdoors, but sufficient to keep 
the horses .from running away. The cattle had to content themselves 
with whatever shelter the woods or bushes afforded them. The same 
was true of the other animals, if there were any. The place selected 
for the house in many instances was near a spring or a stream, if one 
could be found upon the land which was to be the future farm. Of 
course there were no wells, so the buildings had to be located near a 
source of water supply or else the water for household purposes had to 
be carried from some distance, while the stock usually had to be driven 
to the water. This accounts for the location of many homes in the 
interior oi the farm and some distance away from the puVilic high- 
way. Oftentimes the spot selected for the home, even when it was near 
the road, was not a place whicli would be selected by the home builder 
of the present da}-. Conditions were frequently such as to prevent the 
settler from considering beauty and attractiveness in locating his home. 
Everythmg was sacrificed to utility, real or apparent. There were ex- 
ceptions to this rule, however, some among even the earliest settlers 
giving attention to beauty as well as utility. And on those farms upon 
which the place for the home was selected with an eye to beautiful sur- 
roundings there are still to be found some of Elkliart county's most at- 
tractive farm homes. 

The land having been selected ant! the house built, it liecame nec- 
essary to prepare the ground for ])lanting. This was not easy work, 
especially for those who settled in the timber. The ground first had to 
be cleared, which was no easy task. The brush and small timber were 
all that were cut away at first, leaving the larger trees to be cut later. 
These were "deadened" by cho])]iing through the bark all around the 
tree. The time selected for this work was on two certain davs in Au- 
gust, "when the sign w as right" and when the work was supposed to be 
more effective. At that time everything else was neglected, and dur- 
ing the two days when the trees were being girdled the sound of the ax 
was heard on every farm from earh- in the morning until late at night. 

The first planting Avas among these large trees, except when some 
of them could first be cut awav. which was not often the case. The 



T2 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

settlers generally counted themselves t\)rtunate if they could get the 
smaller trees and hushes removed in time for planting. As the ground 
was full of roots, plowing was no easy task. Several yoke of oxen were 
usually hitched to the plow and the roots were torn up as well as could 
he done. .\ small patch of corn and one of ])otatoes were planted, and 
these were culti\'ated entirely with the hoe. This was laljorious work, 
and all of the members of the family usually assisted in doing it. If 
crops had t(j Ije produced h_\- tliis process now. even in sufficient quan- 
tities fdi' home consumption, it is not probable that the pro\-ision for 
our li\ing would lie \-ery bountiful. The crops gathered ivum the first 
season's planting had to furnish sustenance for man and Ijeast through 
the year following. In the meantime more land had to be cleared so 
that the acreage for planting could be enlarged. It was a long time 
before many of the settlers could grow enough to have any surplus for 
market, and when that time did come the markets were so far awa\- 
that it was almost impossible to reach them. 

The prairie settlers had an advantage in not ha\ing" an\ land to 
clear. .\11 the_\- had to do was to plow the prairie sod and their land 
was ready for planting. Large teams consisting of se\'eral yoke of 
oxen were used f(jr "breaking,'" as the work was called. The prairie 
farms could he brought under cultivation a great deal rpiicker than the 
timljered farms, so those who settled on the prairies had several vears' 
start of the others. And there was an ine(puilit\- in another respect even 
among those who had the same kind of land ;nid the same conditions 
as to labor. Some were in well-to-tlo circumstances l>efore coming 
here, and consequently had enough to pay for their lands and some sur- 
plus besides. Others had to pa)- out every dollar they had for their 
land and then were compelled to go in debt for whatexer else the\- 
needed. These Avere greatly handicapped b\- their lack of funds, and 
it often took them _\ears to get a start. 

Howe\er, all had their hardships t(.) ciintend with, e\'en those whom 
outward circumstances had most favored not being able to escape them. 
To perform the laliorious tasks necessary for the estaljlishment of homes 
and to pro\ide for the living of the famil_\- re(piired unceasing lalxir 
from earl) nmrning until late at night during all the working season. 
The "eight-liour day" of that period consi.sted of eight hours in the 
forenoon and eight hours of the afternoon, and if this was not suffi- 
cient for the performance of the day's labor the da)- was stretched out 
a little longer. As a matter of course there was little or no leisure. 



HIS'^OK^■ Ol' I'.LKHART COUNTY 73 

Incessant toil was the lut of the piimeer, as \\cll as of all the mcniliers 
of his faniil} \\h'< were old enough and strong" enough to work. 

As the prairies of the county are of limited area those who had 
the ex]ierience of heginning in the woods and of transforming" those 
^\"oods into the farms that were to he seen throughout a great portion 
of the county a score of _\ ears later were largely in tlie majority. This 
meant that each year for the first few years a certain acreage had to 
l)e cleared until half or .three-fourths of the farm was under culti\a- 
tion. Clearing the land liecame one of the ])rincipal features of the 
first settlers' occupation during their earliest years here in this new 
countr\'. 

L'nHke the conditions of the present da\" when it has become nec- 
essary to husliand carefulh" the meager tin"il)er supplies that are left, 
it was necessary to get ritl of all the tin"iher oi"i the land which w"as 
wanted for culti\'ation except that which was needed for huildings and 
fence.s.- .\nd in making fences, too. as much tin"ilier was used as pos- 
sible. The fence ])roblen"i of that day was not bow to get along with 
a \"er}- little w"ood in fence building", or to find substitutes for wood, 
as is necessary at the preseiit da\'. but to put in all of the tin"iljer that 
could be used, for that sa\ed burning" it. The rails were made about 
as large and heavy as they could be handled. A log was laid at the 
Ijottom of each jianel in la\"ing" the " worm " and the big" heavA' rails on 
top of thai. The fences were nine or ten rails high, staked and double 
ridered. and one of the hea\iest rails was picked out to be ]ilaced on to]) 
t<i hold the fence firml}" in position. A forked stick was used in lift- 
ing this heavy top rail to its place. While this method of building" 
fences helped to get rid of consideralile timlier. that was b_\- no means 
the only reason why they were built as hea^'y and strijug as they were. 
Another, and doubtless the ]irinci|ial reason, was thev had to be hea\'v 
and strong in order to prex'ent the stock from breaking through tbeni. 
It must be remembered that the stock kept in those days was of a far 
different character fron"i the improved breeds of live stock at the pres- 
ent day, and it required something of a fortification to keep it enclosed. 

The first houses were cabins, built of unhew-ed logs. It was nec- 
essary to 1>uild them as quickly as possible and with the least labor. In 
the course of a year or two tbeniost progressive settlers built new 
cabins of hewed logs. These hewed log bouses were regarded as some- 
thing of a luxury and became the aristocratic homes of that da\-. Many 
of the cabins at first had onl\" dirt floors, \vhile others bad puncheon 



74 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

floors. These puncheons were split from the straightest logs that could 
be found and were made as near a uniform thickness as possible so as 
to have the floor as nearly level as it could be made. Under the floor 
was dug what was called a potato-hole, in which one siored not only 
the potatoes, but all other vegetables. Some of the first cabins had no 
doors, and a cjuilt, blanket or deerskin was hung up at the entrance to 
keep out the cold. The roof was made of clapboards or " shakes," 
as they are often styled. The chimneys were -built of sticks, the spaces 
between them being " chin.ked " with mud, as were also the spaces be- 
tween the logs of the cabin itself. The first windows were of greased 
paper and were several feet long and as wide as one log, which had 
been cut out or left out for this purpose when the building was being- 
erected. As the settlers became more prosperous and importations l^e- 
gau to be m.ade from the older states, they made improvements in their 
homes. The door was the first addition to be made, and that was 
added in a short time, as it could be made by the head of the house- 
hold. But there were some families who spent a winter or two in their 
cabins before they made their doors. These doors were split out of the 
native timljer, the sex'eral pieces lieing fastened together with wooden 
pins, because nails could seldom lie had at first. They were hung (jn 
wooden hinges and had a wooden latch inside. In order to open the 
door from the outside a string was fastened to the latch, then passed 
through a hole in the door, and the other end hung on the outside. At 
night this string was pulled inside and the latch then served the pur- 
pose of a lock. In the day time it was kept hanging on the outside. 
Hence the saying that the latchstring was out, meaning that visitors 
were welcome, an expression which is frecpiently used at the present 
day to ci^nvey the idea of hospitality. 

The furniture of manv of these cabins was very rude in its con- 
struction, and there was not verv much of it. .\ large slab with legs 
set in it ser\-ed for a taljle. Smaller slabs were made into benches, which 
were used for chairs. Some of the pioneers brought a few chairs with 
them, 1)ut others had to be content with nothing but these rough benches 
at first. Stoves there were none, but instead there was in each cabin 
an old-fashioned fire-place under the stick chimney. The cooking had 
to be done over these fire-places, those who could aft'ord them having 
Dutch ovens. These ovens were round and larger in diameter but not 
so deep as the common iron kettles used on our stoves. Tliev had 
legs so thev could be set oxev the coals, and there were also heavv cast- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 75 

iron lids upon which coals were piled to heat at the same time from 
the top. In these ovens the bread was baked. Corn bread was baked on 
a " Johnny-cake board," which was simply a board about two feet long 
and seven or eight inches wide. 

Some of the settlers brought beds with them, while others had to 
make their own beds. These were made by boring holes in one of the 
loo-s in the \vall, fitting one end of a pole into each auger hole and 
placing under the other end posts cut from poles. Small poles were 
laid across for slats. Some of those who had brought one or two beds 
and needed more made them in this way also. A trough, hollowed out 
oi a large log, was used for storing the family's supply of pork. A 
few dishes and other household utensils usually completed the list of 
furniture to be found in the cabins of the earliest settlers. 

The families of the pioneers suffered a great deal from sickness, 
chietly ague and bilious fever. There were many swamps and marshes in 
this section of the state, and these were breeders of malaria. Cnnsequenth- 
old and young alike suffered more or less from those diseases. They 
were spring and summer diseases, and did not trouble the people in the 
winter time. There were few physicians here, and they were kept very 
busy during those portions of the year when sickness prevailed. Tlie 
first settlers knew something of the remedies employed in those days, 
and administered medicines to their own families. Although the neigh- 
bors lived several miles apart, everybody was quick to respond to a call 
for assistance in cases of sickness. Usually the members of each family 
took turn about in caring for one another. It was seldom that assis- 
tance became necessary, except when all or nearly all the members of 
the family were sick at the same time. .\s the period of illness usually 
came diu'ing the busiest season of the year it was necessary to care for 
the sick and do the work on the farm at the same time, and this made 
it considerable of a hardship. The work alone was hard enough, but 
when to this was added the care of the sick it made a heavy burden 
to bear. The year 1838 has been referred to frequently by the oldest 
residents as the sickly season. That year nearly everybody was sick 
and there was scarcely any one to take care of the suffering ones. Those 
who were the least ill had to take care of the others. There were 
occasionally some who escaped entirely, and these would go from place 
to place taking care of the sick people and helping them to do their 
work. The late Dr. M. M. Latta was a young man at that time, and he 
frequently spoke of that season as being particularly memorable. 



7() HISTORY OF ELKHART COl'XTV 

It wciuld l)e supp^ised that under the unfavnrahle coiKhtiniis attend- 
iii,<;- tlie settlement of a new CDtintry there wnuld he neitlier time nnr 
(il)liiirtunnv for social c(jmmingling. But the early settlers did have 
their social diversions, and while the pleasures might not he enjoyed 
In- the ])eop]e of the present day thc_\- must ha\-e heen eiijoyahle to 
tliose wlio participated in them. Some of those pleasures accompanied 
the tasks that had to he performed, in fact were a part of them. The 
work to lie done was of such a .n.'tture that neighh<jrs had to assist one 
another. Without particularly intending it each neighhorhood was a 
co-operative societw The cle;iring of the land,, getting rid of large 
timher necessitated what were kno\\n as log rollings. Xo one indi- 
vidual could dispose of the great trees of those primeval forests. If 
he h;id undertaken it his progress would have heen so slow and the 
worls so difhcult, if not Avholl}' inipossilile for him to perform, that he 
would ha\"e gi\"en up in despair long hefore his task was completed. 
Xecessit\- compelled co-o]jeration in this work, and that jirinciple was 
carried into much of the other lalxir that had to he performed. The 
man who was so selfish or so mean as to refuse his assistance to a 
neighhor who needed help was regarded with disfaxor 1)\- the other 
settlers. In fact he hecrune almost an outcast. In more ways than one 
he was a greater loser than the one whom he refused to assist. 

.\flcr tlie settlers had heen here for a numher of years and were 
raising large crops rif corn, husking hees hegan to take the ])lace of 
the log rollings of the earliest days. This does not mean that the log 
rollings ceased when the corn huskings hegan. for hoth were keiit up 
at the same time throughout a numher of years. But after each farmer 
liad a com]i:!rati\elv large acreage cleared the log r(.)llings hecame less 
fre(|uent and the corn-huskings more fref|uent. The women, too, had 
their methods of co-operation as well as the men. and they also made 
op]K)rtunities hy this means for social gatherings. Wool pickings and 
quiltings were among their frolics, and those occasions were not less 
enjoyable to them than the log rollings, raisings and corn-huskings were 
to the men. AIan\- of the women knew as much about outdoor work- 
as the men. and some of them e\en more. Often the}' assisted their 
husbands in the fields in order that the farm work might be done at 
the projier time and the necessaries of life pro\-ided for the family. And 
their household duties were m(Tre arduous than are those of the farm- 
ers" wives of the ])resent day. Besides, on account of living so far 
a]iart, their isolation was more conijilete. The occasions on which the 



mSTOKV 01' l':i.KnART COUNTS' "7 

women of the neighborlunMl wnukl get together td help nne aimther with 
a ])(irtii)n of their work afforded a pleasant relief from the toilsome 
lahor at home, whether it was the lahor of the field or of the honse- 
hold. I'.esides the diversions already mentioned there were apple par- 
ings, ill which hotli men and women took part, and taffy pullings for 
the vonnger people in the season of maple-sngar making. 

There was hut little S(jcial di\ersion for that purpose alone, hut it 
was associated with the lahor in one form or another. This was not 
because the pen|ile of those da_\s would not ha\-e enjoyed pleasure for 
])leasure"s sake as well as can the people of the present day, hut r.ather 
because stern necessity decreed otherwise. Thus the social life of the 
]iioneers became a ]iart of their industrial life, and it is impossible to 
describe either one without associating the two. .V few }ears later, 
when the peo])le were not com|)elled to de\ote to labor e\-er\' hour that 
was not spent in sleeii. the\' found other methody for employing the 
time when the\' could come together. Singing schools, spelling schools. 
debating clubs and literary societies !)egan to take the places of the 
Corn liuskings. a])ple-parings and triffV pullings. But e\en these, like 
the other gatherings which preceded them, had their double pur])ose. 
The I ippdrtnnity the_\ aft'oi-ded for mingling sociall}- \\as not the oiih- 
reason why the}' came into existence. 1lie culti\ation of the musical 
talent, the mastery of the art of spelling or training for talking in pub- 
lic was the paramount object. 

The clothing worn by the pioneers and their families was home- 
made. Some of the farmers had sliee]!. ,nid from the wool shorn from 
those sheep were made the flannels and all other woolen goods that 
were needed. Others raised flax, and this. b\- means of a process of 
which the present generation knows nothing, was transformed into 
linen. There were some who were fortunate enough to ha\-e both flax 
;iiid wool, and whn consequenth' could produce a greater \-arietv in 
their wearing apparel than those who had onl_\ one. Most of the homes 
were equipped with the tools necessary for the manufacture of the 
goods to lie used for clothing, and there were few housewi\-es wdio did 
not thoroughly understand the process by which the transformation 
was wrought. P^ach home was a miniature manufacturing institution. 
Rut few articles of home consumption were procured elsewhere at first. 
Those things which were not made at home had to he brought from a 
long distance and transported in wagons, so it was onlv at long inter- 
vals that any foreign merchandise could lie obtained. For these rea- 



78 HISTORY OF ELKHART COL'XTY 

sons about all uf the wearing apparel botli of young and old was of 
homespun, and there was not much of a \ariety in the articles worn. 
All were content f(ir the time being to be comfortably clad, without 
so much regard to outward appearance. According to the evidence of 
some of those who were boys at that time the girls looked just as at- 
tractive in the homely garb of that period as do those of the present 
day in all of tiieir expensive finery. 

The food presented Httle variety in comparison wdth that which 
we have at this day. Corn at first entered largely into the diet, prob- 
ably because it could be grown more easily and more quickly than 
other grains. This was beaten into a coarse meal in a hominy mortar, 
another article which long ago passed into disuse and of which per- 
haps there is not one in existence in the county. As soon as the first 
wheat crop was har\-ested it became possible to procure t^our from the 
home-grown crop. But for some years there was such a rapid incom- 
ing of settlers that it was impossible to grow enough to feed all of 
them. Besides the wheat had to be ground into flour before it was 
ready for use. and this necessitated the long, tedious trip to mill. The 
nearest mill was at White Pigeon. Michigan, which would be con- 
sidered quite a distance by the present generation. It took a great deal 
longer to make the trip then than it \\ould now. because there were no 
roatls except the mud roads. Besides there were streams to be forded 
and other difficulties to be encountered which made the trip a disagree- 
able one and .sometimes even a dangerous one. So the pioneer farm- 
ers did not go to mill \ery often, and when the supply of dour was 
exhausted the family had to be content with corn bread until more flour 
could be procured. Corn meal and liacon were the standbys, and to 
those two articles may be credited the chief support of our ancestors 
during the earliest period of Elkhart county's history. 

One of the articles that had to ])e transported from a long dis- 
tance was salt. It had to be hauled from Michigan City for several 
years. Sometimes the farmers would drive there after it and some- 
times men who made a business of teaming would haul it. As soon 
as the farmers began to have some surplus crops to sell a load of gTain 
could be taken to market at the same time. By hauling loads both 
going and returning the cost of transportation was materially reduced. 
Sometimes trips were made to Pipua and other points in Ohio for a 
similar purpose. Those long drives to market and for the purpose of 
purchasing supplies added to the hardships of those days, and helped 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 79 

to make pioneer life more of a burden than it would otherwise have 
been. The trip always consumed several days, and it required weeks 
to make those to the most distant points. The driver had to be pre- 
pared to camp out should night overtake him when there were no 
places to find shelter. But in quite an early day taverns were built 
along the principal roads for tlie accommodation of the traveling pub- 
lic. These were found to be not only a great convenience but came to 
be regarded for a time as a necessity. A little later towns grew up, 
which became the stopping places and the old country roadside taverns 
were eventually abandoned. But while they flourished they played an 
important part in the de\eIopment of the newly settled countr}-. Many 
of the old-time tavern keepers were noted characters in their day and 
were long remembered by those who sojourned at their places. 

There were no carriages then. The only vehicles were the big, 
heavy lumber wagons which had C()n\eyed the settler and his family 
from the home in one of the older states to the new country. That 
was used in the long trips in market and to mill and for any other 
heavy hauling that had to be done. Travel about the neighborhood and 
to nearby places was either afoot or on horseback. The young man 
of that day could not take his best girl out buggy riding because he 
didn't have any buggy. Occasionally the young people of that period 
would go horseback riding together. Sometimes each (ine had a horse 
to ride and sometimes two would ride the same horse, the young lady 
riding behind the young man. Carriages would have been ill adapted 
to the conditions of that day had there been any in use, for they could 
not have stood being driven over the rough roads and trails which had 
been cut through the woods. So the lack of them was not the only 
cause of the inconvenience or discomfort incident to travel. 

Notwithstanding the unremitting labor that was required to fur- 
nish the bare necessities of life, the pioneer settlers did not neglect the 
education of their children. Usually the first winter after they had 
become located they managed to open a school. Some of these first 
schools were conducted in abandoned cabins. But as soon as possi- 
ble after building the house and barn and beginning their simple farm- 
ing operations attention was turned toward the erection of a school- 
house somewhere in the neighborhood. In these rude schoolhouses 
the children of the pioneers spent their school days. Some of them 
had to go several miles, but as a rule they improved the meager oppor- 
tunities which they had and became proficient in the several branches 



80 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

that were taught at tliat time. There were many people who firmly 
believetl in the prineiple laid ilnwn hy I'ete Junes in the Hoosier School- 
master. " Xo lickin'. nn larmn'. "' The rnd was considered a necessary 
article of the schoul's equipment, and ui tho.se schools which had a 
number of large boys muscle was thought to be as necessary to the 
teacher as brains. 

Alanv. perhaps a niaj(.)rity. of those who settled here were relig- 
ious people and as soon a>; possible made whatever provisions they 
could for holding religious services. Sometimes these services were 
held in the cabins of the .settlers and .sometimes in a schoolhouse. The 
fact that there were no church buildings of any kind did not pre\-ent 
the holding of church services. .\s the Methodist church was about as 
numerously represented as an\- that church was one of the first to gain 
a foothold here. Azel Sparklin. who settled on the west side of the 
prairie in 1S31 or i83_'. was one of the first local preachers of that 
denomination. In the absence of regular ministers it often fell to his 
lot to perform the duties l;elonging to that oftice. The house of Chris- 
topher ■Myers, which stood l)etween the present McConaughy home- 
stead and Coshen. was one of the ])laces at which the Methodists held 
their ser\ices. Colonel John Jackson liecame a prominent member of 
the Metliodist church in later years, as were Matthew Rippey and John 
I). k'Isea. .\mong the lirst settlers were also I'resbyterians, and they, 
too. began holding services almost as soon as they came here. The 
leading man among them, until he died in iJ^33, was Alexander Irwin, 
father of lohn Robert and l^lisba Irwin. .\ Rev. Mr. Cory, who lived 
on Mongoipianon prairie now in l,a(ir;mgf county, used to come over 
to I'.lkhart pr.airie to hold ser\ ices for the Presliyterians. .\ Mr. Miller, 
of Baldwin's ]ir.airie, Michigan, and a Row .Mr. Hall wmild come to 
the same neighkorliood and jjre.ach for tlie liaiitists. The services of 
those <la\s sometimes contiuneil se\era] liours. Xot many ])e(.)i)le of 
tlie present (1a\- would be content to sit as many hours in church as was 
the custom then. .\n old pioneer who as a bo}- attended those ser\-ices 
said that the \oung peojile often thought thc\- had come to the time 
and place referred to in the good old hymn: 

" Where congregations ne'er lireak up 
And Saljbaths never end." 

Besides being of a religions character the early settlers were a 
law-abiding people and were not long content to live without govern- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 81 

menial regulations. But little time elapsed before the coming of the 
first white men until steps were taken for the organization of a county 
and the establishment of a local government. As early as 1830, which 
was not more than two or three years after the first permanent settle- 
ment ^\'as made, a stable government was founded and officers were 
elected who were charged with the execution of the laws. And tliis 
same county organization has continued without interruption since that 
time and with only such -modifications as the laws of the state have pre- 
scribed iir the development of the county has demanded. 

As would naturally be inferred the labors necessary for the found- 
ing of a community and the hardships that had to be endured through 
many long years developed a people who were noted for strength, in- 
dustry and habits of economy. The first settlers were people of this 
stamp and the same characteristics appeared in their sons and daugh- 
ters. They had neither the time nor the opportunity they would have 
liked for cultivating all of the finer graces, neither were their envircjn- 
ments conducive to this culture. Yet it was not neglected, as is e\i- 
denced by the refinement and the pleasing personality of those few in- 
dividuals who still sur\'ive at the age of four score years or more and 
who form the connecting link lietween the present and the past. Be- 
sides, both those who' came here and their immediate descendants culti- 
vated the homely virtues of honesty, sobriet}-, loyalty tn count}- and 
home, and others of like character which enter into the development of 
a noble manhood and womanhood. It is true there were here and 
there individuals who possessed none of these characteristics. There 
were some who were mere hangers on, adventurers, l>ut these were 
the exceptions and many of them soon moved on to other places, so 
that those who were left constituted only a small portion of the popula- 
tion. 

Such is a brief recital of the experiences, habits, customs and man- 
ner r>f living of Elkhart county's pioneers, as gathered from every 
source that is available to the writer. In an article of this character it 
is impossible to give the reader more than a glimpse at the work which 
the pioneers did in preparing the way for the building up of one of 
the best counties in the state of Indiana, if not in the central west. Cut 
a histor^• of the county which failed to record the experiences of those 
who laid the foundation would be incomplete. There are some peo- 
ple who fail to appreciate the work which they did and who think a 
review of their experiences is a waste of time and eft'ort. Such indi- 



82 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

viduals have an inadequate cunception of what constitutes real history. 
They wilh'ngly pore over the achievements of those who came from 
the old world to found a new nation, and it is all right that they do 
so. The names of those who founded the first colonies on this side 
of the Atlantic ocean deser\-e to be cherished in -the memory of every 
true American. Yet to the citizens of Elkhart county the names of these 
strong, courageous men who came here three-quarters of a century 
ago and began the wondrous transformation which has been wrought 
in those years should be not less precious. While the children in our 
schools are iDcing taught to remember and to reverence the names of 
Carver and Bradford and Endicott and Roger Williams and John 
Smith, as well as many others that could be mentioned, there should 
also be impressed upon their memories the names of Colonel John 
Jackson, Major John W. Violett, James Frier, Elias Carpenter, Alex- 
ander Irwin, Chester Sage, James Middleton, Thomas Thomas, .\zel 
Sparklin, William Bissell, Thomas Miller, Michael Cook and many 
more which are scarcely less worthy of remembrance. These are the 
men who cleared away the forests that stood upon the lands now 
occupied by the magnificent farms of our own Elkhart county. They 
are the men who founded our cities and towns. They are the men who 
came here when our fair lands were occupied by wild beasts and only 
a little less wild men. They have builded for themselves monuments 
which are to be seen wherever \\-e go, yet the names of many of them 
have already faded from memory and are to be found only b}- search- 
ing among the old records of the almost forgotten past. 

H. S. K. B.\RTH0L0iMEW. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY S3 



CHAPTER Vni. 

HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE. 

Clear the brown path to meet his coulter's gleam ; 
Lo ! on he comes behind his smoking team, 
With toil's bright dewdrops on his sunburnt brow, 
The lord of earth, the hero of the plough. 

— Holmes. 

The history of the agriculture of anv countrv nr state, or e\'en of 
a single community, tracing its development step Ijv step from tlie 
beginning, is always instructive. Particularly is such a history valu- 
able to those who are engaged in that pursuit. The remark is fre- 
quently heard that agriculture has not kept pace with other v(.ications, 
that everything- else has progressed more rapidly than it has. Be this 
as it niav, the study of this great industry from the time \\hcn this 
county was settled to the present day reveals wonderful progress. Those 
individuals who hold to the opinion that it is behind other industries 
can profit by studying the agriculture of Elkhart county from the time 
the first settlers came here in 1828 until the year of 1905, a little over 
three-quarters of a century. 

The pioneer farmers of this county were probably as progressive 
as [hose of any other part of the country at that time. They brought 
with them from their homes in the older states the methods which pre- 
vailed there. And as many of them came from the east, which was 
considered the most progressive section of the country, they must ha\'e 
known the best methods of farming that were practiced in their day. 
To trace in complete detail the evolution of the twentieth century agri- 
culture from that of pioneer times would lie impossible, owing to the 
fact that the data which are accessible are somewhat meager and can 
be obtained only in a fragmentary form. A hasty description of the 
pioneers' methods of farming will first be given, together with a cur- 
sory view of the industry during the earliest period of our county's 
history. This will be followed by mentioning some of the more im- 
portant steps in the progress of this art from that time until now. 

The pioneer farmers' first work, with the exception of those indi- 
viduals who were fortunate enough to secure lands upon the fertile 



84 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

prairies, \vas to clear away the forests wliich coxered their newly chosen 
farms. This at the very beginning was a great obstacle to their prog- 
■ ress. Only small patches of ground could be cleared at first and these 
were planted to corn. The ground was plowed with a wooden mould- 
board plow and a team consisting of several yoke of oxen. It usually 
took two persons to do the plowing, a man to. hold the plow and either 
a man or Ijoy to drive the team. In a few years plows with iron mould- 
boards were introduced. Ijut as they would not seam well in all kinds 
of soil they were ntJt considered a success at first. Besides, as the 
ground was full ot roots, of new stumps and standing trees, the wooden 
mouldboard was less liable to break than one of iron, so it was better 
adapted to the conditions than the iron one. The culti\'ation was done 
witli the hoe at first, then came the single-shovel plow, which was in 
use f<ir a number of years. Among the trees, stumps and roots lioth 
the ])lo\ving and cultivation were tedious, laborious and disagreeable 
\\cirk. This condition continued for a number of years, until the stumps 
had decayed sufficiently to make it possible to remove them. The first 
fall wheat was sown among the stumps and trees, after the plowing 
had been done with the same implement and the same team as were 
used in iilowing for corn. The grain was harrowed in with a wooden 
toolbed harrow. The farmer who did not have e\-en one of those rude 
implements would cut a small tree, trim off part of the limbs so as to 
Iea\'e a bushy end. hitch liis team t(.i it and use that as a substitute for a 
harrow. 

On the prairies the work of plowing and culti\ating were less dis- 
agreeable and could Ije done move ra]iidlv. There was no clearing to 
be done, and this saved a great deal of hard labor, Tlie first work was 
to turn over the prairie sod, and this was done with the same kind of a 
jilow and team as in the newh" cleared timliered lands. As the S(jd 
was turned o\-er a man followed about e\ery third furrow, dug into 
the top oi tlie furrow with his foot or with a hoe and planted corn, 
coNcring it in tlie same way. In some instances the corn was dropped 
in the furrow \'er)- near the outside, so that the edge of the next fur- 
row when turned over would be directly over the grain. The corn 
would tlien come through between the two furrows. Dr. A. C. Jack- 
son sa}'s that on the farm of his father. Colonel John Jackson, the first 
year's crop was not cultiwited from the time it was planted until it was 
hu.sked. 

In harvesting the con: the stalk was not utilized as is done at 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 85 

the present day. The prevailing practice was to pull the ear from the 
stock, husk and all, haul the corn to a pile and then husk it. The 
husk was utilized for feed, and as much of the grain as was not needed 
for home consumption was hauled away to market. As soon as large 
crops of corn were grown husking bees became the fashion. The com 
was pulled from the stalk and hauled to a pile, as when the farmer him- 
self or he and his taniih- did tlie husking. Tlien a number of neighbors 
assembled and e\'er)body Inisketl. This was repeated at the home of 
each farmer until all had their crops husked. 

Wheat was harvested with the cradle, such an implement as a 
reaper or harvesting machine of any kind not then being dreamed of. 
Besides the cradle, the sickle, also, was in use at that time. But that 
was used only in wheat that had blown down or grew among stumps 
and trees, making it extremely difficult and sometimes impossible to 
cradle. And for the first iew years that was a large portion of the 
crop. It was well that only a limited area could be sown, because had 
there been a greater acreage it doubtless would not have been harvested. 
The work of harvesting with those old time implements was extremely 
slow in comparison with the way it can be done with our impro\'ed 
harvesting machinery. The threshing was done either with a flail or 
the grain was tramped nut with horses. Both processes were \ery 
slow, the former l)eing almut as slow as har\-esting with the sickle. 
When horses were used a threshing floor was made out doors by smooth- 
ing the ground and tramping or beating until it was as solid as it could 
be made. The horses were ridden l)y Ixiys while two men wnrked the 
grain toward the center of the floor and threw out the straw. 

In the early "40s a machine was in use which threshed out the grain 
and dispensed lioth with the use of the flail and the tramping of the 
horses. This machine consisted of only a cylinder and was operated 
by horse power. When the threshing was done l)y any of these meth- 
ods the grain had tn be separated from the chaff by fanning with a 
sheet, the wind blowing the chaff away. There were no fanning nulls 
then but tbev were introduced a few \ears later, the exact vear not 
being known. These mills were in their crudest form but were con- 
sidered :\ great im])ni\ement i-.\-er the winnowing sheet. .Ml of this 
labor had to he done in order that the farmer might produce a supply of 
wheat sufficient to provide liread for his family and if possible a small 
surplus to sell. 

Corn and wheat were the two leading crops grown then, as tbev 



S6 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

have been e\ei" since. Other crops that were grown were oats, rye, 
potatoes, buckwheat and flax. Oats were fed in the straw, only enough 
being threshed out to furnish seed for the next year's crop. A patch 
of potatoes was planted on e\'ery farm for home use. but there were 
very few, if any, grown for market. The crop being a bulky one and 
the markets so distant made the growing of potatoes as a market crop 
wholh' impractical)Ie. Flax was raised for home use, the product being 
manufactured into linen for a jiart of the family's wearing apparel. 
Those who grew buckwheat hauled it aA\-ay tn mill and had it ground 
to be made mto l>uck\\heat ca'kes, which ci instituted no small portion 
of the winter's food suppl}'. 

X(j attention was paid to the r(_itation nf crops. Corn w^as planted 
after corn and wheat after wheat, and that was continued year after 
year. Sometimes these crops were alternated, but (jnly as a matter of 
convenience and not to pre\'cnt the exhaustion of the soil. It was not 
necessar)- at that time to give any attention to this matter, which has 
come to be one of the nmst important cjuestions the farmer of the pres- 
ent day has to consider, ^\■hen the timber was lirst cleared away the 
land was full of fertility and nobody then had any idea that these lands 
\voul(l ever cease to furnish sufficient nourishment for any crops that 
might be planted. Had the same care Iseen exercised in conserving 
fertility then as the farmers are compelled to exercise now the soils 
would neyer have become impoverished, as so many of them have, and 
it would be just as easy to raise good crops as it was when the land 
was first brought under culti\-ation. In one of his personal memoirs 
the late John \\'. Irwin states that the wheat crop of 1834 was one of 
the best that was ever harvested on Elkhart prairie. The yield was 
good and tlie grain weighed sixty-five pounds to the measured bushel. 
He also states that the year previous to that, 1833, there was a heavy 
frost as late as June 10. wdiich injured the wheat and froze the blades 
all off the corn, but both recovered from the shock and put forth a 
vigorous growth until the crops were matured. The richness of the 
soil was doubtless the most potent factor in the restoration of the crops 
after they had been thus partially destroyed. And it was this native 
fertility which had more to do than any one thing with the successful 
farming of those days. But the abundant crops produced so early did 
not prove an unmixed blessing. The supply of wheat became so great 
and the demand was so limited that it became a difiicult matter to dis- 
pose of it. For a little while there was a demand for wheat on the 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 87 

part of the newer immigrants, as tlie}- would bring none with them, 
but after the best lands were taken up immigration to this county ceased 
for a time and this demand fell off. .\s a consequence the price of wheat 
and other grains became ver)- low. ^^'heat was exchanged for goods, 
the wheat being taken at thirty-se\en and a half cents a bushel, while 
an enormous price was charged for the goods. The production of good 
crops, the result of good soil, was not sufficient to make farming prof- 
itable then, as those things alone can not make it profitable now. 

The ha_\' crop, which has grown to a crop of great importance, in 
the earliest days consisted of the native grasses. W'hen there were 
only a few settlers here the prairie grasses furnished an abundant sup- 
ply of hay for their horses and cattle. When the prairie lands were all 
taken up each farmer on those lands set off a portion of his farm for a 
meadow, but this was sufficient only for the owners, and those farmers 
who had settled in the timber had to secure a supply elsewhere. There 
was an abundant growth of grass on what were then known as wet 
prairies, which w'e now call marshes. At first every farmer could find 
a sufficient supply of this marsh grass near his home if he had none 
on his farm. But in a short time the lands containing small marshes 
were occupied, and those who had none had to go some distance from 
home to the big marshes to procure a supply of hay for their winter's 
feed. Some of the farmers on Elkhart prairie in the early thirties went 
fully ten miles to what was then called Cornell's marsh to make their 
hay. What was then only a marsh, a hundred acres or more in ex- 
tent, has been known for the past thirty years as the McVitty farm, 
one of the best and most productive farms in Jefferson township. This 
hay had to be mowed by hand, then thrown together and hauled from 
the marsh on a small sled drawn Ijy a yoke of oxen. Tlie ground was 
so soft that a team <")f horses and wagon could not be driven over it. 
Onl}^ a small bit could be hauled out at a time in this way, and it took 
a number of these sled loads to make a wagon load. And the same 
method of making hay had to be employed on all of the wet prairies in 
those days. Nobody wnuld ba\'e thought then that nearlv all of those 
marshes, which were utilized only for the purpose of furnishing coarse 
hay, would some day be counted among Elkhart county's most pro- 
ductive farms. 

It was not long that this was the only source of supply for win- 
ter forage. The more progressive farmers began at an early day to 
experiment with other grasses and the experiment proved successful. 



88 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

As early as 1835 timothy is known to have been grown, and in 1838 
red top began to be tried. On the rich soil l>oth of the prairie and the 
newly cleared timbered lands timothy made a great growth and proved 
to be an excellent forage crop. The continued sowing of timothy, how- 
ever, proljably had much to do with the exhaustion of the soil's fertility 
from which our agriculture suffered in later years. Red top was sown 
among the girdled timljer which had not yet been removed. One of 
the reasons for trying red top was that it had been recommended as a 
crop which would thrive in the shade and in wet places where timothy 
did not do so well. And it seemed to lie a very profitable crop for a 
time, but in later years it has found little favor among our farmers. 
The first clover concerning" which any definite information can be ob- 
tained was grown in about 1845. Nathan Smiley, of Elkhart prairie, 
began growing it at that time and was the first man who is known to 
have raised it. Other farmers soOn began to grow this crop, and in a 
few years it became quite popular. As early as 1852, in his first annual 
report as secretary of the Elkhart County Agricultural Society, C. L. 
Murray made the statement that all of the leading farmers of the county 
had begun to experiment with clover. Most of them began with a 
small patch in the orchard or in some out of the way corner to ascer- 
tain whether it could be grown upon their land. It was not used as a 
renovating crop, however, as it is now, but for hay and for seed. When 
grown for hay it was the common practice to sow timothy or red top 
along with it, because it was thought that this increased the yield. Land 
plaster was sown on the clover fields in liberal quantities to make a 
heavier growth. Though both the first and second crops were frequently 
removed the land was somewhat improved by the respite it had from 
the continuous growing of other crops. It was some years later before 
farmers as a rule began to raise clover especially for the improvement 
of the land. 

At the lime \vhen the first settlements were made here wild fruits 
grew in abundance and these were used by many of the people before 
there were any fruits cultivated. There were wild strawljerries, rasp- 
berries, blackberries, cherries, grapes, plums and a number of other 
fruits, all of which were considered luxuries in pioneer days. Fruit 
growing was begun at an early day, apjile orchards being set out as 
soon as a few acres of land were cleared. In the strong, fertile soil 
the trees grew rapidly and began to bear fruit at an early age. There 
are yet in existence parts of old orchards that were set in the latter 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 89 

'30s or earl}- "40s. Tlie rows are crooked and look as if the trees had 
heen set in the woods, as some of the older residents say was occasion- 
ally done. It is thought that some of the trees may have been pro- 
cured from the celebrated Johnny Appleseed, who, it is said, passed 
through this section of the state several times toward the end of his 
career. At first the frait was mostly seedling, but the farmers soon 
began to improve their orchards by having them grafted. As in nearly 
everything else the progress in the improvement of fruits was gradual. 
Those farmers who were the most progressive along other lines also 
manifested the most interest in this branch of their farming. It was 
many years after the county was settled before fruit growing was taken 
up as a specialty. But after the industry began to develop it grew from 
}ear to year until it became one of the important industries of the 
county. So far as can lie ascertained the first real fruit specialist was 
Henry P. Hanford, wh(j had a fine fruit farm of nearly one hundred 
acres just south of Bristol and who began fruit growing about i860. 
The same farm is at the present day the leading fruit farm of Elkhart 
county, being owned and operated In- former count\- auditor (ieorge 
Milburn. There are several square miles of hilly land south and south- 
east of Bristol which are devoted almost exclusively to fruit growing, 
and the fruit produced in that section of the county is known far and 
wide as being equal to any grown in the state. 

The development of the live-stock interests of the countv is an 
imjiortant feature of our agriculture and, could sufficient data be se- 
cured, would be worthy of an extended article itself. But, unfortu- 
nately, no complete record of this development has been kept and the 
data which are accessible are only fragriientary, so it is doubtful whether 
there ever can be a satisfactory history of this industr}' written. The 
first stock kept by the pioneers was scrub stock, none of the improved 
breeds being represented. The hogs were the old-fashioned elm-peelers 
■nnd tlie name doulitless was aliout as a])iiropriate as any that could be 
found. They had long legs, long bodies and long noses. It used to be 
said that they could poke their snouts through a rail fence and root u]) 
the first two rows oi potatoes on the other side. No doubt they would 
have fulfilled the requirements of the southern planters who. accord- 
ing to Bill Xye, had no use for a hog that couldn't outrun a nigger. 
Thty were not kept up, but w^ere permitted to roam all over the woods, 
which meant that they could go anywhere and everj'where. Each owner 
had his mark for identification and the mark was recorded. The mark- 



90 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 

ing was done in the spring, and the stock was then turned out, probabh; 
not to be seen again until fall. The animals had no commercial value, 
so it was considered a waste of time to take care of them. Hogs were 
then kept until they were over two years old before they were slaugh- 
tered for meat. I'hey were fattened either partial!}' or wholly on 
acorns and nuts, which were called nast. When these products of the 
forests were plentiful the}- were often sufficient for the fattening of 
the swine. In the }'ears when they were scarce corn was rec^uired for 
the purpose. The secretary of the county agricultural society, Charles 
L. Murray, in his tirst annual report to the state board of agriculture 
in 1851, described the swine (jt that period, and a part of that descrip- 
tion may be reproduced here. He said : " We have all kinds of breeds 
of hogs among us, but principally the long-nosed pointer sort, with legs 
to correspond; the marauding propensities of this 'lean kind' make 
them easy to keep, ^^'hen it comes to ' root pig or die ' they carry the 
instrument to do it. and when it is necessary to get over a fence into 
their neighbor's good things they show a wonderful agility in climbing 
in and, if hard pressed with dogs or cluhs, in jumping out. But when it 
C(3mes to fattening in a pen, pouring in corn seems a waste of grain, 
as it takes an immense quantity to lay e\-en the hair; that lieing the 
nearest idea of grease you can gather from their looks after a month's 
feeding. But, added to all their running qualities, thank Heaven they 
are fast running out." From this description it will be observed that 
\ery little jirogress had been made in swine lireeding during the first 
twenty years after the county was settled. 

The first swine of an improved breed of w hich there is anv definite 
knowledge was brought here in 1850. l-".lislia D. Irwin, who is still 
living, purchased of a man named Bothwell in the eastern part of Noble 
count}" a siiw of the breed known as the Irish (irazier and hrought her 
to liis farm on Elkhart ])rairie. At the same time lesse D. Vail, of 
Benton township, sent with ]\rr. Irwin and bought a pig of the same 
man. Mr. Irwin brought both of them in a wagon, the distance he 
hauled them being over thirt}- miles. Both Mr. Irwin and Mr. Vail 
bred this strain of hogs for a number of vears. They were so far 
superior to the native breed that a ready sale was found for all surplus 
stock for breeding purposes, and in five or six years they were exten- 
sively 1)red all over that section of the country. The swine referred 
to were white and of attractive appearance. They somewhat resembled 
the old Chester Whites, but those who bred them pronounced them su- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 91 

perior to that breed. It required about eighteen months to mature and 
fatten them, so it can be readily understood that they would not be 
adapted to present day conditions. Just after the Cix'il war Mr. Irwin 
brought from Illinois several Poland China hogs, and this breed at 
once became popular, because they matured and fattened at a much 
earlier age than any other swine then known. This popularity has 
continued to the present ilay, and it is safe to assert that there is in this 
count}' more Poland China Iilriod than there is of auv (itlier breed of 
hiigs. 1(1 Mr. Irwm, as far as can be learned, must be given the 
credit nf inti'diUicing intu this county two of the impro\'ed breeds of 
swine, both nf which became pnpular and each une of \\hich was the 
means of increasing materially the profits of those who engaged in 
swine breeding. For a time the Berkshires were popular, especiallv 
along in the "70s. About the same time the Chester Whites were also 
quite extensi\ely bred, but neither of these is largely represented in 
the county at present. Both nf them were supplanted to a great extent 
by the Poland China. During the past fifteen years the O. I. C. swine 
have become ([uite popular in certain sections, particularlv in the south- 
east ])art of the county. The Durocs ha\-e been introduced but not 
to any great extent. However, this breed gives promise nf becoming 
one of the profitalile breeds of the future. 

The cattle which the pioneers lirought with them were scrulis. but 
as a rule they were a better type of animals than were the swine. They 
were kept until they were four years old before they were slaughtered, 
and when marketed at that age they brought from twelve to fifteen dol- 
lars. They were neither of the beef nor the dairy type, but were used 
for all purposes. The cows furnished the family's supplv of milk and 
butter, but that was all. The steers on a good many farms were trained 
for work, the ox team then being in continuous use. Such animals as 
were not used for either of these purposes were killed for beef. The 
breeding of blooded stock as a specialty or as a branch of general 
farming was not begun until after 1850. The first blooded animal con- 
cerning which there is any positive knowledge was a Short-hom cow, 
owned by .Vlexander Irwin. This cow was purchased in 1833 of a man 
who was driving a herd of blooded cattle through from Pennsylvania 
to this state and selling them wherever he found a buyer. Whether 
they were pure-bred animals or only a good type of grades is not 
known. Mr. Irwin bought the cow referred to expecting to establish 
a herd of that breed of cattle on his farm, but he died in 1835 and his 



02 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTV 

plans never materialized. The ordinary scrub cattle were all that were 
to be seen here for over two decades after the county was settled. The 
first man to bring pure Ijrecl cattle into the county and engage in Ijreed- 
ing them was John D. Klsea. of Benton township, better known in that 
section of the county as Squire Elsea. He established a herd of Short- 
horns which became known far and wide as the finest herd of cattle in 
the county. His foundation stock came from \\'ayne county. Indiana. 
The first animal of this breed that he had was presented to him by an 
uncle who lived in that county. It is believed by some individuals that 
the blood came originally from the celebrated herd of General Sol Mere- 
dith, of Cambridge City, but there is now no evidence to establish this 
as a fact. A few years after Mr. Elsea established his herd Joseph 
Rippey engaged in Ijreeding the same class of cattle, his foundation 
stock having been procured from the Elsea herd. Mr. Rippey con- 
tinued breeding Short-horns until a short time before his death, which 
occurred in May, 1893. Archibald Kinnison, another Benton township 
man, also engaged in the breeding of Short-horns soon after Mr. Elsea 
did. he, too. purchasing stock of ^Ir. Elsea. For many years these 
three men were known as among the leading Short-horn breeders of 
northern Indiana. The Elsea herd was continued by Edwin D. Elsea. 
a son of John D. Elsea, until about two years ago. when Mr. Elsea sold 
the greater numb'er of his animals at a dispersion sale. Mr. Rippey's 
herd was disposed of at public sales in i8go and 1892, only a few indi- 
viduals being kept by him, and these were sold at a sale shortly after 
his deatli. W. W". McV'itty, of Jefferson township, was for a long 
time engaged in the Iireeding of Short-horns, and he also gained (|uite 
a reputation as a breeder. A part of his foundation stock was pur- 
chased by Mr. Kinnison. Mr. McA'itty dieil in 1883. but his herd 
was continued for some years afterward liy bis wife and daughter. 
Philip F. Nye, also of Jeliferson township, is at present one of the lead- 
ing l>reeders of Short-horns in the count}-. The foundation stock for 
his herd was procured largely from the Rippey herd. It will be ob- 
served, therefore, that much of the same blood has continued through 
the leading herds of Short-horns in the county since the first importa- 
tion by Mr. Elsea in the '50s. While there are not as many herds of 
pure bred Short-horns as one would expect to see a half century after 
their introduction into the county, the blood has been pretty thoroughly 
diffused and there are comparatively few farms outside of the dairy 
farms upon which it is not represented. The grade Short-horn is the 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 93 

prevailing type of cattle bred by the average farmer of Elkhart county. 
The breed was first crossed upon the native cattle, and the 1>reeding up 
has continued until most of the progressive farmers have high grade 
Short-horns on their farms. 

About twenty years ago the Elerefords were intrcjduced, and a 
great effort was made tO' bring them into popularity. It was freely 
predicted by the more enthusiastic Hereford breeders that they would 
supplant the Short-horns in a few years, but that prediction failed to 
come to pass. Several herds which had attained some prominence were 
dispersed and the breeders of them (juit the cattle business after ha\-- 
ing expended considerable nKuiey f. ir which they received no return. 
Their failure was not due tO' lack of merit in the breed, but to tlie ex- 
travagant prices paid for foundation stock. At present some of the 
leading farmers of Clinton township are interesting themsebes in the 
Herefords, and they may yet become a popular breed in the county. 

Dairying did not begin to command attention until a number of 
years after the general live stock industry had gained a foothold. -\t 
one time there were se\-cral hreeders of Ayrshires in the county, and 
that lireed was looked u])i)n with consideraljle favor. Tlie Holsteins 
also have been bred, but not t(i any great extent. The Jersey has been 
the leading breed of dairy cattle in this count)' fur fully a third nf a 
.centurv. and few others are bred at the present time. At first their 
merits were but little appreciated, many people whn saw them at the 
countv fairs taking them for scrubs. This was doubtless be(;ause of 
the unfavorable appearance they made b}- the side of the handsome 
Short-liorns. It is said that at one of the fairs some time in the V)os 
Elijah .\dams, of \\'ashington township, exhibited a small herd of 
Jersevs, and seme of the visitors at the fair expressed sur])risc that 
sucli inferior looking cattle slmnld 1)C ])lace<l on exhibition. In reijly 
to their inquiries Hon. John E. Thompson jocularly remarked that they 
were exhibited to show the sniieriority of blooded cattle ( Sliort-horns ) 
over scrulis. But the (lisfa\'or with which they were met by th(ise who 
were partial to the Sh.ort-horns did not prevent them from growing 
steadily into fav(jr as a dairy breed. Today upon all of the best dairy 
farms are to be found herds of pure bred or high grade Jerseys. .\nd 
dairying as a specialty has grown from a ^■ery insignificant beginning 
to be a profitable industry, but onl\' in limited areas is it made a spe- 
cialty. On many farms it is carried on with profit as an adjunct to 



yi HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

mixed farniiiig-. Particularly is this the case on farms located near the 
cities, where a ready market is found for dair_\- products. 

Sheep were brought here b}- some of the earliest settlers, and they 
have been raised in the county continuously. Like the other animals 
the first sheep kept by our pioneer farmers were scrubs, and for twenty 
years or more no other sheep were known. They were kept for the 
purpose of supplying wool for home use. the ])roduct being woven into 
cliidi and matle into garments. Major Violett. who located in the vicin- 
ity (if Waterford in 18^9. kept a large Hnck of sheep, probably the 
largest in the cnur.ty for a numl)er nf years. ( )f the first blooded sheep 
to be lirDUgiu int(.i the count}- but little is known. The first man to ex- 
hibit them at the county fair was \\'illiam Long, of Benton township. 
This was in the early '50s. The Mathers, nf Middlebury. als(j began 
l;reeding them at an earl\- da\'. but whether thev or Mr. Long were the 
first there are no data tn show. The blooded sheep of that day were 
the Merinos. That kind continued to be brerl cjuite extensively for thirty 
years or more, but there are \'er\' few of them in the county now. They 
have been supplanted by the mutton breeds, including the Shropshires, 
the SouthdoAvns and Oxfords. The first named are the most numerous 
of any. While there are not as many pure bred sheep in the county 
as there oug"lit to be the grades of the Shropshire are to be found in a 
great many flocks. 

It is rinly in recent }-ears that poultry raising as an important 
branch of farming or as a Inisiness in itself has recei\'ed particular at- 
tention. From the time when the first settlements were made here each 
farmer kept a few chickens, and some of them kept ducks and geese. 
Many of the settlers brought a sufficient number of chickens with them 
to start a flock, and others bought a few of their neighbors after they 
came. Occasionally peddlers came from the east bringing chickens 
with them to sell to the people of the new country. Elisha Irwin tells 
of a man who traveled through the county in 1833 or 1834, driving a 
flock of geese which he was selling as he found buyers. Probably no 
more peculiar method of marketing poultry of any kind than this was 
ever heard of. The fowls that were kept by the early settlers here were 
of the common mongrel breed, or perhaps it would be more nearly 
correct to say no breed at all. They were of every color, size and 
form. They laid plentv of egfgs in the summer but none at any other 
time of the ^•ear. Their flesh was of a quality far inferior to that of 
the improvefl breeds of fowls that are kept now. Just when blooded 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 95 

chickens were introduced is not known nor is it known who intro- 
duced them. Jacob I'lieffer, Jr., of l\[i(klleljury township, and the 
Latta's of Elkhart township, were among the first farmers to liegin 
improving their flocks of poultry by the introchiction ot blooded stock. 
The first pure lireed chicken that was lirought in was the old Shanghai 
some time in the '50s. They were greatly inferior to the improved 
breeds of the present day, but they were so far superior to the water 
fowls that they immediately found favor with the progressive farmers. 
After the Shanghais came the Brahmas and the Cochins, which were 
still better. These were the leading meat breeds that were ke])t here 
during the *6os and '70s, Tlie first of the egg-producing breeds were 
the Black Spanish and the Humbugs. They were here about the same 
time with the Cochins and the Brahmas. AlMUt 1870 or a little before 
the American Dominiques made their appearance and were piii)ular for 
a time. These were the first of the American breeds as well as the 
first general-purpose breed. In the earl\- "80s the PlynKuith Rncks 
were introduced here, and they at once became very popular. This pop- 
ularity has continued to the present time, and the}' have proxed to be 
profitable. On most of the farms outside of those which have made a 
specialty of egg production can be found Plymouth Rock blood. The 
Wyandottes have been introduced in \•er^• recent years, and they are 
beginning to share with the Plymouth Rock the popularity which the 
former has monopolized as a general purpose fowl. The Black Spanish 
have been succeeded by the Leghorns as egg producers on most of the 
farms upon which eggs are made the ])rincipal feature of the poultr\- 
business. The poultry industry is steadily growing in importance, es])e- 
cially in the vicinity of the cities and towns where there is usually a 
good home market, as well as excellent facilities for shipping the prod- 
ucts to the markets of the large cities. 

While the improved stock, including poultry, which can be seen 
upon most of the farms of the county at this time, shows a progress be- 
yond the wildest dreams of even the most advanced among the pioneer 
farmers, the methods of caring for the farm animals show fully as 
niMch advancement. In the early days very little of the stock enjoyed 
the comfort of being housed. It was about as much as could be done to 
provide shelter for the faithful team, and that was not always what 
could have been desired. The rest of the stock had to content them- 
selves with whatever protection the woods and the bushes afiforded 
them. The chickens were permitted to roost in the trees, so it is not 



96 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

to be wondered at tliat there were no eggs except in summer. Tiie 
stock of tliose days must ha\'e been as hardy as were the pioneers them- 
selves, who were able to endure the rigors of the severe winters with 
no more shelter than was afforded by the hastily constructed log cabins. 
Notwithstanding their hardiness those animals had few qualities which 
would commend them to the farmers of the twentieth century. It is 
not surprising that stock-raising was neither a pleasant nur a ])nifital)le 
])art of the early settlers' fanning operations. 

The county fairs, the first of which was held in 185 1 and the 
last in 1893, exercised a wholesome inlluence upon the agriculture of 
the county and contributed materially toward its progress. These fairs 
were held under the auspices of the Elkhart County Agricultural So- 
ciety, which was organized in 185 1. But long before this an agri- 
cultural society had been proposed, as is shown by the following extract 
from the commissioners' record: At May session, 1836. "ordered that 
the clerk write six advertisements that there will be held at the court 
house in the town of Goshen on the last Saturday nf June next a meet- 
ing for the ])urpose of organizing a county agricultural society, and 
that the sheriti:' set up the same in the nmst public places in the county." 
No permanent result seems to ha\-e followed this action of the board. 
The history of the county's agriculture would l)e incomplete without 
some menti(in of this society and the exhibits it held from year to year. 
The first ofticers of the organization were: Ebenezer ]\1. Chamberlain, 
president: C. A. Hinman, vice-president; Charles L. IMurray, secretary: 
Nathan Smiley, treasurer. The first fair was held in the court yard at 
Goshen. October 24 and 25 of the same year. There was what was 
then considered an excellent exhibit of the products of the farm, includ- 
ing grains, fruits and vegetables, as well as live stock. In later years 
the same exhibit would have been considered very small and inferior 
in quality. In the live-stock department horses were well represented, 
there being a total of forty-fi\e. There were Init sixteen head of cattle, 
nine sheep and four hogs. According to the secretary's reiiort there 
was not shown at the fair a single pure lired animal of any kind. Among 
the exhibitors that year \\ere Elias Paul, lr\in \'incent, George P. 
Rowell. S. H. W'eyburn. 'S\. .M. Latta. Azel Sparklin. Peter Fetters. 
James Canton. William A'esev, J. ^^'. \'iolett. Matthew Rippey, Henry 
G. Da\'is. Thomas ]\Iiller and Aimer Blue, names wliicli were well known 
througlnuit the county at that time and for years afterward and uKun' 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 97 

of whose descendants are among the leading citizens of the county at 
the present day. 

The fairs continued to be held in the court yard and court house 
for four years, when a small plat of ground, consisting of four acres, 
was purchased for fair ground purposes. This ground was located on 
the south side of Madison street in Goshen and extended some distance 
east and west of Ninth street. Later a tract of ten acres was pur- 
chased about half way between Goshen and Waterford and fitted up 
for fair ground purposes. In 1866 and from 1868 to 1873, inclusive, 
no fairs were held. In 1874 a fine tract of land consisting of twenty- 
nine acres lying just outside of the corporate limits of Goshen on 
the east side of the Ft. Wayne road, was purchased by a joint stock 
company organized for this purpose, and leased to the society. The 
lease also stipulated that the society should have the privilege of pur- 
chasing the grounds at some time in the future, which was done. In 
1874 a successful fair was held on the new ground, and this continued 
for a period of nineteen years. In 1892 the agricultural society became 
embarrassed financially and a year later, after holding an unsuccessful 
fair, it practically disbanded. Subsequently the beautiful grounds were 
sold, and for twelve years past Elkhart county has held no fairs. 

There is no doubt that the Elkhart County Agricultural Society 
and the fairs which it held from year to year were instrumental in 
advancing materially the agricultural interests of the county. The ex- 
hibits and the contests for prizes created a friendly rivalry among the 
farmers and live stock breeders and stimulated them to make greater 
efiforts for excellence in their respective lines of farming and stock- 
raising. They demonstrated the superiority of well bred stock over the 
scrubs which many farmers had previously been breeding. The}^ af- 
forded an opportunity for the farmers to meet, compare notes and 
exchange experiences. Each annual fair was a milestone which marked 
the progress which had been made during the previous )-ear. j\t the 
first three fairs addresses were delivered on some subject relating to 
agriculture, a feature -which was discontinued after the third year. In 
studying the progress in agriculture and horticulture in Elkhart county 
the fairs must be reckoned as a potent factor in this development. 

.\nother movement for good in this direction is the farrners" insti- 
tute. The farmers of this county began to hold their institutes three 
years before the fairs ceased to be held, and during that time each one 
proved to be a valuable supplement to the other. The first institute 



98 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

ever held in Elkhart county was in the circuit court room in Goshen 
January 22 and 23. 1890. The writer hereof presided over the meeting 
and served for two years thereafter as president of the association, 
under whose auspices the institutes were held. The maj'or of Goshen, 
Charles \\'. Miller, now attorney general of Indiana, delivered an 
address of welcome on behalf of the cit)'. The speakers furnished by 
the state for that occasion \\ ere : Professor \\ . C. Latta, of Purdue 
University, superintendent of farmers' institutes ; Hon. J. J. W. Bil- 
lingsley. of Indianapolis, the editor nf the Drainage Journal; Hon. 
Jaiues .\. Ali.iunt, afterward o-nvernor nf Indiana, and his accomplished 
wife: Hon. J. X. Latta, of Haw Patch, now deceased. The work of 
these speakers was supplemented by home talent. The presidents of 
the institute from the time of its inception to the present time are H. S. 
K. Bartholomew. P. T. Nye, W. S. Smith, John C. Mehl, William M. 
Mitchell, Hon. John E. Thompson, John Scrannage, Jacob J. Zollinger, 
Edson C. Bartholomew and Samuel A. Hoover. 

.\n institute has been held each year from 1890 on, and nearly 
e\-ery subject in which the farmer is interested has received attention. 
In the [iast two or three years besides the regular county institute held 
at the county seat supplementary meetings of one or two days each have 
been held in one or more of the smaller towns of the county. In Feb- 
ruar}-, 1895, the round-up mstitute for the state was held in this county, 
and there was a three days' session. During the fifteen years since the 
first institute was held the advancement which agriculture and kindred 
industries have made has been very satisfactcjry. The progressive farm- 
ers of the county have taken a deep interest in the work, and through 
them an interest has been aroused in their less enterprising neighbors. 
A greater number of farmers have become careful students of their 
business than ever had been before the institutes were held. More 
attention has been gi\-en to the business side of farming. The num- 
ber of farmers who have taken up specialties in one line or another has 
been increased. In fact there has been a decided impnn-ement in the 
agriculture of the whole county. This im])rovement has resulted in 
increased profits, more prosperous farmers and a more contented rural 
population. It is true that not all of this advancement of the past fifteen 
years can be credited to the institutes. The agricultural press has played 
an important part, and there have been other influences at work which 
have contributed toward the result. But to the institutes must be 
aiven credit for no small share of it. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTRY 99 

The county is admirably adapted for the growing of most of the 
staple farm crops and tiie raising of all kinds of live stock. Wheat 
was formerly the leading money crop of Elkhart county farmers, hut 
for the past ten years it has not been very profitable. Onl\- two good 
crops have been raised since 1894 — that of 1897. which was 868,870 
bushels, and of 1898 — 893,758 bushels. The crop last year was almost 
a total failure, falling to 120,260 Ixishels. On account of the partial 
failures year after year the acreage sown has greatly fallen off. Corn 
has come to be the most profitable of the grain crops. The smallest 
yield of corn for eleven years past was that of 1894, which was 1,074.922 
bushels. In 1900 it rose to 1,547,269 bushels. The largest crop of 
oats in the last eleven years was 660.264 bushels, in 1894. But a 
comparatively small portion of the corn and oats are marketed as grain, 
the greater part being fed to the live stock. There is a large acreage 
adapted to the production of hay, and. in recent years this has grown 
to be an important crop. Like corn and oats the bulk of the hay pro- 
duced is fed on farms. Last year's yield of timothy hay was 20,828 
tons and of clover 24,698 tons; for 1903 the figures for these two crops 
were 19,713 and 31,827 tons, respectively. Besides, there were 13,000 
bushels of clover seed that year. In 1903, 198,573 bushels of potatoes 
were grown. To realize the increase in the production of these crops 
in three-cjuarters of a century it is only necessary to recall the state- 
ments previously made in this chapter, that for a few years after the 
first settlers came here each farmer raised only a small field of wheat 
and corn, a little patch of potatoes and occasionally nne had a patch 
of oats, enough of these articles for the sustenance of man and beast 
for the coming year. And the hay crop on each farm consisted of a 
few loads of coarse marsh hay. In 1830, when the county was organ- 
ized, the total population was nine hundred and thirty-five. This means 
that the number of farmers and farms would not exceed two hundred. 
How insignificant were the crops grown in small plats here and there 
by this handful of farmers is not difficult to understand. 

The number of horses in the county in 1904 was 10,363; cattle. 
23,602; sheep, 33,164; hogs, 46,595. The wool clip was 144,686 
pounds. The dairy interests were represented by the productions of 
753,026 pounds of butter and 3,338.671 gallons of milk. The poultry 
product in 1903 was 30.506 dozen of fowls and 578,711 dozen of eggs; 
in 1904 it was 10,125 dozen and 748,465 dozen. \Miile these figures 
make a very creditable showing there is a possibility of their being 



Kin HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

gTeatly increased. The farmers of this county have made advancement 
from year to year, and the successful management of their farms shows 
tlie most of them to be abreast of the times. But there is still room 
for a vast improvement. The farms of the county are naturally fertile 
and they embrace nearly every known variety of soil. They are capable 
of sustaining a much larger population than the county now contains. 
The live stock interests could be greatly increased and the poultry and 
dairy product could easily be doubled. .\s agricultural education be- 
comes more widely disseminated through the medium of the farmers' 
institutes, the agricultural press and the schools, these resources will be 
more fully developed. 

There is perhaps no one thing which has done more for the ad- 
vancement of agriculture than the improvement of transportation facil- 
ities. When all crops had to lie hauletl a distance of a hundred miles 
or more by wagon and all merchandise that was brought here had 
to be hauled a like distance in the same way. each farmer could place 
but a small portion of his products upon the market. The building of 
the first railroad ditl much to simplify the transportation problem. 
There are now three roads which pass the whole distance through the 
county, the Lake Shore and Wabash east and west and the Big Four 
north and south. The Indiana Railway, electric, runs about half way 
through — from Goshen to the western boundary. Besides, the Balti- 
more & Ohio passes within a short distance of the southern boundaiy 
and touches at the .southwest corner. These roads cany oiu" surplus 
products to the great cities, where they are either consumed or shipped 
to more remote parts of the earth. The public highways have been 
impro\-ed so that local transportation is not the difficult matter that 
it was even a quarter of a century ago. The cities within our own 
boundaries are easily reached over these excellent highways, and they 
afford a home market for a goodly portion of what there is to sell. 
The splendid market facilities afford an incentive for growing the most 
and the best of everything the farm will produce. 

Not the least in importance, perhaps it would be better to say most 
important of all, is the change in the farmer's home and his environ- 
ments. The cabin of round logs was superseded as quickly as possible 
by the he\\-ed log house and this a few years later by the plain frame 
dwelling. Later still came brick houses. The frame house and the 
brick house are still with us, but each has undergone changes and im- 
provements from year to year until it no longer resembles the original 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 101 

type from wliich it descended. The strictly modern farm dwelling, 
with the latest improvements and conveniences, makes a favorab'le com- 
parison with the modern city residence. Yet, where stands some of the 
splendid productions of architecture which constitute the ideal type of 
comfort and attractiveness once stood the rude, humble round-log cabins 
of our forefathers. The transformation, pleasing to contemplate, seems 
almost incredible. And of everything that has been mentioned there is 
no advancement more commendable than that wdiich has improved the 
home and its surroundings and made it more congenial to its inmates. 
Herein has been traced briefly and necessarily in a very incom- 
plete way the development of agriculture in Elkhart county. In some 
respects, doubtless, this de\-elopment is typical of the progress that has 
been made in every other county in the state. In other respects it 
probably diiifers from that of any other place. But whether like or 
unlike that of any other section of the country it can be truthfully said 
that the pioneer farmers of Elkhart county and their immediate suc- 
cessors did their work well. They laid a good foundation for wdiat has 
been done since they came and is being done now in the way of agri- 
cultural development. They came there when this region was a ^■ast 
forest, unbroken save here and there by a small area of prairie land, 
and they transformed it into splendid farms. They found it the dwell- 
ing place of savages; they converted it into homes fit for the habitation 
of the best race of people on earth. And we who have come into pos- 
session of the goodly heritage which they left when they were called 
from the scenes of their arduous labors should not be remiss in giving 
them due credit for their achievements. 

— H. S. K. Bartholomew. 



102 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 



CHAPTER IX. 
THE SMALLER CENTERS. 

All things wax and roll onwards; arts, establishments, opinions, nothing is ever 
completed, but ever completing. 

— Cari,yle. 
Even cities have their graves. 

— Longfellow. 

It was not long- after the country put on an appearance of advanc- 
ing cix'ilization that centers of manufacture and of industrial and com- 
mercial life began to ]ye forined. It was natural that the store, the 
postoffice, the church and the school be located near the sawmill or the 
grist mill to which the settlers frequently resorted. Those who were 
engaged in mechanical, industrial or commercial pursuits would have 
their houses near their place of business. There the preacher, the teacher 
and the doctor would reside. Others, attracted to the sput by the 
advantages to be derived from society, would make their homes there 
if they could do so. Hence there came to be centers of civilization or 
hamlets and villages, some of which, according to the law of the sur- 
vival of the fittest, became towns and cities : while others disappeared, 
leaving" only a few vestiges of their former life and activity. The 
surrounding country settling up so steadily reminds one of the star 
dust of which worlds are said to l)e formed, and these centers of civi- 
lization remind one of the nuclei which are said to grow' into worlds 
and go whirling through their orbits. Or, these villages and towns 
are like the ganglionic centers of the nervous system. It is proposed 
in the present and following chapters to notice the cases which Elkhart 
county presents of this process of formation. 

Since no important end would be conserved, even were the data 
at hand to attain it readily, by considering the \-arious centers in their 
chronological order of founding, we shall follow the convenient method 
of treating the town? and villages by townships, in geographical order. 



Benton township, (jccupying the southeastern corner of the county, 
well watered, densely wooiled — in some jiarts even so to-dav — with rich 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 103 

soil, early attracted the westward-migrating- white man to halt and 
build a home. It is mentioned elsewhere how Matthew Boyd, who 
came in 1827, was the first settler, and that he conducted a canoe ferry 
across the Elkhart about where Benton now stands. This circumstance 
was no doubt the leading cause which in a short time attracted enough 
other settlers to that point so that such a center as has teen above men- 
tioned resulted. Then, also, nature had made this an appropriate spot 
for a settlement, since at this point the Elkhart river presented an 
excellent mill site, and it must be remembered that the presence of 
water power was a prime consideration to the town-makers of those 
days. A location that in this day of railroads and graveled highways 
would be entirely overlooked ofteii became, during the thirties, a thriv- 
ing and bustling town. Another reason that prompted a grouping of 
society and industry at Benton, and which has already been hinted at 
in connection with the ferry, Avas that the old Fort Wayne road — the 
most important means of communication during the early days — passed, 
and does pass at this day, through Benton. 

The village of Benton, which lies almost entirely in section 6, was 
laid out by Henry Beane in 1832, on land that belonged to John Long- 
acre. Already in 1830 the first business building, a general store, was 
established by James Banla and Jesse D. Vail. For the first few years 
the settlers received their mail from the carrier who came from Fort 
Wayne, but in 1836 the postoffice that had formerly gone under the 
name of Elkhart Prairie was moved to Benton, with Dr. F. ^\'. Taylor 
installed as the first postmaster. In the same year a sawmill was 
established by Peter Darr, and the first schoolhouse erected, in which 
Henry Beane presided as first schoolmaster. Two years later the Bap- 
lists put up the first church, and by this time all the institutions and 
activities of a prosperous and thriving town were in evidence. Ac- 
cording to the Goshen Express of March 4, 1837, " Benton is the name 
of a village that, being touched by the magic wand of improvement, 
has sprung into existence the past sixteen months. It is situated near 
ihe southeast corner of Elkhart prairie, and immediately on the bank of 
the Elkhart river. The state road from this place (Goshen) to Fort 
\\'ayne, and from Hawpatch lo Hvmtington on the Wabash, passes 
through the village. It contains, at present, two stores, several gro- 
ceries, one public house, a number of mechanics and one physician." 
The men mnv living whose memory goes back to that early period all 
unite in saving that Benton was a business and social center of first 



104 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

magnitude. All conditions were favorable to a steady and continuous 
growth — immense agricultural and timber resources, plenty of water 
power for manufactures, good transportation for that day, and an in- 
dustrious and progressive citizenship. But there came a change. Goshen, 
on a few miles to the northwest, as the county seat, drew prestige from 
her surrounding" rivals. Railroads crossed and recrossed the county, 
creating new centers and touching with magic growth the old, while 
Benton was left to one side. Her industries ceased or sought other 
fields, influx of population stopped, and there was a general decline 
to the position of a cross-road trading point. The advent of the Wal>ash 
Railroad in the early nineties came forty years too late, although since 
Benton has become a railroad station there has been a noticeable revival 
of commercial activity and as a shipping point for a considerable ad- 
jacent territory it bids fair to recoup some of its former prestige. 

Benton at the present day contains alxjut one hundred and seventy- 
five people. There are Iwo' general stores, two blacksmith shops, a 
harness shop, second-hand store, barber shop. Irwin Berkeypyle is 
postmaster and William Strayer his deputy. W. B. Kyler, a physician, 
is the only representative of the professions in the village. There is 
a good grade school, of which at the time of this compilation Miss 
Arv'illa Stiver was teacher. Regular religious serA-ices are maintained 
only by the Lutheran and Methodist denominations. Rev. Weiscotten 
being pastor of the former and Rev. Wilkinson of the latter, while the 
Baptists had a congregation some years ago. Sunday schools are 
maintained by each of the present denominations. The only fraternal 
organization is the Modern Woodmen, represented liy thirty-three mem- 
bers. 

The industrial history is mostly of the past. The railroad was 
built through in 1892, the station being located some distance north of 
the village proper, and a considerable amount of stock is shipped from 
this point. About a mile west of the village, on the river, is located 
the power plant which supplies the town of Syracuse with electricity. 
A number of years ago there was a tannery. The old mill still stands, 
though no longer lunning. The dam was lowered some years ago, and 
water power is no longer utilized as it was thirty or forty years ago. 

The village of Benton everywhere gives evidence of its antiquity. 
Its story is one of " arrested development."' The shops and buildings 
which served in an adequate manner their purposes of fifty years ago 
have never been replaced by new structures, as would have been the 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 105 

case had commercial prusperilv cnntinued, and now stand as monu- 
ments of a venerable and worthy past rather than representative of 
the progressive present. Walker's store is one of the old places which 
might be mentioned. The oldest living resident is Thomas Longacre, 
known by two generations as a blacksmith, who was born in this county 
in 183 1, and whose father came to the county in 1829. 

Benton was located in the midst of " oak openings," only a mile 
and a half south of the famous Elkhart prairie, and although the coun- 
try has been pretty well cleared there are still large timber areas in the 
neighborhood. There are some sugar groves to the south, and up till 
recent years the apple crop of this vicinity was very large. 

MILLERSEUKG. 

The earliest settlers of Clinton township were surrounded, within 
a radius of a few miles, by trading points — Middlebury on the north, 
Goshen and Waterford on the west, and Benton on the south. Also 
being a distinctly agricultural region, with its beautiful rolling land- 
scape, capable of producing unending abundance of grain crops and 
of supporting a dense farming population — these circumstances no doubt 
combined to delay the formation of a commercial center in this town- 
ship. Schoolhouses furnished places for social and other assemblages, 
where the itinerant preacher might deliver the gospel message,, the farm- 
ers meet to consider their material welfare, or both they and their fam- 
ilies join together in the festivities that marked the various seasons of 
the rolling year. The fact that the township from an early date became 
numerously populated by the Amish and Dunkard sects, who for many 
years worshiped in private houses before building central churches, was 
likewise a factor in retarding localization of the people and their in- 
terests. 

Solomon Miller (mentioned elsewhere), who was born in Ten- 
nessee m 1803, who was a captain in the Black Hawk war and who a 
year or so later, in 1834, \\as in Elkhart county and purchased land in 
section 34 of Clinton township, in 1842 returned to take up his home on 
this purchase and in 1855 laid cut the plot of the town which has since 
borne the name of Millersburg — in his honor. His one hundred and 
sixty acres in the southeast quarter of the section comprised practically 
the entire site upon which the town has since grown up. J. R. McCord 
surveyed the site, and the first building erected on the original plot was 
that of Tames C. Miller, son of Solomon Miller. The location of the 



106 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

village was well chosen, and its growth, while not rapid, has heen sub- 
stantial and in keeping with its ambitions to afford the people of the 
surrounding country a good market and town center. The Lake Shore 
Railroad, which was completed al^out 1857, was the main factor in 
determining Millersburg's founding and subsequent prosperity. This 
has lieen a regular station on the road since 1857, and is one of the 
best stock and grain shipping points in the county. Li 1892 the Wabash 
completed its line through the county, giving Millersburg a station 
antl thus practically doubling its facilities of transportation. 

With a population of about six hundred, and incorporated as a 
village since 1870, Millersburg is one of the progressive towns of the 
county and, as a business point, probably ranks first among the towns 
of eastern Elkhart county. The enterprising citizens have recently 
voted a Ixjnd issue to cover the cost of an electric light plant, town 
hall and opera house, all of whicli will be under municipal ownership, 
and, with quite adequate fire protection, these improvements will place 
Millersburg at a distinct advantage in its competition for business and 
growth in population. The village board as constituted at this writing 
is headed by W. L. Scalf, chairman, the other members being George 
Mason and Joel Potter. 

The public schools, from which have come more than one man 
Avho lia.> taken a prominent and influential if not distinguished part in 
the world's work, are well graded and equipped and are still maintained 
at their high standard of efficiency, the present superintendent of schools 
being E. F. Ebersole. Of churches there are four, the Lutheran, Chris- 
tian, Reformed and Catholic, mentioned in order of establishment, and 
all have buildings and regular services. Fraternally Millersburg is 
represented by the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World, 
and a G. ^\. R. post. 

In business and industry we find a veneering plant, two genera! 
stores, two drug stores, two groceries and bakeries, two hardware 
establishments, harness shop, feed and grain store, etc.. Hotel Miller. 
As a dairy center there is a creamery. The Home Telephone has over 
three hundred "phones in this exchange, and the Bell system has numer- 
ous connections. Tlie postmaster is Lee Hostetter. 

Among the old-timers who have been identified with this town 
and vicinity from almost tlie beginning of its historv may be mentioned 
Anthony Lesch, wlio is now eighty-seven years old. He kept a boarding 
house and grocery in the early }'ears of Millersburg's history, and was 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 107 

also one of the leaders in the building- of the Catholic chvn-ch in this 
town. He settled here in the late forties. Jesse Hockert is another 
old resident, as is also Brice Larimer, -who was the first station agent 
for the Lake Shore road and held that position twenty-five years. 

SECOND BLENNIAL REUNION 

OF FOUR GENERATIONS OF RESIDENTS AND FORMER RESIDENTS OF MIL- 
LERSBURG AND VICINITY. 

(Taken from The Millcrsburg Grit.) 

The second bi-ennial meeting- of the Four Generations Reunion 
Association was held Thursday and Friday. The event had long been 
anticipated and when the day arrived everybody was up and ready. 
The morning hours Avere devoted to music by the band and reception 
of the visitors as they arrived. The opera house was also temporarily 
seated with chairs and the stage decorated to have in readiness for the 
evening's festivities. 

At 12:00 noon the land went to receive a large delegation from 
Elkhart, Goshen and other points. Leading the way the band marched 
to the school campus where a picnic dinner was held, in which many 
persons participated, much to the enjoyment of all. After the inner 
man had been satisfied the regular program was taken up. The con- 
vention was called to order at i 130 by President S. A. Widner and 
after some singing by the choir Rev. ]\IcLaughlin invoked the blessings 
of the deity and delivered the address of welcome. 

President Widner then read a telegram from Al Kohler, who is 
located in Iowa. It read : "Home sweet home, there is no place like 
home, though it be ever so- humble." The choir then sang " Home 
Sweet Home." The sentiment expressed in the telegram and the ap- 
propriate application of the old hymn caused some faces to become 
stained with tears. 

Rev. A. B. Garman, Osborn, Ohio, responded to the welconie ad- 
dress and made a stirring appeal for closer application of the ties of 
friendship' and of morality and right living. " It is a grand thing to 
be welcomed back," he said " tO' find our homes have been protected 
by those who' reside here." Feel at home, welcome, not by words but 
by actions. 

A song followed the response when Anthony Deahl Avas announced 
on the subject " Millersburg, Its Early History." The speaker dwelt 
at some length and held the closest attention of his hearers for about 
two hours. The land upon which the town of Millersburg is located 
was entered by Solomon Miller in 1835 and was originally platted in 
1855 and incorporated in 1866. Lake Shore road built in 1855. A 
Mr. Eldridge was the first agent and Brice Larimer the second, who 
held the office for over twentv vears. ]Mr. Larimer is still lixing at the 



107a HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

age of 86 anrl up to tlie time of his wife's death lie was tlie oldest con- 
tinuous resident of Alillershurg. Anthony Lesch liad Ijeen here longer, 
but in the interim had mo\-ed to Ohio, w here he lived twO' years, and 
then returned to Alillersburg, where he resides today. Mrs. F. M. 
Myers now enjoys the distinction of heing the oldest continuous woman 
resident. The first schoolhouse erected was erected on the site where 
Dan Unrue's house now stands. The huilding is now a part of Peter 
Boomershine's residence. As we are not a shorthand writer we are 
unable to (juote from his speech, Init let it suffice to say that it was a 
good one antl will prove of much benefit to those who^ heard it. 

Ezra Stiver of St. Paul, Alinn.. fnllnwed <:in "Fond Recollections 
of the Blessed Town." Mr. Stiver's remarks were spicy, -witty and 
to the point and were pleasantly received by his hearers. Ezra is one 
of those big whole-souled fellows voho have a great capacity for en- 
joyment and he certainly absorbed his share. 

A chorus song concluded the afternoon program. At 8 o'clock 
the opera house was filled to overflowing bv about 500 people. The 
program opened with a duet by Mr. and P^Irs. Peters. B. F. Deahl then 
took charge. The program was in the nature of the old soldier's camp 
fire or experience meeting. ^Ir. Deahl acted as toast master and re- 
ceived responses from Aaron ^^'ork. Elkhart; Mrs. Barnard Slyter. 
Mrs. Sarah Dewey Mathews, Shirley Suavely, J. K. Lesch, Clayton 
Stiver, W. B. Barnard. Albert Mutschler, !\Irs. Delia Dewey Thomas. 
Michael Stiver and Brownie Hockert. The speakers gave reminiscences 
of their younger days which were highly amusing and entertaining as 
well. Much merriment was provoked by the " tales told out of school." 
Vocal and instrumental music was sprinkled in for .seasoning. 

On Friday the program was taken up again about 10:30. B. F. 
Deahl addressed the people at some length and was followed by short 
talks by old settlers, among them being Jesse Hockert, who is now 81 
years of age and has resided in the county since 1835. He located 
with his parents on the prairie and later lived on the William Long 
farm one mile south of town. He trod the wilderness for game on the 
present site of Millersburg and has three deer to his credit. Mr. Hock- 
ert related an instance of attending an Indian war dance, which he 
classes as a reunion and the first one he ever attended. ]\Ir. Hockert 
made an eloquent appeal for still nobler citizenship in the future than 
has been attained in the past. 

J. K. Lesch of Kansas City, Mo., a warm reunion enthusiast, ad- 
dressed the people on " Innocence Abroad." Inasmuch as we were ncL 
permitted to hear our old time chum we cannot throw anv boquets at 
him, but he is credited with handling the innocence p-irt witli great 
credit and ability. 

Joel P. Heatwole of Nortlifield, Minn., addressed the people on 
" Millersburg as Viewed After Twenty-se\en Years' .\bsence." His 
remarks were full of interest and well recei\ed. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 1077, 

C. L. V. Hedrick, of Kansas City, Mo., foster son of Mrs. Showal- 
ter. came from Suaqui de Batuc, Sonora, Mexico, where he has exten- 
sive mining interests, a distance of O'ver 3,000 miles, to attend this re- 
union. He traveled 138 miles of the way in a stage coach. The mer- 
cury stood no in the shade when he left Mexico-, Mr, Hedrick favored 
the'assemblage with an extemporaneous speech full of good things. He 
met acquaintances he had not seen for over 30 years. He will be 
here in 1907 if alive and well. 

Election of officers followed a ^•ote of thanks to the retiring board 
for its successful lalxirs for the reunion. S. A. \Vidner was re-elected 
president with a vociferous aye vote and responded by saying he would 
be found with his shoulder to the wheel pushing for 1907. C. H. 
Myers was elected vice-president, \\'. B. Barnard, secretary, and S. L. 
Thomas, treasurer. Date of next reunion was fixed for 1907. two 
years. 

The big barbecue which was held Frida}- noon was the cap sheaf 
and can be counted a complete success. At least 1,000 people were 
fed and none were permitted to go away hungry. The fare would not 
give one the gxjut, but it was substantial and wholesome. Two years 
hence the barijecue will be even a stronger feature than this year and 
a greater variety and quantity of food will be provided. 

At 1 1 o'clock, Friday, Anthony Deahl, who taught here for seven 
consecutive j^ears, requested those present who were his ]>upils to as- 
semble in the schoolhouse. They did so and a J0II3' body it was. An- 
thony was happy and almost moved to tears as he addressed us. Each 
one present had something to relate about their school days and t!ie 
" school " was in an uproar almost continuously. A permanent organi- 
zation was formed as an auxiliary to the regiilar association. W. B. 
Barnard, Mrs. S. L. Thomas and INIrs. C. C. Method were chosen com- 
mittee. 

The Heatwole auxiliary met in the same room in the afternoon. 
Prof. Heatwole gave us a real nice talk and related how he enjoyed 
himself when out with the boys on a melon-swiping campaign and 
other reminiscences of great interest to his former pupils. Each one 
present had to " recite " their little piece and of course the " spiels " 
were highly entertaining to those on the inside of the game. The offi- 
cers elected were C. F. \A'idner, S. W. Snavelv. W. B. Barnard and 
Mrs. B. F. Deahl. 

The afternoon sessions were closed with the benedictii^n by Rew 
McLaughlin and friends began to bid one another adieu and leave for 
their homes. 

NOTES. 

Grandma Kohler. Mrs. Joe Niner and daughter, ]\Irs. P. N. Haw 
and her daughter were here from Chicago. They represented four gen- 
erations. The people were all glad to again shake the hand of Grandma 



107^ HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Kohlei", who was for so many years identified witli Alillersburg-. She 
is now 86 years of age. in good health and spirits. She enjoyed meet- 
ing so many of her old and yoimg friends. In numerous other in- 
stances were four generations represented, among them we now recall 
B. A. Myers, daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter. Mrs. 
D. F. Beck and descendants through her daughter. Mrs. Willis Jones, 
was another. 

The cniwd was estimated at 1.500 on the first day and 2.000 or 
more on Friday. It is generally conceded that there was a larger crowd 
than in 1903, although there were not so many visitors from a great 
distance. The people living in the vicinity of Millersburg turned out 
in greater numbers and showed greater interest than they did laefore. 

Prof, and Mrs. B. F. Peters of Wawaka had charge of the music 
and their work added charm to the occasion. They were supported by 
a chorus of local talent. Mrs. A. J. Mays presided at the organ. 

Millersburg is proud, and has every reason to be, of its band. The 
boys received many compliments from the visitors as well as the home 
people. Members of the band are Adrian, Chas.. Will, and Peter 
Boomershine. L. F. Juday, Geo. Musselman. C. S. Willard. Frank Mc- 
Kibben. Albert Stage. J. F. Gehring. Fred and Roy Castetter. Lou 
Groff. Amzie Dunifan. Frank Gary. C. R. Garman and Henry Long. 

We missed the familiar faces of Dr. H. H. Long. L. E. Barnard. 
Mel Bollinger, Peter Rockenbaugh, Chas. and George Gehring, and many 
others who were here two years ago, Init found it impossible to l>e 
here this A-ear. 

The merry-go-round and other side attractions up town aiTorded 
amusement and entertainment for the younger people and added much 
life to the occasion. 

The weather was ideal, not too warm or too cold. It tln-eatened 
rain Friday, but the day passed without a wetting. 

Conrad Smith was present at the reunion two years ago and was 
very enthusiastic and insisted on the next one being held in 1905. His 
funeral was held at the same hour the second reunion opened. L. C. 
Garman, Sarah Johnstonbaugh, Mrs. John Widner and others ha\-e 
passed away since the first meeting-. 

Mrs. John Singler. accompanied l)y her daughter and son. from 
South Bend, attended the reunion. Frank Singler, the son, had not 
Ijeen in the blessed town for thirty-five years. ]\Iany of the older resi- 
dents will remember him. John Singler could not attend this year, but 
for the benefit of the venerable ex-postmaster we might say that " the 
postoffice is now construblucated, but there is no mail for A. K. Root." 

J. A. Juday, chairman of the reception committee, had charge of 
the register. Over 1,200 persons signed and not half of them were 
on. This indicates that there were at least twice that many here. 

We observed the pleasant phiz of W. C. Hoch of Delta, Ohio, 
among the reimionists. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 107 J 

The visitors were delighted witli the new opera house and free 
in their praises of the pubhc-spiritedness of our citizens. 

The Four Generations Reunion Association has become a fixed and 
pennanent institution and the meetings may be looked forward for with 
regidarity. 

Mrs. May Hofifman Loy of Toledo, writes the editor expressing 
regret because she was unable to get here for the reunion. 

John Thomas, who came here from Oblong, Illinois, to attend the 
reunion, became ill and was compelled to return home. He was sorel}" 
disappointed. 

The history of the Alillersburg Grit, which has alwa\s led the 
van in movements for the upbuilding and progress of ^lillershurg, is 
given on other pages of this work. 

MIDDLEBLIRY. 

Traveling from Goshen to the mirtheast into the beautifully undu- 
lating region of Middlebury tcjwnship. with its almost uniformly excel- 
lent farmsteads, from the crest of the bluffy hills which border the Little 
Elkhart river on the west, one sees, lying at the foot of the range and 
embowered in the trees, the village of Middlebury, which is alike one 
of the oldest and most picturesque as well as most prosperous centers 
of Elkhart county. Situated in section lo of Middlebury township, 
some thirteen miles from the county seat and at a like advantageous 
distance from other surrounding towns, it is the commercial center of 
a rich and prosperous agricultural country. In its material aspects 
Middlebury has many points of superiority over most towns in northern 
Indiana. Its situation has much of the natural charm and beauty which 
we associate with the towns of old England, and while for many years 
it remained isolated from railway communication with the outside 
world, its other advantages more than compensated for this lack and 
maintained the town in a steady and substantial growth, which has 
been accelerated since the advent of the branch line of the Lake Shore. 
Thrifty, comfortable and some beautiful resiflences line the well sliaded 
streets, and the citizens take evident pride in their communitv and 
are themselves alx)ve the average in material circumstances and civic 
enterprise. The main street, along which most of the residences and 
business buildings are located, was the old Logansixirt and White 
Pigeon road, from which it appears that the village was originally 
placed, from design, upon one of the principal thoroughfares of the 
countrv and was in the direct hue of traffic until the railroad chansed 



108 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

the current. A public sc|uare, around Avhich the Inisiness activity cen- 
tered, was originally a feature of the town, Imt, as stated, the more 
recent development has resulted in the business houses being strung 
along one street. 

The Middlebury of to-day is the result of over seventy years' 
growth. There is just one man in the town whose eyes have seen 
the village from its infancy to its mature growth, and it may be said 
with approximate truth that Middlebury and Henry ^V. Hixon are 
coeval in years and have grown up together, with the closest identity 
of interests and associations. It is from Mr. Hixon, who is the well 
known banker of the town, that many <,*f the facts for the compilation 
of this article have been obtained. 

Enoch Woodbridge. who came in 1832. is said to have been the 
first settler of the township, and it is hardly probable that this fertile 
region could have been passed by longer than that date shows. The 
township must have settled up qtiite rapidly during the first years of 
the thirties. Of those who formed the nucleus of the Middlebury set- 
tlement may be mentioned Solomon L. Hixon, the father of the present 
banker, who located on the northeast quarter of section 10 in the spring 
of 1834; also Thomas Evans, Cornelius Xorthrup. Dr. Dunning, the 
first physician ; Orange \^'alker. who- came from New York, and whose 
sole descendant now lives in California : Stephen Durgin, China B. 
Smith; Samuel Reynolds, who, witty and genial, was the life of the 
entire community; John Degarmo. Albert Meade and others. 

Harvey Corpe, who died in Oregon, aged eighty-seven, settled at 
Middlebury in the early thirties, and owned most of the hills to the 
south and west of the village. Several years later came Benjamin 
Corpe. who was the grandfather of the present station agent at Vis- 
tula, and he located about a mile north of the village. At this writ- 
ing there resides a short distance west nf Middlebury one of the ver- 
itable patriarchs of this coiuitry in the person of Squier Lee, who was 
born in 1807, ninety-eight years ago, settled in this township in 1839, 
and, a carpenter by trade, assisted to erect the first Methodist church 
in Bristol. He now lives with his son, who is himself a gray-haired 
man ()f nearlv seventy }'ears. 

Middlebury was platted about 1836, by W'inslow. "Warren and 
Brown. The townsite was owned by a syndicate who are said to have 
boomed tJie place for speculative purposes. A plat of the town was 
taken to New York and many fifty-foot lots were disposed of at a 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 109 

hundred dollars apiece. There was a landing on the river, and no 
doubt the original promoters had extensive visions — which they influ- 
enced others to see also — of a thriving metropolis growing up at this 
point. 

But this matter is only a passing phase of the history of the town, 
whose permanence was already strongly assured by the substantial 
character of the first settlers. The first building in the town was that 
erected by W. T. Hunter, in 1835, located at the north end of the pres- 
ent main street. Mr. Hunter used this house as an inn, and was the 
landlord of the community for many years. George Sayer opened a 
store on the east side of the square shortly after the town was platted, 
conducting a general store, as did also John C. Case. Cornelius North- 
rup built a flour and saw mill on the river in 1836; the frame of this 
buildmg may still be seen, on the east side of town. Charles A. 
and James S. Dole came later and operated a distillery, also had a 
store. In 1836 the people of this vicinity paid fifty cents a yard for 
calico and five dollars a barrel for salt. A Mr. Hoyage was the first 
blacksmith ; Benjamin G. Evans the first postmaster ; Dr. Cornell the 
first justice of the peace; Daniel C. Bishop was a wagon-maker. The 
first church was the Methodist, under the direction of Rev. Ira Wood- 
worth, and they held services from house to house during the first 
year or so. 

On the east side of the public square stands a building of unhewn 
logs, chinked with clay and mortar, which its owner, Levi Kalb, uses 
as a barn, but which was one of the early store buildings of Middle- 
bury. The date of the erection of this building is not definite, Air. 
Hixon claiming it to have stood since 1836, and Mr. George Adams, 
of Bristol, asserting it to have come into being contemporaneous with 
the log-cabin and hard-cider campaign days. At an)- rate, it is the 
oldest liuilding in Middlebury, and has more than ordinar^' interest 
for this rea.son. 

The Goshen Express of March. 1837, says: " Middlebury is situ- 
ated on the road from Goshen to White Pigeon, about equi-distant 
from each place. It was laid out last fall, and already begins to assume 
the aspect of a village. It contains two stores, public house, etc. It. 
too, must become in a short time a town with its pave<l streets, splendid 
edifices, business houses, etc." 

Middlebury was incorporated as a town in 1868, and the first 
town, board consisted of Thomas Xavlor, Thomas Elliott, Christian 



110 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Stutz, W. F. Hani and \\'atson Hutchinson, the last named being 
chairman of the Ixsard. An agricultural community, the \illage has 
not depended for its prosperity upon manufacturing" or other industries 
and cannot be said to have ever suffered any serious reverses. Com- 
mercial activity has been stimulated and man}- other advantages secured 
by the building of the railroad through this point in 1889, while up to 
that time Vistula had served as the principal shipping connection for 
this vicinity. Middlebury has about six hundred population. 

The first schoolhouse in the village was a little frame structure, 
called the Red schoolhouse from its color, and was located in the north- 
west part of town. It was built in the late thirties, and up to that time 
private schools had furnished the pioneer's children their educational ad- 
vantages. The present school building, erected in 1857, is a two-story 
brick, with four rooms. The principal is Professor Balyeat. 

The Methodist church has been the longest established, and has at 
present about fifty members, with services every Sunday conducted by 
Rev. Wright. There is a missionary society, and the various other de- 
partments of church work are. maintained. The Lutherans worship in 
a brick structure, their minister being Rev. Ziegler, and they also ha\'e 
a missionary society. The Mennonites hold services in their own build- 
ing, and formerly there was a Baptist congregation in the village. Fra- 
ternally Middlebury is represented by a tent of the Maccabees and b\- a 
Knights of Pythias lodge. A G. A. R. post was maintained for a num- 
ber of years, but is now disbanded. There are some fifteen Grand Army 
men in the town. 

The present town toard of Middlebury is as follows: John (i. 
Bockus, Thomas Hutchinson, Henry Beers, L. Ecker and W. O. Eld- 
ridge, president. Fred S. Hixon is clerk and M. A. Farver is treasurer. 
C. W. Elliott is postmaster. Middlebur}- is a R. F. D. center for three 
routes. The rural free delivery is a N'ast improvement over the mail 
system that was maintained during the days when Isaac Carpenter car- 
ried the mail for all this part of the country on the route between White 
Pigeon and Goshen. He was one of the first men to travel that route, 
away back in pioneer times. 

A list of the business, industrial and professional interests of INIid- 
dlebury, as found in 1905, would contain the following — Farmers' Bank; 
$15,000 capital: H. W. Hixon. president, and Fred S. Hixon, vice 
president. Exchange Bank, Joseph D. Mathers, president, and Harry 
Cole, vice president. J. Jnntz, dry goods : A. G. Shettle, dry goods and 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 111 

general store ; Harve}' Gohn. dry goods ; Gohn Brothers, clothing : Wise 
& Barnes, hardware; Kauffman & Kauffman, hardware: Joseph F. Nus- 
baum, drugs ; Oscar Griner, grocery ; David Schrock, grocery ; George 
Gohn, grocery; Nusbanm & Nnsbaum. lumber; Griner & Griner, lumber, 
coal. etc. Also one tank manufactory, one cement block works, the 
Middlebur\- Rolling Mill, a 75-l_iarrel mill, run In- -water power; three 
blacksmith shops, one milliner, two hotels, one livery stable, two barber 
shops, twO' harness shops, the Haines furniture and undertaking estab- 
lishment. The medical profession is represented by Drs. Page fhomeo- 
path), Farver, Peters and Hani. 



York township, in the northeastern corner of the county, though 
settled about as soon as other parts of the county, has never developed 
and important center, its population of farmers and fruit growers find- 
ing their markets and other town advantages in JMiddlebury, Bristol 
and towns outside the county. Vistula, which is the only center in 
the tow-nship, and which has a population of less than a hundred people, 
can-ie into existence as the result of the demand liy the ))eriple (if iNliddle- 
bury for a near-by station on the Lake Shore Railroad, and for some 
time the depot and shipping point thus established -was known as Middle- 
bury Station. Aliout 185 1 the railroad was built through the north- 
western corner of the township, and, according to the story, a woodshed 
was placed alongside the track about half a mile west of where the 
Vistula depot now stands. The Middlebury people, among whom 

Carrington Casey was foremost in the promotion of this object, appealed, 
successfully, to the railroad company to establish a station where the 
woodshed stood, and as a result a side track and platform afforded 
the shippers from the south an outlet for their products without the 
necessity of going to Bristol or Goshen. Thenceforward, until the 
railroad was built to iNIiddleljury, ^^istula was practicall}- the rail- 
road station for her southern neighbor. About 1854 the dej^t 
was moved to its present location, and ^^^illiam Billings took charge as 
the first station agent in its new location. As Middlebury Station the 
place continued to be known until a postoffice was granted, when 
William Caldwell, who held both offices of station agent and post- 
master, suggested the name of Vistula. The name probably had its origin 
in the old Vistula highway. The town was laid out in 1865. but has 
ne\-er attained to the dignity of a village. 



112 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

\V. H. Greiner is postmaster at this writing". J. J. Shellenberger, 
who came here in 1867 and began merchandising that year, was in 
Ixisiness until about twenty years ago, and the family is still repre- 
sented in the village. There is one general store, kept by B. F. Weed, 
and W. H. Greiner, the postmaster, has a stock of groceries and drugs. 
The village blacksmith is J- N. Bratton, and S. F. Raifsnider is a 
carpenter and contractor and has a repair shop. James L. Berry is 
justice of the peace. The churches are the Lutheran, with thirty or 
forty members, with Rev. Ziegler, of Middlebury, as their pastor, and 
the Christian, with over a hundred members, under the pastoral care 
of Rev. Hill, of Elkhart. School facilities are supplied by the ordinary 
district school, with about thirty pupils enrolled. The banking is done 
at White Pigeon and Middlebury. Mr. ^Sl. F. Corpe, a representative 
of one of the old Elkhart county families, is the station agent. 

Among those who have been identified with this immediate vi- 
cinity for the longest time may be mentioned Edwin H. Corpe, who 
settled here about i860: Joseph Leckner. who resided here over fift}-- 
five years. Mrs. ]\Iary Stroup, who r.ow lives in Vistula and is about 
seventy years old, has been in the village since 1854, at which time 
there was only one house north of the depot and a little store, which 
was the extent of \^istula at the limit of her earliest remembrance. 

BRISTOL. 

^Vashington township, through which courses the swift and broad 
St. Joseph river, was one of tlie first sections of the county to attract 
settlers. And at the point where the Little Elkhart empties its waters 
into the larger stream was founded one of the first business centers in 
the county. Bristol, vvhile one of the oldest towns in the county and 
taking just pride in its past, is at the same time one oi the most pro- 
gressive and up-to-date of the Elkhart county centers. 

Li 1829 James Nicholson and his family ended their search for 
a pioneer home by pre-empting land on the site where Bristol now 
stands. These first residents were soon joined by Peter Marmen, Aaron 
Brown, Reuben Bronson and James Cathcart, About 1835 Samuel P. 
Judson, Lewis M. Alverson and Hiram Doolittle laid out and recorded 
the original plat of the present town of Bristol. Dr. H. H. Fowler, 
the first practicing physician, was alsO' the first postmaster. Business, 
religion and education advanced steadily during the thirties and forties. 
Alverson and Doolittle were the first merchants. Miss Philossa Wlieeler 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 113 

taught school in a log cabin, the first regular school house being erected 
in 1838, and about 1837 the Baptists and Methodists held services in 
the village. The water power of the St. Joseph at this point was first 
utilized in 1S41. when a dam was constructed and several mills erected, 
among them a woolen mill. 

" Bristol," avers the Goshen Express of March 4. 1837, "as a site 
for a town is not excelled by any other on the St. Joseph. It is on a 
beautiful plain, elevated about forty feet above the river. It bids fair 
to make a town." 

Mr. George Adams, whose memory of Bristol and this vicinity 
extends back further than that of any other man now li\-ing. furnishes 
many interesting items concerning the village as he first knew it in 
the year of 1848. At that time, says Mr. Adams, the merchants were 
S. B. Romaine, Owen Coffin, Salmon Fowler, William Probasco, L. 
P. Knight and Mr. Wheeler. H. H. Fowler, J. R. Congdon and Louis 
Sovereign were physicians. Horace H. Hull was postmaster, and the 
old schoolhouse which was then in daily use by the Ixiys and girls is 
now located on the bank of the river and is used as a blacksmith shop. 
According to ^Ir. Adams, there was more business and industrial 
acti\'ity in Bristol at that time than at Elkhart. \\'heat was brought 
from all directions to be ground at the mill just west <if town. Mr. 
.\dams' father kept what might be termed a " barn hotel," which was 
filled night after niglit, during the season, bv farmers with their wheat 
wagons. 

B. F. Cathcart. who came with his father James and whose home 
was just east of the present schoolhouse in Bristol, was a school teacher 
during the early days, and also entered about six hundred acres of land 
in this part of the county. Mr. Cathcart was a resident of Washington 
township for seventy years, one of the most prominent fruit growers 
and nurserymen of this section. In 1835, when he was a boy of about 
seventeen, he took a load of wheat to Constantine, Michigan, and while 
camping by the roadside one night he witnes.sed one of the awe-inspir- 
mg meteoric showers which characterized that year in the minds of 
the people better than any other occurrence. 

Among the old residents of Bristol still living are Henrv S. Wright 
and wife, Mrs. (Rice) Wright: Isaac L. Alver.son : Mrs. Michael 
(Nicholson) Frank. Among the oldest houses may be mentioned the 
first house east of the brick schoolhouse. owned bv Sa\-illa Cathcart, 



114 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

This structure is nearly seventy years old, and there are one or two others 
of nearl}- eijual age. It will interest any person to know that the oldest 
daguerreotypist still living in the I'nited States, Alarvin Cathcart, a 
resident of Buchanan, ^Michigan, and over eighty years old, at one 
time had an establishment v)n Main street in Bristol, and no doubt there 
are examples of his art in numerous homes in this vicinity. He was 
also leader of the band in this town. 

With a population between five and six hundred, excellently situ- 
ated in a tine fruit growing countr}-, with the Lake Shore Railroad 
furnishing adequate shipping facilities, the Bristol of to-day is more 
prospemus than at any time in its history and has the advantages and 
resources mtjst needed for a leading residence and commercial center. 
Its school system is maintained at a high standard. An eight-room, 
brick building was completed in 1904, at a cost of fifteen thousand 
dollars. In addition to the regular grades there is a first-class high 
school, the schools being under the superintendency of J. E. Newell. 
Of churches there are three — the Episcopal, Rev. Brant, Presbyterian, 
with ser\ices every two weeks, under Rev. Good, and the IMethodist. 
Rev. Turner. Bristol is noted as a lodge town. There is George 
Washington Lodge No. 325. F. & A. M.. and Bristol Ghajitcr of the 
Order of the Eastern Star. Castle Hall Xo. 368 of the Knights of 
Pythias has eighty-four members and owns its hall. Then there are 
the Rathhone Sisters, the Knights of the Maccabees, the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows (Bristol Lodge Xo. 448). and Woodmen of 
the \\orld. 

Business and industry : — H. B. App, general store and agricultur- 
al implements. Thomas Hilbish, general store and private bank. W. 
W.'Bickel, hardware. A. L. Lamport, general store. L. C. Congdon, 
drugs. Hermance and Dussel, general store. W'. M, Sullivan, furniture 
and undertaking. J. N. Albers, lumber, coal, lime, etc. Bristol Milling 
Company, Mr. Weller proprietor. The Garman Manufacturing Co. 
makes hayracks, ladders, swings, etc. There are two meat markets, 
two billiard halls, two saloons, one creamer}-, two milliners, one harness 
shop, three blacksmith and repair shops, one restaurant, two barber 
shops, two livery stables. Hotel Bristol is conducted by George Kinyon. 

The physicians are F. M. Aitken, the oldest in the town, C. E. 
Dutrow. J. E. Barbour and Dr. Hughes. H. W. Kantz is a lawyer 
and also engaged in insurance and real estate business. 

Bristol has many nice residences, several substantial business 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTS' 115 

blocks, has a mile of cement sidewalk on ]\Iain street, and evidences of 
cix'ic jnide are apparent everywhere. A hook and ladder apparatus 
and chemical engine affortl protection against fire, the water being 
dra^\n from cisterns. The memljers of the present town !x>ard are H. 
\\'. Dussel. president. Albert Stamp and Arthur Triggs. Clyde Hilbish 
is treasurer and L. A. Congdon clerk. The marshal is Arthur Semple. 
L. T- Greenan is postmaster. Bristol is the center for four rural 
delivery routes, two of which were established in June, 1904. 

Upon the range of hills which extends through Washington town- 
ship are to be found some of the finest nurseries and most extensive 
vineyards in the state. I-'ruit-raising in each year becoming more 
of a regular industry m this part of the county, and naturally Bristol 
is the shipping point for all this class of product. Mr. George Milburn 
(see sketch elsewhere) has a fine farm on the hills to the south of town, 
and his average cherry crop is 2500 cases, of apples two to three 
thousand bushels, 800 bushels of pears, a thousand bushels of peaches, 
large quantity of plums, and other fruit. Mr. A. Y. Cathcart estimates 
that in a full season two hundred thousand cases of small fruits, 
peaches, etc., are shipped at the Bristol depot, all of which is, of course, 
in addition to the home consumption. Some of the prominent fruit 
growers besides ]\Ir. Milburn are S. W. Pease, Joseph Garver, J. L. 
Judson, J. F. Cathcart, J. S. Letherman, George A. Fisher, Samuel 
Kreider, A. Y. Cathcart. Melons are another fruit grown in large 
quantities in the light sandy soil of this vicinity. Mr. Pease has had 
as high as twenty acres in this crop. Mr. George Roth is one of the 
principal stock dealers of the town, and Mr. B. B. Knapp buys and 
ships large quantities of wool. Huckleberries are a favorite fruit crop 
with some, and about four thousand cases are each season loaded on the 
train at Bristol. 

The township of Jefferson, though one of the richest in tlie county 
from an agricuhural standpoint, has several country churches and its 
quota of schoolhouses, but no community center that could be dignified 
with the name of town. Two reasons might be given for this — first, 
the proximity of Goshen on the south and Elkhart on the west, the 
two largest centers in the county, not to mention Bristol on the north 
and Middlebur}' on the east, as a result of which geographical situation 
Jefferson township is surrounded with towns and in easy access of them 
all and thus never felt the need of a center of her own ; and second, 



116 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

the township has not lain in the (Hrect patli of railroad building. 
Elsewhere are mentioned those who were identiiied with the first settle- 
ment of this tmvnship. 

WATERFORD MILLS. 

Naturally much of the history of T^.lkhart township is the history 
of Goshen, and is told in other CDnnectiuus. Since the city of Goshen 
is assigned a special chapter in this history, it remains for us here to 
consider the only other center in the township — the village of Water- 
ford, or Waterford Mills as it was known in the United States Postal 
Guide until the postoffice was discontinued. 

When the rural deliveiy system supplanted the Waterford Mills 
postoffice about a year ago, the postoffice department practically 
initiated the last act in the drama which will end in Waterford's losing 
its identity and being completely merged with the city of which it even 
now is aluK.st a part. The changing lights and shadows which 
characterize human life find their cmmterpart in the history of this 
village, and it is with a feeling hardi)' less than reverence that one 
stands in this now decadent community and looks upon the scenes 
of a once fruitful industry and prosperous commerce. With its pulses 
of industry long stilled and the heart of its ]>roductive activity plucked 
away by its greater rival, Waterford for many years has been like a plant 
whose sustenance is sucked away by the great tree at whose roots it 
stands. From supporting, through its industries, a considerable popu- 
lation of its own, as was the case within the memory of many men yet 
living, Waterford now furnishes its small numerical strength to the 
business and industrial activity of Goshen. Indeed, a beaten path 
leads north from the village into the city, frerjuented night and morn- 
ing by those whose daily toil brings them from the village to the larger 
center. And, despite the optimism pre\ailing among some of the 
Waterford people who anticipate the time when the village will return 
to her own and once more be a jiower and chief factor in commerce 
and industry, it would seem that the direction progress has taken 
can never ]x countervailed and that Waterford must be known more 
for the glory of her past than tor her importance in the present. With 
a knowledge of what has been and beholding the little that remains, 
one feels, with the poet, that " A great life has passed into the tomb, 
and there awaits the requiem of the winter's snows." 

\\'aterford 1>eing one of the oldest communities in the countv, it 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 117 

is of course impossible to learn its early histor}- from any person still 
lixing. and the facts concerning its settlement and first steps of progress 
are taken from the former chronicles and records. The village was 
well called Waterford " Mills," for it was around its milling industries 
that its life centered, and with the disappearance of the last factories 
some thirty-five years ago came the final period of decline for the 
village. The part of section 28 on which the village grew up was 
originally owned by Judge Elias Baker, who in 1833 put up his own 
log cabin and on the river bank erected a grist mill, which was the first 
of the producti\e industries which sought this location. Already, 
several families had settled in this neighborhood, for W'aterforfl lies 
on the wonderful Elkhart prairie, which perhaps attracted the e_\es of 
more settlers than any nther portion of the county. Rev. .\zel Sparklin. 
the pioneer Methodist preacher, had a farm on the east and Major 
John W. Violett's land lay to the north. 

But the family whose interests most completely identified them with 
the early history of Waterford was that founded here in the thirties by 
Cephas Hawks, Sr., who bought the Baker mill in June, 1836, and in 
the following year his son, Cephas, Jr., took possession and began the 
operation of a mill. The milling firm of C. Hawks and Sons was the 
corner stone of Waterford's material prosperitv for manv vears. In 
1838 David Ballentine, who also had an interest in the mill, and the 
senior and junior Cephas Hawks laid out the village of Waterford. The 
Hawkses also had a store, and the old building in which they did busi- 
ness is still standing, on the south side of the road near the bridge. On 
the completion of the dam and canal at Goshen, in 1868, the mill was 
moved av\^ay, and only a few stones mark the site of that once thriving in- 
dustry. The oldest residents, whose memories go back fifty years, re- 
member when there was a sawmill, a factory for the making of pump- 
stocks, and, on the west side of the river and south of the present bridge, 
was a woolen factor}-, and, north of the bridge, a distillery, a dye and 
fulling works, and a factory for the manufacture of rakes and forks. 
With such a nucleus oi industries it can be readily imagined wliat a 
thriving place Waterford was in those days. The old dam across the 
river was just south of the present bridge. The Hawkses did most of 
the mercantile as well as milling business, but William Baker had a store 
and tavern and \\'illiam Planter a store and pump shop. Farmers from 
a distance of many miles and from all directions came here to get their 
wheat ground and their corn " cracked," and of course tought here 



118 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

what other suppUes they needed at the same time. It seems that no 
postoffice was estabhshed until 1854, S. D. Lombard being first post- 
master. From this it is evident, at even this early date, the people had 
been accustomed to getting their mail at Goshen. For some time the 
postoffice was discontinued, being re-established in 1865, and in 1904 
was finally abolished by order of the postal authorities. Mr. John 
Lower has the honor of having served as the last postmaster. 

At the present time Waterford has one store, whose proprietor is 
Arthur Womer; also a blacksmith shop of intermittent activity; a wagon 
repair shop. Shortly after the factories were moved to Goshen, the 
consummation for which the Waterfordians had so long and devoutly 
wished was attained^ — but too late. The Big Four Railroad was built 
through, and established a station, but there was nothing to ship, for 
which reason the road has been regarded as at least a doubtful advan- 
tage. Waterford was never incorporated, its present population is per- 
haps one hundred and fifty souls, and, situated only three miles from 
the court house at Goshen and only a mile from the end of the street-car 
line, it is, for all practical purposes, an integral part of the larger city. 
The Warsaw electric line, which, from all indications, will soon be con- 
structed, will pass through the village and will, no doubt, cause a re- 
newed activity along some lines. But whether Waterford will some 
day become one of the choicest residence suburbs of Goshen and will be 
a seat of manufacturing industries, is mit within the province of this 
history to say. 

Just to the north of Waterford, and, seemingly, interposed as one 
of nature's bulwarks against the aggressions of restless humanity and its 
structures of brick and wood, stands a grove of stately oaks, the remains 
of the primeval forest which covered all this part of the country at the 
time the first settlers came to Elkhart prairie. This grove is in fact one 
of the most conspicuous features in this part nf the county, although its 
general denotement to the present generation is that of regret that the 
vast areas of magnificent forests, of whicli this is such an insignificant 
sample, were so ruthlessly overwhelmed and destroyed by the early set- 
tlers. This forest preserve, containing perhajis fifty acres, was set aside 
years ago and has always been kept intact by the Violett family, in whose 
possession it still remains. The grove has long been a favorite resort 
for picnicers. and until a few years ago the street car line had an 
extension out to it and a pavilion was maintained for pleasure-seekers. 

There are two churches in Waterford. the Christian and the Meth- 




OLD JACKSON RESIDENCE, IN JACKSON TOWNSHIP 

PART OF THIS HOUSE WAS BUILT BY COL. 
JOHN JACKSON IN 1832 



H1ST(3RY OF ELKHART COUNTY 119 

odist. The former, wliose pastor is now Rev. Stewart, is one of the 
oldest churches in the county, having Ijeen organized at Benton in Octo- 
ber, 1842, shortly afterward moved to a log schoolhouse west of Water- 
ford, and in 1853 a house of \vorship was erected in the village. The 
Methodist, which no longer has regular ser\-ices, except Sundav-schonl, 
was founded here perhaps as long ago as the late thirties, and ,-i huilding 
was erected in 1842. At one time there was a Presbyterian congrega- 
tion in the village, \^'aterford lias a pretty two-story brick schoolhouse, 
erected m 1898 by Trustee Hess. There are four teachers. 

J.VCK.SOX TOW.\'.Slin''s CENTERS. 

An entire chapter, if not a good-sized hook, might be compiled from 
the historical data which one or iwn townshijis of Elkhart county furni,sh. 
This is true iif Jack.son townshi]j. and at this point the historian is 
prompted to be diffuse and speak of man\ matters which concern not so 
much the centers of the townshi]i as the township at large. This town- 
ship furnished some df tlie most interesting personalities in the county's 
history, and upou their life \\ork and character as a foundation has been, 
built up the prosperous community which we now know as Jackson town- 
ship. Col. John Jackson, the sturdy old soldier-pioneer, after whom the 
township vras named, one of the iirst, if not the first, permanent settlers 
here, is mentioned at length in various parts of this work, and for the 
more intimate relation of his family record the reader is referred t() the 
sketch of his grandson, Frank Jackson, who resides on the ver\- home- 
stead which was occupied by the colonel three quarters of a century ago. 
Elsewhere will also be found the life history of that other forceful char- 
?cter, Mark B. Thompson, so prominently and early identified with this 
township, and whose son, Hon. John E. Thompson, is still with us, one 
of the oldest and most honored of the county's citizens. The Rodi- 
Imughs, 'V\^eybrights, Wylands, Ri]3]3e>s, and others who were the foun- 
dation stones and pillars of the early progress and upbuilding in the town- 
Khip, are given space on other pages. According to the original pur- 
poses of this chapter we must here confine our attention to those places 
in the township which have served or do serve as centers of population 
or social and business life. 

Leaving aside from our present consideration the centralizing of 
interests which was brought about to such an important degree in this 
township by the church communities of the German Baptists and the 
Methodists, we ha\e to deal with onlv two centers. In recording the 



120 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

history of these two centers there is found a course of development sim- 
ilar to that which marks the centers of Goshen and W'aterford, especially 
ill the circumstance that the older and more particularly industrial center 
of Jackson township in time yielded precedence, in population, business 
activity and most iither respects to its younger and more pi'osperous 
i?eighbor. 

Here, as elsewhere, the presence of con\"enient and good water- 
power was the factor which determined the location of the first industrial 
center. The Elkhart ri\er flows through the northeast corner of the 
township, and its swift current earh- invited a utilization of its wasting 
fiirce. There was the pinver, and all around were the magnificent fiir- 
ests of luml}er trees. In 183 1, only a year after Elkhart county came 
into organized existence, a Mr. Ingle built a sawmill near the dividing 
line between Benton and Jackson townships, and not long after Mr. 
Jonathan Wyland constructed a mill race on the southwest side of the 
river, in section 2. and with his sawmill laid the foundation of the 
village which through the succeeding vears has Iseen known b_\' various 
.names — Wyland's iNIills, simply The Mills, and, now more generally, 
Baintertown. This is another practicall\- " deserted village," through 
\\hicli the traveler m Elkhart count}' may pass and, by the vestiges that 
survive the passage of lime, hardh- suspect the industrial activity which 
once characterized the place. Mr. Wyland soon built a grist mill and 
did custom work for many years. Old settlers tell how the ten-acre 
field about the mill would often be filled with the wheat and corn wagons 
driven here from all directions, and often the teamsters would be com- 
pelled to camp here a week before their turn would come to unload the 
grain into the hopper. Mr. Wyland sold to a man named Bainter, and 
the mill has had various owners, and of course has been remodeled and 
changed to suit the changing times, until, having teen newly equipped 
about twenty ^-ears ago, it is now known as the New Paris Mills and is 
owned by Mr. \\'illiam Reddin (see his sketch). A woolen factory, 
tv\0 wagon shops, a postotiice, and various other institutions lielnnging 
to a village community have existed here in the past, but the above- 
mentioned mill is now the only concern that differentiates this place from 
anv other rural vicinity. Baintertown has declined as New Paris has 
ascended in the scale of commercial prosperity, and, situated only a mile 
or two apart, the former is little more than an industrial adjunct of the 
latter. 

At the junction of the Wabash and Big Four Railroads, located in 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 121 

the midst of a rich agricultural region, is situated the village of Xew 
Paris, one of the oldest centers in the county. New Paris is not a large 
place, its population according to the most recent estimate being four 
hundred and ninety-seven persons, but in many important particulars it 
deserves consideration among the trade and residential centers of the 
county. 

New Paris has an excellent school system, a substantial brick school- 
house of foiir rooms, and the principal for the term ending in the spring 
of 1905 was Mr. Frank Swartz. Three churches afford opportunities 
for religious observance — the Evangelical, whose minister is the Rev. 
Spangler; the Methodist, presided over by Rev. Wilkinson (see chapter 
on churches), and the Progressives (a branch of the Dunkards). with 
no regular minister. There is a Ladies' Missionary Society maintained 
by the ladies of the Methodist denomination. There is one fraternal 
order, the Alodern Woodmen, whose camp was founded December, 1904, 
and now has twenty-three members, John Reddin general consul. 

New Paris, by its convenient situation on two' railroad lines, has 
become a good shipping point for the grain and stock products of the 
surrounding country. The Big Four Railroad (then known as Cincin- 
nati, Wabash and Michigan) was completed through this point in 1870, 
and in the winter of 1892-3 the first trains began running over the Wa- 
bash. ;\lr. William Cart ships several carloads of stock from New 
Paris each week, ^^'heat. oats, corn and stock are the principal products 
of the surrounding country. A grain elevator Avas constructed about 
four vears ago. To take care of the dairymen's products Mr. Greena- 
w ault is erecting a creamery. Fisher Brothers have a private bank ; 
there are three general stores, an undertaking establishment, a hardware. 
imi)lement and lumber establishment, a tinning and roofing shop, one 
barber shop, a restaurant and lunch room, two butcher shops, a drug 
store, a liverv stalile. and one hotel, whose proprietor, Mrs. E. C. 
Blanchard, is one of the old residents of the town and cinnity, and the 
hotel building has been her home for thirty-seven years. The citizens 
of New Paris talk among themselves and with the surrounding country 
bv means of the Bell, the Farmei-s" Mutual and the Home Telephone 
Companies. 

The postmaster is George \\\ Cart. New Paris is a rural delivery 
center for three mail routes. There is no newspaper published at the 
present time in the village. 

In the medical profession New Paris is represented l\v Dr. James 



122 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

^latthews and iJrs. \\ alters & Bruthers. Jackson Pickering is the pres- 
ent justice of the peace, and Frank McFarren constable. The village is 
not yet incorporated, hence an integral part oi Jackson township govern- 
ment, Charles Rohrer being present township trustee. 

The early history of New Paris begins about 1838. when the village 
was laid nut by Isaac .\bshire and Enoch Wright, the fcjrmer oi whom 
was a settler here m 1829 and the latter in 1834. Each of these men 
owned a hundred and sixtv acres, the east and west road dividing the 
farms, and e;ich set aside jiart of his land fur village lots. The first 
postmaster was Joseph Cowan, and the stury goes that he kept the mail 
in a sugar huwl, the contents of which he would carefully e.xamine when- 
ever anyiiiie inquired for his mail, .\mong the early business men were: 
Da\id Parrot, who had a dry-goods store; Elkanah Hoffman, the first 
blacksmith; T. Divinnie, the tailor and the first hotel proprietor; John 
Berry and Mr. Cashner: ^^'. C. Matchett. the first physician. The first 
settler on the site of the ti iwn was Frederick Harriman. Abrani Blanch- 
ard, the father of E. G. Blanchard. settled just east of town in 1836 and 
built the first brick house in this vicinity. He was the first man to bury 
a cliild in tlie cemeteiy just east of town, and he built a rail fence around 
the little nmund in order to keep the wnhes from digging up the bodw 

E. (i. Blanchard, wiio has lived here since 1836 and is now past 
seventy, being the oldest resident of the town, speaks interestingly of 
several phases of early life in this part of the county. Laban Lacy, who 
was one of the early settlers about New Paris and whf) Ijroke up a great 
deal of the land in this vicinity, introduced into this section, according 
to Mr. Blanchard. the first grain separator, bringing it from Buffalo. 
Up to that time the " chaff-piler " had been used as the successor of the 
flail. Tliis v\as a mere cylinder worked by four horsepower or tread- 
mill, and allhriugh liy this means the grain was beaten out, the straw 
and grain were ])iled t(>gether and had to be separated by means of 
fanning. Air. l-'rank Jackson sa\-s that after the chaff-piler came the 
traveling thresher — a prototype of the modern " headers " so much in 
use in the great wheat countries. Six horses drew this machine arountl 
the field, threshing out ten bushels at a time ;uid emptying the grain on 
a canvas, leaving the straw scattered all oxer the field. This threshing 
device was operated by a bull wheel. 

The first schoolhouse at New Paris, of logs, was located just oppo- 
site from where the hardware store now stands. John McGrew was 
the first teacher. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 123 

UNION TOWNSHIP. 

Union township is pre-eminent for its agriculture. Much of it is 
parl-c-like in its landscapic beauty, and the fertihty of its soil is known 
far and wide. If we except the city of Nappanee, part of which lies in 
section 31 of this township, there was no community center of any im- 
portance until recent years. The observer is struck by the number of 
churclies which can be found along the highways, so that at least one 
is in sight at almost e\er_\- point in the township. This suggests that the 
worthy people of this part of the county, being entirely rural in their 
occupations and manners of living, have relied upon the commercial 
centers outside of the township for material supplies, while their social 
and spiritual needs have all been satisfied by their churches. Certainly 
one would go far to find a more generally intelligent and progressive 
class of people than those in this township, and homes, schoolhouses, 
farmsteads and every other factor that would furnish a basis for judg- 
ment indicate their prosperity and material welfare. 

To single out only one of these rural localities for specific mention 
at this point, there is in section 22 a little rural community which has 
long been know-n as Stumptown. This appellation has nothing to do 
with the material appearance of the place, but was given in honor of 
Abram Stump, who, some sixty years ago, taking advantage of a small 
watercourse in that \icinity, constructed a dam and built a mill. A 
sawmill is still maintained at this point, though run by steam power. 
Several old buildings survive from the era of prosperity, among them a 
log house of hewn timbers, plastered chinks and clapboard roof, which 
dates back to the real pioneer period. An old store building still stands 
on the west side of the road, a weather-dimmed sign in front indicating 
a commercial enterprise under the title of " Union Valley Groceries, 
Dry-goods, Boots and Shoes Store." The sawmill is now operated by 
P. \Y. Hollar. At the crossroads north of the mill stands the Dunkard 
church, across the road from which the city of the dead tells, by its 
large number of mounds and many crumbling headstones, the long-con- 
tinued existence of this community center better than more vital facts 
could. 

In 1892, when the Wabash Railroad cut through the northeastern 
corner of Union township, two enterprising business men — Messrs. 
Blosser and Bechtel, the former of Waterford and the latter of Waka- 
rusa — began the promotion of a new business center in that portion of 
the township. The name given to this village was Foraker, and it has 



124 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

enjoyed, during the thirteen years of its existence, a very consideraljle 
degree of prosperity and will no doubt in time be one of the important 
towns of the county. The village was platted on the land of Samuel 
Yoder, and there are now about twenty-five families who claim resi- 
dence in Foraker. There is one general store, P. B. Bollinger, pro- 
prietor; M. T. Miller has a store and the postoffice; there is a creamery 
station, a branch to the Freese creamery in Nappanee; two blacksmith 
shops; Dr. M. T. Brumbaugh is the physician. Three trains stop at 
the station, and there is unusual business activity for a place of the size. 



Locke township, which was not organized until the forties, Init 
which in the character of its citizens has long since made up for its 
tardy beginning, has experienced considerable diversity in the move- 
ment of its population toward community centers. The records men- 
tion a union church, built on section 22, which served as a focus for the 
people of the surrounding region. Another center was the first store, 
which was established by John Wolfe where the village of Locke is now 
situated. As to the first postoffice the records are not clear. In De- 
cember, 1847, the Goshen Democrat has an item which states the estab- 
lishment of a new office in Locke township, called " Locke," and Daniel 
McCov postmaster. The postoffice was known also as " Five Points " 
and under different postmasters had dift'erent locations. Previous to 
its removal to the village of Locke the ( iffice was occupied by Solomon 
Berlin, who was the incumbent from 1861 to 1869. The Berlin home- 
stead is situated half a mile east and one mile north of the present village 
of Locke. 

The village of Locke tells another story of vanished prestige and 
the ■■ sur\-ival of the fittest." Laid out about 1867 in section 24 by 
George W. Eby, ]\I. H. Morlan and L. B. Winder, its history for several 
years was that of a flourishing town, with a future which would place 
it among the leading towns of the county. At one time its business 
interests were substantially these: Three dr\--goods stores, one drug 
store, one grocerv store, one hardware store, one tin shop, one furniture 
store, two l:)oot and shoe shops, two sawmills, one shingle mill, one wagon 
shop, one steam grist and flouring mill, three blacksmith shops, a hotel, 
iniblic school, a church, three i^hysicians, and about forty dwellings. 
I.X)cated on high and rolling land, it nr. doubt seemed the acme of eligi- 
bility as a site for a large center. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 125 

When the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was constructed the ad- 
vantages that might accrue to the road from having a station at Locke 
were disregarded, and the line was built two miles to the south. Nap- 
panee was laid out, and with the help of the railroad grew rapidly and 
soon overmatched its ri\-al on the north. Locke could not hold its own 
even as an agricultural town, and its business interests soon were at- 
tracted to Nappanee or quietly passed away where they were. Twent)- 
five years ago Locke was still regarded as a commercial center of some 
importance. Now there are perhaps twenty-five or thirty people resid- 
ing within the original limits of the village. At the date of this writing 
a small store building had just been erected by E. J. Pippenger. who 
accordingly has the honor of being the sole representative of business 
activity in the place. With the establishment of rural delivery the post- 
office also was taken away. A part of the old flour mill still stands, but 
many of the business houses were moved away entire. Religious and 
educational advantages still make the locality somewhat of a center. The 
United Brethren church holds services every two weeks, and there is an 
excellent district school, in which many of the best teachers in the county 
have obtained their education. There are two teachers, Miss Catherine 
Chamberlain having been principal of the school during the past vear. 
The pretty brick school building was erected in 1890. The oldest resi- 
dent of Locke community at the present time is Martin Robinson. Locke 
used to bear the name of Whistlertown. 

The history of the city of Nappanee, which appropriately could be 
considered in the centers of Locke township, is deserving of such ex- 
tended notice that place will be given for that purpose on later following 
pages. 

WAKARUSA. 

\\'akarusa has for half a century I)een the principal center of Olive 
township. During the greater part of this period it existed as a " coun- 
try town," without railroad advantages, and the fact that it grew and 
prospered and was a ixisy trading and industrial village even without a 
railroad indicates the enterprise of its citizens and the hig-h character of 
its surrounding population. Nearly twenty-five years ago the directory 
of the town's institutions contained the following: Four churches, 
Methodist, Lutheran. Christian, Baptist; two-story brick schoolhouse; 
one stave and heading factory ; one saw and planing mill ; two wagon 
and carriage factories; two harness shops, two drug stores, three shoe 



126 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

sliops, two dry-goods stores, one liardware and implement, one furniture 
store, one grist mill, two blacksmith shops, a meat market, a hotel, a 
millinery store, barber shop, saloon, two physicians, \eterinary surgeon, 
and nearly four hundred people. 

During the first ten years after Olive township was organized there 
were no centers of population other than the log schoolhouses. [n 1849 
a postoffice, known as Mt. Olive, was established in Harvey Bly"s log- 
cabin, two and a half miles north rif the present Wakarusa. In that 
primitive postoffice \\as born th.e wife of Mr. George Nusbaum, the pres- 
ent postmaster of \\'akarusa, and as Mrs. Xusl)aum is her husband's 
assistant the Bly family has been identified, first and last, witli Uncle 
Sam's affairs in this vicinity for o\-er fifty-five years. 

In 1S52 a village was platted where Wakarusa now stands, and 
was given the name of Salem, the nrigiiial plat being m.ide 1)\' Messrs. 
Holdeman, Smeltzer and Fletcher. When the .Mt. 01i\e postoffice was 
moved tn this place, there at once aro^e difficulties in consequence of 
there being another Salem in the state, .\fter a period of confusion in 
postal matters, the citizens assembled in town meeting ;nid \-oted a new 
name. .\t this meeting, which was held in i83<). Mr. Jacob Dell, then 
a boy in his teens, was ])resent, and he remembers nian\- of the ])ros and 
cons of the discussion which preceded the cliange of name. Mr. Woijl- 
verton finally proposed the name of Wak.nrusa. which \\as the name of 
a place in Kansas of which he had liecn ;i resident, and this designation 
was finall}" adopted. \\'akarusa is an Indian word wh<ise meaning, ac- 
cording to the Ijest authorities, is "knee deep in mud." It was owing 
to the consistencv of this name with the nature of the boo•g■^■ soil on 
wdiich the village was located tliat the decision of the majority of the 
citizens finally favored the present title. 

William Moon was the first settler nn the site of Wakarusa. build- 
ing his house near what is known as the " fish iioud." Thomas Inks and 
Jackson Woolverton are mentioned as the first uicrchants. the Lutherans 
built the fi.rst church, and the first public school was erected about iS^d. 
subscription schools having been in vogue up to that time. (.)f the old- 
est residents who are still li\ing. it is fitting to mention Samuel Kline, 
wdio is now- past eighty and has li\-ed here o\er fifty \ears; ^Irs. Lucinda 
M. (Stevens) Woolverton, the mother of Dr. \\'oo]verton, is now in 
her eighties, and it w-as her husband who nruned the town. Mrs, 
Pamelia (Pitts) Grove has the double distinction of being one of the 
oldest women in the countv and of living in the oldest house in \\'aka- 



fllSTORV OF ELKHART COUNTY 127 

rusa — the frame structure on the west side of Elkhart street near tlie 
business section. She was the first child born in Locke township, about 
seventy-five years ago. Other old-timers are Anthony Myers. David H. 
Fletcher. Mrs. Mary A. Young. Mrs. Abraham Lechlitner. Abraham 
W'eldy, Isaac Letherman. 

The twentieth century Wakarusa affords many attractions as a 
[jlace of residence and is a business center whose importance is growing 
every year. The census of 1900 gave 917 inhabitants, and it is now- 
estimated that there are not many short of twelve hundred. To- afford 
permanent representation of the business activity as found in 1905, we 
make a list of the persons and firms who are identified with the various 
phases of business, professional and industrial affairs : 

Wakarusa Exchange Bank, a private bank, established fur fifteen 
years ; Jeremiah Bechtel, propriet<ir. and H. M. Freed, cashier. l'"rash 
Brothers, general merchandise. Ketring & Warner and Yoder Brothers, 
hardware. General stores — A. C. I-ehman. Melvin Yarian, George W. 
Swart.z, Wakarusa Bargam Store. Kilmer's Market Place. Wakarusa 
Coal and Lumber Co., Fred Trisinger and Jacob Walters, proprietors, 
manufacturers of the cement building blocks. Del! sawmill. J. H. Dell, 
manufacturing hardwood lumber from local trees. Wakarusa Milling 
Co., established m 1895. Jacob Weldy, principal stockholder. Waka- 
rusa Machine and Iron Works, Walmer Brothers and Gall. Wakarusa 
creamery. Two restaurants, three barber shops, two hotels, one livery, 
two drug stores, two millinery shops, one tailor shop, three harness 
antl \-elucle establishments, three implement dealers, two jewelers, three 
saloons, two blacksmith shops, one butcher shop, one tin shop. I-".. F. 
Leinhart and Yoder Brothers, undertaking and furniture; T. A. h'reed. 
shoe store; building contractors. Dave Moyer. John Hoo\er, b'rank 
D(iriot ; Elliot and Brenneman, stockmen; I'. J. Kaufman, poultry dealer. 
The professions are represented by four physicians, Drs. A. S. Sensenicli, 
LaMar Knepple. S. C. Knepple and Bauman; dentist. Dr. Sanderson; 
lawyers, F. W. Brown, S. C. Harrington, J. B. Stewart ; real estate. 
Brown and Smetzer and J. M. Blocher. The Wakarusa Telephone Ex- 
change, organized by Mr. F. W. Brown in 1901, has over 200 sul>- 
scribers. connecting with Nappanee. South Bend. Goshen. Elkhart. Mil- 
lersburg, New Paris and country. C. W. Miller, president: C. C. Piatt. 
vice president : F. W. Brown, secretary, treasurer and manager. 

Civic enterprise is noticeable on every hand in this town. .Miout 
three years ago a first-class fire department was organized, and the drill 



128 HISTORY OF ELKHART COL'XTY 

is a regular feature of the municipal program. There are three tire 
companies, with chemical engine, hook and ladder, and plenty of hose. 
The pond and level-full cisterns afford a never-failing water supply, and 
it is hardly possible that Wakarusa could ever again suffer such a de- 
structive fire as visited her a few years ago. The present town board 
has the following members : B. F. Lutz, president, Fred Trisinger, sec- 
retary; John Fink, treasurer; Jeremiah Bechtel and Howard Elliott. 
The town was incorporated in 1898. 

The citizens take just pride in their public schools. The school 
building, wliich stands on the east side of town, was practically rebuilt 
some twelve years ago. being a two-story brick structure with nine 
rooms. Superintendent A. C. Steele and Principal L. M. Gulp have 
five other teachers to assist in the work, and so well is the institution 
graded and so efficient are all departments of the work that in 1905 the 
high school v>-as accredited with the State University. There were four 
graduates from the high school in 1905. 

Wakarusa is a religious town and has a full quota of churches. 
The beautiful Christian church is mentioned elsewhere. The Methodists 
are under Rev. Earl Parker, the United Brethren have a non-resident 
minister, the German Baptists have E. J. Swartz as their pastor, and 
there is also a congregation of the Mennonite Brethren in Ghrist. There 
are also a Ghristian Endeavor, Epworth League, Home jNIissionaiy So- 
ciety, Ladies Aid, and the Band of Willing Workers of the Ghristian 
church. 

Of the fraternities, \\'akarusa has a lodge of the Masons and an 
Eastern Star chapter; the Knights and Ladies of the Maccabees, and 
there is a Grand Army post of some forty members, with a Woman's 
Relief Gorps as auxiliary. The Search Light Glub, an organization of 
ladies wlio devote themselves to different lines of study in literature and 
art. is one of the leading clubs of the county. 'Sirs. Gharles Frash is 
president, and Mrs. H. j\L Freed is secretary. 

Wakarusa is now a fourth-class postoffice, but the present post- 
master, who is a man of enterprise and public spirit, hopes soon to bring 
it into the third class. There are three rural delivery routes that center 
here. 

HARRISON TOWNSHIP. 

Beautiful as a landscape, rich and fertile in soil, populated by as 
fine a class of farmers as will be found in anv similar section in the state. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 129 

Harrison township has long held pre-eminence as the agricultural para- 
dise of Elkhart county. Fine farms are the rule here, the growing of 
premier grain crops and the raising of fine stock is the one absorbing 
pursuit of the inhabitants, and therefore we may little expect to find here 
any commercial development. Excellent roads cross the township in 
all directions and lead away in convenient distances to Goshen, to Elk- 
hart and to Wakarusa, so that the people have no need for a town in 
their midst. Independent, progressive, prosperous, the farmers of Har- 
rison township find all the comforts of life each within his own home- 
stead, and when other advantages appeal to them they have the means 
to go after them. Good schools ha\-e been maintained from the early 
times to the present, and the township is noted for the number of its 
country churches. There are ten churches and no postoflice. .\t one 
of the crossroads four churches may he counted within a distance of 
two miles. 

The Goshen Democrat, in December, 1847, tells of the recent estab- 
lishment in Harrison township of a postoftice called Cabin Hill, of which 
Solomon P. Yeoman was postmaster. This office was in the western 
part of the township, and was discontinued after a few years. Some 
time later the demand for a postal station was gratified by the establish- 
ment of one where a community called Southwest had formed. South- 
west is located at the crossroads dividing sections 26, 27, 34 and ^^. A 
short distance to the south runs the Logansport diagonal road, so that 
this was a very favorable six)t for a town. A postoffice was maintained 
at that point, with some interruption, up till a recent time, when the 
rural delivery displaced it. At the present time Southwest contains a 
general store owned by H. N. Garberick; a substantial brick schoolhouse, 
three churches in the immediate neighborhood, and perhaps a dozen 
families. About a mile south of Southwest is the only lake in this pari 
of the county. 

The townships of Baugo. Concord. Cle\eland and Osolo have one 
center — the city of Elkhart with its seventeen thousand inhabitants. 
This city supplies nearly all the advantages of business, industry, society. 
amusement and religion which the people of these townships would seek 
at any community center, and for this reason the little embryo communi- 
ties which at various times have come into existence are now at best 
nothing more than a local name. Baugo township has Jamestown or 
" Jimtown," a well known locality because one of the oldest settlements 
in the county, but no longer possessing any business importance. Will- 



130 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUxNTY 

iani Ricliason and James Davis built the sawmill which tVirmed the in- 
dustrial nucleus of this place. Jajnes Davis laid uut a village there ab<5ut 
1835, its location being on Baugo creek in section 26. Samuel Cotterel 
had the first store. The first schoolhouse in the township was also 
built there. The Methodists built a chapel there in 1854. and some 
t\\ent_\- years later the Baptists also erected a house of worship. 

Francis Rork, wdro settled in the western part of Cleveland township 
about 1830. kept a public house there for some time, and this might be 
said to have been the first common gathering place of the settlers of 
that conininnity. The first scIidoI was also held in a cabin belonging 
to i\lr. Kork. There is a community in the northern part of the town- 
ship called Yankeetown. which came into existence in 1878 as a result 
of agitation to build a church. There have been several other church 
communities, but no center deser\ing of special consideration. 

Osolo township, the "lake" township, is likewise destitute of vil- 
lages. The first schoolhuuse was built, on section jo, in 1838, and in 
the following year a postoffice was established on the west side of Chris- 
tiana creek, with Alpheus Bugbee the first incumbent. The ofifice was 
continued only a few years. 

Outside of Elkhart the onlv center in Concord township is Dunlaps 
Station, in section 26, on the inter-urban electric line, and formerly a 
station point on the Lake Shore Railroad. Dunlaps is the seat of the 
county asylum, and also marks, approximately, the site chosen by the 
commissioners for the first county seat of Elkhart countv. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 131 



CHAPTER X. 
GOSHEN. 

In the land of Goshen let them dwell. 



-Genesis. 



The city of Goshen, at its beginning, was the result of official enact- 
ment. Many cities now famous as centers of commerce and population 
owe their origin to accident or the chance grouping of people into a 
social community. But Goshen was deliberately selected as the central 
city of Elkhart county, where sliould be located for all time the seat of 
justice and civil government and where should, in the hopes of the 
founders, grow an im])ortant and populous center of trade and business 
activity. 

We have elsewhere said thai the first site selected for the seat of 
justice was unsatisfactory. Accordingly the general assembly annulled 
the action of the first commissioners and appointed a new set, who at the 
session of the board of justices in March, 183 1, rendered the following 
report : " The undersigned commissioners who were appointed by an act 
of the general assembly of the state aforesaid, entitled an act to relocate 
the county seat of justice for said county agreeable to an act entitled an 
act for fixing the seats of justice in all counties hereafter to be laid off, 
report that they met at the house of Thomas Thomas in said county of 
Elkhart, on the third Monda\', being the twenty-first day of March, 
1H31 ; and after being dul\- sworn according to law proceeded to examine 
the different sites for a town in which to establish the seat of justice 
for said county of Elkhart. .\nd after liaving made full and satisfac- 
tory examination as aforesaid, as well the fonuer site selected as others, 
tliey are of the opinion that the [jresent site should be vacated, and have 
selected the south fraction of tlie northeast (piarter and the north fraction 
of the southeast quarter of section nine, in township 36 north, of range 
six east of the principal meridian line, the Fort Wayne land office dis- 
trict : Provided, the two fractions do not exceed the maximum quantity 
of one hundred and sixty acres to which the county has right of pre- 
em])tion by an act of Congress, 24th of May, 1824, by locating the 
countN seat thereof on the same: and, further, should said fractions ex- 



13'2 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

ceetl the quantity of acres above described, llien, in that case, we select 
the tirst above described fraction and recommend the purchase of the 
other by the county commissioners ; and the undersigned have further 
selected the name of Goshen as a suitable name for said town as afore- 
said." 

The name of Goshen is said to have been suggested by Oliver Crane, 
\vh(_) afterward conducted the sale of lots in the new town, and this sug- 
gestion was adopted as indicated in the above report. It seems that this 
name was not chosen with any reference to the biblical Goshen, the fat 
and fertile land where sojourned the brethren of Joseph in Eg}'pt, but 
the predecessor of the Elkhartian Goshen was the Goshen of Xew York 
state. 

Within a short time the land comprising the new county seat was 
secured and a special meeting of the board of justices was called in June, 
183 1. At this meeting Oliver Crane, county agent, was instructed to 
have the land platted and to advertise the sale of the lots for July 20. 
George Crawford, the first civil engineer in the county, was employed to 
make a plat of the town. This was done and the sale came off as ad- 
vertised. It will be of interest to present the names of those first pur- 
chasers of lots as recorded in the report submitted by the count}' agent : 
Samuel Good, Jacob Sneltzer, Richard Britton, Jesse C. Charlton. Hugh 
Hannah, William Runyan, Jacob Studebaker, Luke Hulit, Christopher 
]\Iires, John Jackson, Isaac B. King, Geo. McCollum, Elias Carpenter, 
James Bishop, Catherine Bishop, John W. \'iolette, Nicholas Carpenter, 
David Barnhazel, John McConnell, Rinehart Cripe, \\'illiam G. Camp- 
bell, Mary Blair, Madison William Cornwell, John Carpenter, Samuel 
Modi, Isaac Hagle, Thomas Thomas, Geo. Crawford, W. C. and G. W. 
Ewing, Jos. Carpenter, Wm. Latta. ^^'nl. Bissell, W. G. Wright, Isaac 
B. King, Thomas Powers, Wm. Waugh. ■\\'m. Hagle, Henry W. White, 
Thomas G. Hall, Alexander L. Morrison, John Miller, Mathias Dawson, 
Henry Mathew, A. Galentine, James L. Smith, Thomas Reece, Wash- 
ington Modi. The total amount received from these sales was $2,607.75, 
an average of about $48 per lot. 

William Waugh and family were the first persons to have the 
honor of settling on the new town site. William Bissell erected the 
first house and opened the first store. He was granted a license to estab- 
lish a grocery store by the commissioners. The home was erected on 
the southeast corner of Sixth and Washington streets. Old Bishop 
^^'augh was a town cliaracter during those early days. He held the 



\ 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 133 

position of janitor and court crier, as well, for many years. His voice, 
on a fair day, could be heard anywhere within a mile radius of the court 
house, and he was noted for being a great practical joker. 

Dr. King is said to have erected the second house on the village 
plat, and in a very short time Goshen took on the appearance of a thriv- 
ing, enterprising village. The first postofifice, however, was not estab- 
lished until the montli of June, 1832, William Bissell, the first merchant 
of the town, receiving the commission as first postmaster. By 1833 
Goshen had a population of two hundred. There were forty log cabins 
on the town plat, three stores and a log hotel or tavern. Abner Stilson 
was the landlord, having been granted a license to keep a tavern in 1832 
at the May term of the 1x)ard of commissioners. In the fall of 1833 
another place of public entertainment, the National Hotel, was built by 
James Cook. 

Contrary to general opinion, life was not more strenuous m those 
days than it is now. It was certainly more simple, it lacked the fever- 
ishness and bustle of the present day, and there was more leisure in 
which to taste the homely joys that society and community life afforded. 
No one would dare say that twentieth century ideals and methods of 
living are inferior to those of the past, but the}- are very different, and 
it is well for the modern man to pause now and then and hark back to 
the olden times and return to some of the virtues and simplicity of the 
olden days. 

All holidav and festival occasions were celebrated then with even 
more gusto than now, and, it is to be believed, the joy was more natural 
and wholesome. In the tension of the present a day of pleasure can he 
little more than a short period of relaxation and recuperation for the 
urgent duties of the next day, while an old-time holiday was anticipated 
for weeks, \\'as spent with a zest and energy and unrestrained flow of 
spirits that brought each succeeding hour to a climax, and then for 
weeks following was looked back upon as a red letter day of happy mem- 
ories. On national holidays the countryside was aroused and flocked to 
the count^• seat in much the same manner as they do to-day. There 
was a celebration of the Fourth of July at Goshen in 1832, and Joseph 
H. Defrees was the orator of the day. The date of the first Thanksgiv- 
ing was on November 25, 1841. 

It wiil lie interesting to notice some of the market quotations of 
the thirties as showing what the Goshenites had to pay for their house- 
hold staples. In the first issue of the Goshen Express in 1837 the prices 



134 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

of provisions are listed as follows: Flour, per barrel, $7.00; wheat, 
$1.25; buckwheat flour, $3.00; corn meal, 62J6 cents; corn. 50 cents; 
oats, 3/3/2 cents; potatoes, ^yYz cents; chickens, picked, 25 cents; eggs. 
8 cents: beef, per pound, 6j4 cents; pork, 18^/2 cents: lard, i2yS cents; 
tallow, 15 cents. From this it will be seen that for some things we now 
pay more and for some articles less, while a commodity like tallow, so 
much in demand then, could hardly be found in the ordinary store of 
to-day. 

The Express of March 4. 1837, tells us editorally something about 
Goshen and neighboring towns. Concerning Goshen, " we have never 
seen a more beautiful site for a town, the ground being almost perfectly 
level, and elevated thirty feet above Elkhart river. At the present time 
there are eight stores — all of which do a good business — several gro- 
ceries, two taverns, and one or more of almost every description of 
mechanics and professional men. The number of inhabitants now ma}' 
be safely estimated at 500." There follows a " ])rospect " which we of 
later generations have not seen realized, owing to progress taking an- 
other direction, namely, as "being tlie point where the canal from Fort 
W'a} ne to Lake Michigan and the railroad from Maumee l)a\' to .Michi- 
gan City will intersect each other." 

In July. 1 84 1, a newspaper item exclaims with pride; " Ten stores 
m (joshen. with two imperial newspapers!" The business and journal- 
istic enterprise of the c<!unty seat was clearh- keeping pace with the po|)- 
ulation. 

With die rapid increase in population and the de\-elopment of all 
interests it soon became evident that the village of Goshen was out- 
growing its infant clothes and nnist soon be arraved in the garments 
befitting its size and its dignity among municipal organizations. Anent 
this subject, and descripti\'e of the condition of Goshen, is the following 
extract from an editorial of August. 1837: " W'e have a beautiful town 
l)lat and as handsomely situated and well laid off as an_\- other \illage 
in the countr\-. Our streets and alle\-s are broad and comenietU. hut 
l)efore they can present that appearance originallv designed 1)\' the par- 
ticular arrangement, stumps must be jiulled. holes tilled and other ol)- 
structions removed." 

The. town grew in importance and it became necessarv to select a 
board of trustees to look after the interests oi the town, .\ccordingly 
an election was held November 23. 1839. and John Cook. 1). Parrott. 
A. Stilson. .\. (iaientine and |. S. Ravmer were elected trustees. The 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 135 

town was governed by this board and its successors until 1S54, when 
tiie town was incorporated as a village. Under a petition to the county 
commissioners. June 7, 1854. an election was ordered for June 28, when 
the question was submitted to the electors and almost unanimously car- 
ried. The fallowing names appeared on the list of voters: Jnhn Hunt, 
.\. .\. Xortnn. T. L. Wdbarger, C. K. Hoops, George W. Meyers. T. L. 
Powell, A. B. (irul:)!), James Blair, B. .-V. Grubb, Erwin Vinson, Eb. 
Raymond, John Ciortner, Thomas 'i'odd. L. H. Noble, F. Voiral. S. E. 
Davis, Jas. Lauferty. J. D. Devor, Joseph Ashbrook, Michael Wey- 
bright, Jos. Silver, W. A. Thonias, C. S. Hascall, Hiram Whittaker. 
A. L. Httbbell, M. M. Latta. .\. C. Jackson, F. M. Denny. B. G. Crary, 
Norman Teal, A. P. Frink, S. C. Brainerd. J. \V. Irwin, Michael Murry, 
Sam Bottomfelt, Smith Chamberlain. Elias Gortner. \\". L. Bivins. (i. 
W. Richards, (',. \V. Fosdick, Leander Sherwin, S. (ieisinger. Henry 
Cook, J. L. Crary, W. W. McVitty. Melvin Hascall, F. Jackson. William 
Bean, John Cook, T. R. ^Mbright, John Keck, P. M. Henkel. J. H. 
Defrees and a number of otliers. The commissioners acknowledged the 
legality of the \-nte within throe months, and in .Sejitember declared 
Goshen an incorporated to\An. 

For about fourteen }-ears Goshen was content to remain in the 
town class. During this period there were additions to the cit}- as to 
territory- as well as in population, and finally the time came for the 
erection of the town into a cit)'. To test the \oice of the peojjje in this 
matter an election was held on April 18. 1868, at which ^(ji votes were 
cast favoring the formation of a cit}- government and 31 opposed the 
movement. In due time the citv recei\ed its charter, and on May 5 of 
the same vear the first cit\' election was held, at which the following were 
chosen as the first to direct the affairs of (joshen city : 

1868, First officers: Henry D. Wilson, mayor; Lal'orte Heefner, 
clerk; Jos. Lauferty. treasurer; H. (i. Hale, marshal: J. A. S. Mitchell, 
city attorney; Jas. Allison, assessor; G. B. Walter, chief fire engineer; 
Geo. T. .\ger. civil engineer. Board of Health — M. M, Latta. W. C. 
Harrington. W. W. Wickham. Councilmen — A. A. Norton. M. B. 
Snyder. li. L'. Lincoln. Samuel I'. iMsenhour. Geo. B. Walter, M. B. 
Hascall. 

Since that first election a long and honorable list of men luue had 
the direction of the municipal organization, and as the present prosperity 
and the wonderful past progress of the city have been largeh- due to 



136 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

these men it seems fitting' tliat their names should lie made a matter of 
record in this history. 

GOSHEN CITY OFFICERS, 1868-I9O5. 

1868-69. H. D. Wilson. may(.)r ; LaPorte Heefner, clerk; Jos. 
Lauferty. treasurer; H. (i. Hale, marshal; W. E. Pooley, assessor; J. A. 
S. Mitchell. cit\- attorney; .\. Yeakel, chief fire engineer; Geo. T. Ager. 
civil engineer. Board of Health — ]\t. M. Latta, W. C. Harrington. \\'. 
W. \\'ickham. Councilmen — Henr}- lianlema}, Xatlian Pooley. H. J- 
Beyerle, \\". \V. McVitty, S. F. Eisenhour. A'l. B. Hascall. 

1869-70. M. B. Hascall, mayor; LaPorte Heefner. clerk; Jos. 
Lauferty, treasurer; Charles D. Henkel, marshal: Wm. Pooley, assessor; 
J. A, S. Mitchell, city attorney; W. A. McAllister, chief fire engineer; 
Geo. T. Ager, ci^■il engineer. Board of Health — M. M. Latta, P. D. 
Harding, George Cleis. Councilmen — ^^'. A. McAllister, Christian Hin- 
derer. S. F, Eisenhour. Moses .Simmons, H. Bartlemay, H. J. Beyerle. 

1870-71. M. B. Hascall, mayor: C. N. Fassett, clerk: A. A. Nor- 
ton, tre?xsurer; Charles D. Henkel, marshal; Israel ^^^•land, assessor; 
J. A. S. Mitchell, city attorney; M. S. Davis, chief fire engineer: Geo. 
T. Ager, civil engineer. Board of Health — M. M. Latta, P. D. Hard- 
ing, George Cleis. Councilmen — H. K. Thomas, H. Bartlemav. H. J. 
Beyerle, Christian Hinderer, Joseph C. Beck, S. F. Eisenhour. 

1871-72. J. A. S. Mitchell, mayor; C. X. Fassett, clerk; A. A. 
Norton, treasurer; L. A. Hascall, marshal; Israel Wyland, assessor; W. 
A. Woods, city attorney; E. Gortner, chief fire engineer; Geo. T. Ager, 
civil engineer. Board of Health — P. D. Harding. M. M. Latta, W. W. 
W'ickham. Councilmen — S. F. Eisenhour, Henry Bartlemav, D, M. 
Fravel, Christian Hinderer, H. K. Thomas, H. J. Beverle. 

1872-73. Same as pre\'ious year. O. F, Dewey, chief fire engi- 
neer: Geo. T. Ager, civil engineer. Board of Health — M. M. Latta, 
W. .\. Whippy. P. D. Harding. Councilmen — S. F. Eisenhour, Henry 
(i. Hale. Henry Bartlemay. D. 'SI. Fravel. Christian Hinderer, Christian 
Schaefer. 

1873-74. George Freese, mayor; ^^'. .\. Bradford, clerk; A. A. 
Norton, treasurer: Andrew Myers, marshal: I. Wyland, assessor: R. M. 
Johnson, city attorney ; O. F. Dewey, chief fire engineer: George T. Ager, 
civil engineer. Board of Health — ^^'. A. \\'hi])py, W. W. Wickham. 
A. C. Jackson. Councilmen — Charles B. Alderman, D. 'M. Fravel, P. 
A. Welch, H. G. Hale. H. Bartlemav, Christian Hinderer. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 137 

1874-75. Same as preximis year. Board nf Health — W. A. 
Whippy, A. C. Jackson. W. \\'. Wickham. Councihnen — Charles B. 
Alderman. D. M. Fravel, P. A. Welch. H. G. Hale. J. B. Slaughter. 
Christian Hinderer. 

1875-76. Charles B. Alderman, mayor: W. B. Bradford, clerk: 
A. A. Norton, treasm'er: Andrew Myers, marshal: Israel Wyland. as- 
sessor: R. I\I. Johnson, city attornex': O. F. Dewey, chief fire engineer: 
Geo. T. Ager. ci\il engineer. Board of Health — W. A. Whippy, A. 
C. Jackson. P. D. Harding. Councihnen — Jaaob Butteriield, D. AI. 
Fravel, Henry Ivolh. P. A. W'tkh. FI. G. Hale. J. B. Slaughter. 

1876-77. Same cit\- officers with exception of Lew Wanner, city 
attorney. 

1877-78. Charles B. Alderman, mayor: John B. Walk, clerk: 
Adam Yeakel, treasurer : Andrew Meyers, marshal ; James Blaine, as- 
sessor: Lew \\'anner, city attorney: Jas. Drake, fire chief: Henry Cook, 
civil engineer. Board of Health — W. A. W'hippy, P. D. Harding, J. 
N. Smith. Councilmen — H. (i. Hale. P. A. Welch. J. B. Slaughter. 
A. M. Parsons. J. A. Carmien. Henry Kolb. 

1878-79. City officers same as previous year. Councilmen — A. M. 
Parsons, James O. Smith, Christian Engle, W. A. Bradford, John 
Rieth, John McAuiey. 

1879-80. Charles B. Alderman, mayor: .\ustin B. Slattery. clerk: 
Christian Schaefer. treasurer: Henry Cook, city engineer: Lew Wan- 
ner, city attorney: W. A. McClenathan. fire chief; James Barnes, mar- 
shal; James L. Freeland. street commissioner. Board of Health — M. 
M. Latta. P. D. Harding, W. A. Whippy. Councilmen — A. M. Par- 
sons, James O. Smith. Christian Engle. W. A. Bradford. John Reith. 
John McAuley. 

1880-81. Same as year previous with exception of F. D. Finney, 
fire chief : Andrew Meyers, street commissioner. Councilmen — A. M. 
Parsons. James O. Smith. Christian Engle. W. H. Venamon, Henry 
A. Gore, W. H. Miller. 

T 88 1 -82. Officers same as ]:)revious year, with exception of J. 
Gortner as councilman in place of W. H. Venamon. 

1882-83. P. D. Harding, mayor: W. E. Gortner. clerk: C. H. 
Schaefer. treasurer: C. E. Hawes. marshal: I. A. Simmons, city attor- 
ney ; F. D. Finney, fire chief ; Henry Cook, city engineer : Andrew Mey- 
ers, street commissioner. Board of Health — A. J. Irwin, S. Trump, A. 
Wade. Councilmen^ — W. H. Miller. H. A. Gore, W. H. Venamon, E. 



138 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

M. Anjiight, D. \V. Hattel, J. B. Col>l). Water Works Trustees— L. 
Wanner, superintendent: J. C. Kerstetter, C. M. Harris, C. Hinderer. 

1883-84. Ofiicers same as previous year, with the exception of J. 
M. Peters, treasurer. Councihnen — J. B. Coblx E. M. Alliright. D. W. 
Hattel. C. A. Da\is. Wm, Gross. G. E. Ricketts. Water Works Trus- 
tees — H. Croweli succeeded Kerstetter. 

1884-85. J. B. Cobb, mayor: W. E. (iortner. clerk: j. M. Peters, 
treasurer: H. Hutchinson, marshal: L A. Simmons, city attorne}- : ¥. 
D. hinney, fire chief : Henry Cook, city engineer : John McAulev. street 
commissioner. Board of Health— F. M. Cornell. S. Trump. A. Wade. 
Councilmen — :Wm. Gross. C. A. Davis, d. E. Ricketts. J. F. Scott. F. 
y. P>. Minnich. J. B. Drake. .\. E. Schmck in ])lacc of Harris on water 
Ixiard. 

1885-86. Officers same with the exception of J. .\llen. fire chief and 
-Andrew Meyers, street commissioner. Board of Health — C. C. Spark- 
iin. succeeded Cornell. Councilmen — D. D. l-'itch succeeded Ricketts. 

T886-87. P. D. Harding-, mayor: J. P. Hawks, clerk: J. H. Lott. 
treasurer: S. C. Self, marshal: I. .\. Simmons, city attorne\' : John Sno- 
barger. hre chief: Henry Cook, cil\' engineer: John \'ontz. street com- 
missioner. Board of Health — Same as i)re\-ious year. Councilmen — D. 
D. Fitch. Wm. Gross. C. A. Davis. J. P.. Drake. Jos. Smith. Chas. 
Kohler. Water Works Trustees — Same as pre\'ious year. 

1887-88. City officers same as pre\ious year. Board of Health — 
.\. J. Irwin, secretar}-. Councilmen — J. B. Drake. Chas. Kohler. Jos. 
Smith. D. D. Fitch. G. R. Thomas. J. T. Finch. Water Works Trus- 
tees — L. Wanner, supernitendent : Pdi Dax'is. H. Croweli. E. W. Haw^ks. 

1888-89. C. W. Miller, mayor: W. A. Pegg. clerk: J. H. Lott, 
treasurer: S. C. Self, marshal: 1. -\. Simmons, city attorney: Jcjhn Sno- 
barger. fire chief: Henry Cook, city engineer: X. Poole)', street com- 
missioner. Board of Health — .\. J. Irwin, secretary. Councilmen — 
Charles Kohler. G. R. Thomas. D. D. l-itch. W. B. Kreider. J, W. 
Kronk. I'. O. AI. Hascall. Water Work-^ 1^-ustees — Same as prexious 
year. 

1889-90. City officers same as previous year. Councilmen — Charles 
Kohler. F. O. M. Hascall. W. B. Kreider. J. Gallagher, (i. R. Thomas, 
.\. Heefner. W. R. Ellis replaced CiT)well on water board. 

1890-91. J. H. Lesh. mayor: 1. D. Wolfe, city clerk: E. C. Wil- 
son, treasurer: S. C. Self, marshal, 1. A. Simmons, city attorney: John 
Snolwrger, fire chief: Henry Cook, city engineer: J. Kloppenstein. street 



HISTORY OF ELKPIART COUNTY 139 

commissioner. Councilmen — Cieorge Ort and W. H. Whitehead, suc- 
ceeded Kreider and Hascail. \\'ater Work Trustees — J. O. Smith suc- 
ceeded Hawks. 

1891-92. City officials same as previous year. Councihnen — A. 
Heefner, L. W. \'ail, E. D. Chipman, Charles Kohler, W. H. White- 
liead, George Ort. J. 1). OxerlioU succeeded Davis on tlie water board. 

1892-93. J. B. Walk, mayor; 1. D, Wolfe, clerk: E. C. Wils.ju, 
treasurer: S. C. Self, marshal: .\. S. Zook, city attorney: J. Snobarger, 
fire chief: C. L. Kinnew city engineer: J. Ramsby, street commissioner. 
Board of Health — P. Rohrig, secretary. Councilmen — A. Heefner, L. 
W. Vail. J. A. Riley. D. \Y Xeidig. E. D. Chipman, Ed Kelly, E. L. 
D. Foster, Charles Kohler. Water Works Trustees — Lew Wanner, 
.superintendent; J. O. Smith. Jud Overholt, L. J. Miller. 

1893-94. City officials same as preceding year. In the spring of 
1894 the electitm occurred under the new charter for Indiana cities ex- 
tending the term of the mayor and councilmen to four years. 

1894-95. J- H. Heatwole. mayor; F. [5. Leaming, clerk: E. C. 
Wilson, treasurer: J. E. Rigney, marshal: .\. S. Zook, city attorney: 
John Snobarger. fire chief: W. L. S\^inehart, city engineer and street 
commissioner. Board of Health — C. W. Merrill, secretary. Council- 
men — Charles Kohler, F.d Kelly. Ciei)rge Lamb, J. B. Slaughter, W. A. 
Willhide. W. C. Hafei'. Water Works Trustees — Lew Wanner, super- 
intendent; Jud Overholt, Lew Miller, Richard Dugdale. The office of 
superintendent of water works was abolished July 10. 1894, and Sam 
Williamson was appointed chief engineer. In March, 1895. the Board 
of Water Trustees was abolished by the legislature and the manage- 
ment of the water works placed in the hands of the city council. 

1895-96. City officers the same as previous year with exception of 
Swinehart resigned and vacancy filled by appointment of J. D. Lowell, 
city engineer and Andrew Myers, street commissioner. Councilmen' — 
William Hafer, Dudley Fitch. Charles Kohler. W. C. Elliott, J. B. 
Slaughter, W. .\. W^illhide, D. \\'. Neidig. M. A. Cornell. Ed Kelly. 
George Lamb. Clarence Dill, chief engineer, water works. 

1896-98. City officials the same with the exception of J. Albert 
Cook, secretary Board of Health. Councilmen — Orlando Hamilton, 
Charles Crowell, John Hale, C. A. Davis, George Evans, Alfred Lowiy. 
Edwarfl Kelly. George Lamb, L. B. Slaughter, W. A. Willhide. 

Goshen City Officers May, 1898-May, 1900: J. H. Heatwole, 
mayor: office declared vacant July 18. 1898, and B. F. Deahl elected to 



140 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

rill unexpired term. E. C. Wilson, treasurer; Joseph 'SI. Peters, city 
judge; T. Snobarger, chief fire department; I. D. Wolfe, clerk; Sam C. 
.Self, marshal. C. F. Black, city attorney, was elected September 19, 
1898, taking the place of E. E. Mummert. John L. Cooper, engineer; 
H. O. Statler. secretary Ijoard of health. Councilmen — H. ,\. Butter- 
field, George H. Evans, John Hale, Orlando Hamilton, Edward Kelly, 
Charles Kohler, Josiali W. Kronk, George B. Slate, S. J. Stoutenour, 
Milton Mishler, who resigned and C. O. Charlton elected to fill unex- 
pired term. Committee on Water Works and Light — Edward Kelly, 
George H. Evans, Orlando Hamilton, Ji>lin Idale, Milton Mishler. Su- 
perintendent of Water Works — C. S. Dill. 

May, 1900-May, 1902. B. F. Deahl, mayor; E. C. Wilson, treas- 
urer; C. 1'. Black, city attorney; Joseph M. Peters, city judge; John L. 
Cooper, civil engineer; George A. Black, clerk: I. D. Wolfe, clerk, 
whose office was declared vacant February 4, igoi, and George A. Beck 
elected for unexpired term; S. C. Self, marshal; J. Snobarger, chief fire 
department. Board of Health — H. O. Statler, secretary, resigned Sep- 
tember 16, 1901, and was succeeded by J. Albert Cook. Councilmen — 
H. A. Butteiiield, Josiah W. Kronk, Alfred Lowiy, Orlando Hamil- 
ton, C. J. Garvin, S. J. Stoutenour, C. O. Charlton, D. J. Troyer, 
Charles Kohler, B. B. Brothers, who w^as succeeded in December, igoo, 
by George M. Swank. Committee on Water Works and Lights — Or- 
lando FJamilton, D. J. Troyer, H. A. Butterfield, J. W. Kronk, Charles 
Kohler. Superintendent of Water Works — C. S. Dill. 

May, 1902-May, 1904 — George F. Alderman, mayor; Orin Watts, 
treasurer; Daniel J. Troyer, city attorney: Joseph M. Peters, city judge; 
Ben C. Bender, clerk; Edgar J. Vesey, marshal; J. Snobarger, chief fire 
department; John L. Cooper, civil engineer. Board of Health — J. Al- 
liert Cook, secretary. Councilmen — H. A. Butterfield, Josiah W. Kronk, 
Wallace F. Shafer, Jacob Wogoman, John Granville Knox, John F. 
.Scott, Henry M. Widner, Jacob M. Cover, A. A. Meyer. Charles H. 
Crowell. Committee on Water Works and Lights — Josiah W. Kronk. 
Charles PI. Crowell. Jacob Wogoman, Plenry M. Widner. Jacob M. 
Cover. Superintendent of Water Works — C. S. Dill. 

The city officials at this writing- are: ]\Iayor. Alfred Lnwry: treas- 
urer. O. \\'aits; clerk. B. C. Bender: attorney, D. J. Tmyer: marshal. 
George Banta : city engineer. J. L. Coo]ier; city judge. J. M. Peters. 
Councilmen — .\. S. Menaugh, Jacob \\''ogoman, George Ripler. Aaron 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 141 

Hartzler, J. G. Knox, H. M. Widner, James O. Smith, Peter Wine- 
brenner, H. N. Jenner. Board of Health — J. A. Cook, secretary. 

A distinctively municipal department, and one all important to the 
modern city, is the fire department. Although Goshen has not yet 
reached the point where she can support a paid and specially disciplined 
force of fire fighters, lier volunteer organization and the entire equip- 
ment and apparatus for protection against fires will compare on equal 
terms with the fire department of any city of the size in the state. 

A city is a living organism and grows and is constantly mani- 
festing new forms and conditions. In no way is this process of change 
better shown than in the histoiy of the means of fighting fire as in 
use at different periods of Goshen's growth. Alany of the older citi- 
zens remember the days of the Ixicket brigade and the ^•aliant fight they 
made against the conflagrations that occurred in the little village. Many 
a disastrous fire has been quenched by the men who stood shoulder to 
shoulder passing buckets from the most available source of water sup- 
lily. In the early sixties the first hand pump for fighting fire was intro- 
duced into the village and a volunteer companv was soon formed, to 
man it. " Reliance Engine Company, No. i "' was organized Septem- 
ber 4. 1862. Six years later on ]\ray 4, 1868, " Rescue Hook and Lad- 
der Company " was organized. Shortly after this date a water wheel 
was erected im the Hydraulic and pipes laid to the business center of 
the city. July 2, 1870, " Reliance Hose Company No. i," was organ- 
ized with se\ enteen members and January 25, 1872, " Hydraulic Hose 
Company No. 2 " effected an organization. Triumph No. i and Gosh- 
en Hose Company were later organizations in 1875. I" February, 1880, 
Triumpli Hose Company dedicated their new- reading and club rooms 
located in what is now known as the Noble Engine house. Mr. L. H. 
Nolile. line of the oldest citizens in the comnnniity. was an ardent sup- 
porter of the various fire companies for many years and in every annual 
])arade his familiar figin"e would always be seen upon the seat of the 
hose cait holding the reins over his beautiful team of white horses. 
Christian Hinderer and Chief of Police Self were members <jf the first 
engine company. 

The Cioshen fire department of to-day, although it is still main- 
tained on a volunteer basis, has an almost unexcelled record for eftici- 
ency and systematic organization. There are four fire stations, situ- 
ated conveniently in \arious quarters of the cit)-, so that at least one 
company may be i.n hand quickly wherever a fire occurs, and in case of 



142 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

a large fire the entire force may readily be concentrated as one fire- 
fighting body. The equipment consists of hose carts, hose, hook and 
ladder, chemical engines and all the paraphernalia to be fnund in ;i \(ilnn- 
teer department. The standpipe pressure is sufficient fcir all ordinar}- 
occasions, the standpi]ie being one hundred and fifty feet high and con- 
taining about four hundred thousand gallons of water. One pump is 
always in operation, and at the signal direct pressure is applied sufficient 
to force a stream over the highest building in the city. To haul the 
apparatus to the fire a team is always kept in reserve at a stable con- 
venient to each station, and this feature of the service has been dex-eloped 
to perfection seldom found in the smaller cities. 

The citizens of Goshen point with pride to the fact in the past 
twenty-five years no fire has ever got beyond the building in which it 
originated. Thus the scars left by this destructive element have been 
soon healed and the city has never suffered those disastrous setbacks 
which ha\e befallen so many growing and ambitious cities. 

Mr. John Snobarger has been the efficient chief of the department 
for twenty-five years, and by his energy and rugged abilit}- as a fire 
commander has contributed immeasuralily to the value of the depart- 
ment. The entire force under him consists of forty-eight men, twelve 
m each company, three hose companies and one hook and ladder com- 
pany. The foreman of the hook and ladder company is Samuel C. Self. 
Eb. Snyder is foreman of No. 2. Charles Sellers foreman of No. 3. and 
William Wilkinson of No. 4. The president of the department is 
Charles Kohler; secretary. Bert Smith, and treasurer. Samuel C. Self. 

Another institution of very present importance to every citizen is 
the postoffice. From the time when Old Hall wended his way across 
Elkhart prairie, on his semi-mnnthly trip from Fort Wayne, deli\ering 
to the almost isolated settlement the letters and papers from the outside 
world, to the present, when huge sacks of mail are dumped at the rear 
doors of the postoffice nearly every hour in the day, the change has been 
as remarkable as anything in the development of the cit)- and county. 
Few of us realize how important the daily mail is to the conduct of 
commerce and industry along the lines which they are following in the 
twentieth centurv-. New times, new manners! 

Goshen has unexcelled postal privileges resulting from her posi- 
tion along the jirincipal railroad mail route between the east and the 
west, and her city mail service also belongs in the first rank. A free 
deliverv svstem has long been an established institution, and with the 



HISTORY OV ELKHART COUNTY 143 

advent of rural free delivery the city has become the center from which 
radiate in all directions the carriers wiio furnish daily the letters and 
newspapers to the country population. 

Mr. J. A. Beane, former postmaster of Goshen, made, durini.; his 
term in that office, some investigations concerning the different incum- 
bents of the Goshen postofrice from the date of its establishment to the 
present, and the essential facts give us another interesting phase of 
Cioshen history. 

William Bissell. the hrst jiostniaster, long since deceased, was ap- 
pointed Jul}' IJ, 1832, and deli\ered mail at a log building located where 
Mr. W. J. Davis now lives. Abner Stilson, the second appointee, No- 
vember 26, 1832, had his office in the rear of where Twomey's shoe 
store now stands and near the present postoffice building. Ebenezer 
M. Chamberlain, who was appointed November 8, 1837, i'ecei\ed and 
delivered the mail (jn the site of the Brownell propert}-, until March, 
1841, when the office was mmed to one duor south of Darrow's store. 
Charles L. Murray was fourth ])ostmaster, appointed July 28, 1841. 

Then follows: James R. McCord, Noxember 5, 1841, (jffice on 
Frank Hascall property: Abner Stilson, July 31, 1845; Louis B. I'ar- 
malee, ^lay 15. 1847, '" Drake's building: Edwin ^lartin, September 
17, 1849, and Shubael M. Pease, January 22, 1850, where the Salem 
Bank now is; Elbridge Ci. Chamberlain, June 2, 1853, rmder opera 
house in Latta"s building: George T. R. Wadleigh, August 20. 
i860, in Latta's building; William B. Taylor, March 29, 1861, in Wag- 
ner's room; William L. Bivins. December 12. 1862. It was during 
Postmaster Bi\ins' long incumbency of some dozen years, ateut 1870, 
when the postoffice was moved to its present location, and the successive 
incumbents who have since filled the office are: E. W. H. Ellis, ap- 
pointed January jt,. 1874: William R. Ellis, October 20. 1876: Daniel 
L. Miller, August 28, 1888: Lincoln H. Beyerle. ^lay 28, 1889: Joseiih 
A. Beane, December 11, 1893; ^lihon A. Cornell, December i. 18(^7. 

The present postmaster is C. D. Sherwin, Jerome H. .Mderman 
lieing assistant. There are six regular carriers with two substitutes, 
and si.x office clerks, with one substitute. Seven R. F. D. routes center 
at this office. The receipts of the Goshen office for the vear ending 
in March, 1905, were $32,000. 

In lier provisions for furnishing water and light for municipal and 
private purposes Goshen has a unique history among Indiana cities, 
and her successful experience in carrying out the principles of municipal 



144 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

ownership lends permanent value to an account of her operations along 
these lines. Mr. W. L. Stonex has investigated the subject thoroughly 
and has written an interesting article on the municipal water works 
and lighting plant. From this article, which was published entire in 
the Historical Edition of the Goshen Daily News in 1901, liberal ex- 
tracts have been made for the matter in the following paragraphs, since 
it is believed that this important phase of Goshen city history should 
not be overlooked in this work. 

The hrst steps taken by the city toward entering upon a practicable 
plan of municipal control and operation of public utilities were made 
over thirty years ago. and within this ]jeriod the city has become owner 
of its water system, its electric street Hghting system, and an incandes- 
cent commercial lighting plant. The matter first assumed importance 
as the result of agitation for better protection against fire. In 1874, 
in July of which }'ear the movement first took definite form, the fire 
department equipment consisted of one hand pumping engine, hook and 
ladder truck, and two hose carts. The water supply consisted of water 
stored in cisterns located in various parts of the city. The most im- 
portant one was that located at the corner of Main street and Lincoln 
avenue, then known as Market street. There were also in some of the 
factories on the hydraulic canal force jjumps and pipes to which hose 
could be attached for the protection of these factories, and Hydraulic 
Hose Co. No. 2 was organized special!}' for the protection of the fac- 
tories. Their water supply came from the canal. There had been 
se\'eral fires prior to the summer of 1S74 and much pn^perty had been 
destroyed. The chief danger was to the store buildings, in the central 
part of the city, a majority of which were frame and veritable tinder 
boxes. There were always two causes for uneasiness when a fire broke 
out. One was the insufficiency of the engine, and the other was the 
uncertainty of the water supply. .Vfter the factories had provided them- 
selves with pumps and had the entire canal for their water supply it 
was apparent that they were 1 letter protected than was the business 
part of the city. It was suggested that a small iron pii)e be laid from 
one of the factories on the canal to the cistern at the C(irner of Main 
and Market streets. This would enable the fire departiuent to fill that 
important reservoir with ease, and this supply pipe would also be avail- 
able for throwing a stream of water through the hose of Hydraulic 
Hose Co. eriually as well as at the mills on the canal. This suggested so 
simple and inexpensive a plan that it was at once taken up and with 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 145 

some modifications put into operation. After the plans were properly 
matured steps were taken to purchase the necessar}' machinery, and 
the ground for the location of the building. The site selected was at 
the west end of the alley between Market and Clinton streets. Work 
was vigorously prosecuted. Wooden mains were laid from the pump 
house up Market street to Main street, and three branches were ex- 
tended from that point, for a distance of one square each, east, north 
and south. By January i, 1875, the work was so far completed that 
on that day a public e.xliibitinn of its capacity was made. The result 
was satisfactory. The entire cost of the work had only been about 
$9,000 and the capacity of the pumps and the wheel supplying the 
power were sufficient to allow of a considerable extension of the system 
at small additional expense. 

After a few years, when the city found itself able to incur the 
expense, the citizens called for a change from water power to steam 
power so as to allow the use of water for private consumption. This 
also made it necessary to look for some other source of water supply. 
A system of artesian wells was decided on. On August 17, 1881, the 
present site was bought, and work was at once begun. From that 
time the record has been one of constant expansion over contiguous 
territory until by January i, 1901. the system embraced more than 20 >^ 
miles of street mains: 161 hydrants or fire plugs; 12 public watering 
troughs; some 1200 private consumers, and an anual income of $7,- 
416.60 from water rates collected from private consumers. 

The question of lighting the streets of the city became a verv serious 
question. .\t first oil lamps were used. Then, in 1874, the citv con- 
tracted for gas. The expense of this was considerable and the result 
unsatisfactory. In August, 1887, a contract was made with the local 
electric light company, liy which the company agreed to erect towers 
and furnish arc lights at a minimum price of $2,500 a vear. with 
additional charge for extra lights, but in October, 1889. the company 
proposed to sell its street lighting equipment and poles to the city for 
$3,000. The city made the purchase and since that time the streets 
have been lighted with arc lights from a dynamo operated from the 
water works station. In 1897 the city installed an incandescent plant 
for commercial lighting. 

Having acquired these properties and tested them by an experience 
extending over a number of years the city has fully demonstrated the 
profit of its ownership of such properties. The result of the one vear's 



14G HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

(operation is shown in the report of the water and light committee for 
the year ending June 30, 1900. The entire cost of operating the prop- 
ties was $I2,888.2J. The total earning from water and electric light 
rates from private consumers tluring that time was $14,000.29, leav- 
ing a net cash profit of $1,112.07. i'his does not include anything for 
the use by the public, of water for the public hydrants and fountains, 
the water for the watering troughs, nor that used for sprinkling the 
court square and cemetery. 

(loshen in 1901 installed a new pumping system with an additional 
caiuicitv of six million gallons, and more recently a new well has been 
completed. As to quantit_\- and quality the water supply of Goshen 
is not excelled in the northern part of the state. A brief survey of 
the present >vstem indicates how well the citizens have planned this 
great public utilitv. l'"or city use about one hundred and ninety hy- 
drants are supplied, there are eleven public watering stations, water 
is supplied for sprinkling the streets, the parks, the cemetery antl for 
complete iire protection. For commercial and domestic use the rate 
is six cents ])er one thousand gallons, and less for large volumes; the 
annual rate for each nutside hydrant is three dollars, one dollar and 
tiftv cents for each inside faucet and two dollars for bath and closet. 
So wisely has the water works system lieen managed that the revenue 
derived from the commercial and domestic supply is so nearly sufficient 
to pa\' the expenses of the water works that the cost of each of the 
one hundred and nmetv public hydrants tci the city is about twenty- 
live d< 'liars a vear. while the a\erage cost per hvdrant, when the water 
system is nperated under ]iri\-;ite nwnership, is from sixty and ninety 
dollars ;i year. 

(joshen stands committed to municipal ownership of purely public 
utilitv, iToth from successful exijerience and by principle. The efficiency 
I if the municipally owned and operated water and light plant has con- 
chisixeh' demonstrated the benefit of at least one form of public owner- 
ship. lUit. withal, the citizens of Goshen are conservative. Public- 
spirited and thoughtful men at the head of the city government, backed 
y\p when necessary iiy public opinion, ha\'e carefully defined the limits 
Ijetw-een public operation of public utilities and public operation of pri- 
wite enterprise, and have directed the city along those lines. When some 
enterprise has been projected whereby the chief object attained would 
lie private benefit with incidental good to the whole city, public senti- 
ment and official action ha\-e preferred to leave such to private owner- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 147 

shi]i and cnntml. Oulv whert the entire body politic is clearly the 
beneticiarx , and tlie several individual citizens derive only incidental 
use and \alue from an enterprise, as is demonstrably true in the case 
of water works and electric lighting-, has the city seen fit to interpose 
its corporate authority and nwn and direct a utility. 

Xot only the water works but the electric lighting system is munici- 
|)al. One hundred and thirty arc lights are maintained on the streets, 
and an incandescent plant supplies commercial and domestic light. The 
latter department was installed about twelve years ago, and there are 
thus two cunipetitive plants for supplying incandescent lights, the 
Hawks plant, a private corporation, and the city's own plant. Per- 
haps no citv in the state has cheaper electricity, owing to- this combina- 
tion. For sixteen-candle lights one dollar per month is the ]5rice for 
the first five bulbs, an additional five cost fifteen cents apiece and all 
over that nimiber are ten cents apiece. By combining the arc and 
incandescent lighting and the w'ater works in one general plant not 
only are efficiency and excellence of service maintained, but, with these 
excepted, the greatest of all desiderata in anjf enterprise — economy — ■ 
is efifected. One set of buildings, one group of engines and machiner\', 
one set of operatives, one superintendent, one institution in fact serves, 
and serves well, the purposes of lighting and watering the city. Coal 
bills are decreased, salaries lessened at least by half, responsibility is 
centralized and system and adequacy are promoted, ^^"ith such a record 
in municipal ownership reversion to pri\-ate enterprise hardly seems a 
matter for most distant prophecy. 

A few years ago an extension of the municipal water and light 
plant into the domain of heating was ]iroposed. and for a time was ad- 
vocated to the point of becoming an issue. The project was to use 
the e.xhaust steam from the engines to heat stores and residences, lay- 
ing for that purpo.se mains or ])ipes along the streets similar to those 
used for water. An ordinance was introduced into the council to pro- 
vide for carrying out this plan, liut did not pass, and since then the 
matter has not been brought to the point of official enactment. The 
Ijracticability of the proposition has many warm advocates and equally 
ardent opponents, and certain matters of municipal policy are also in- 
volved in the discussions outside of the feasibility of the scheme. From 
what we know of the past anr! general progressiveness of the age, it 
does not seem idle to predict that in the course of a generation or two 



148 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

the heating of an entire city ccnering several square miles will be 
accomplished as easily as water is now piped through all the streets. 

In this chapter, in which it is our purpose to sketch the career of 
Goshen as an incorporated part of the body politic, we purposely omit 
many important subjects, such as schools, churches and business and 
industrial concerns, in order to present them under their appropriate 
chapter head elsewhere in the work. Also space forbids consideration 
of the public-spirited and able men to whom is due the past develop- 
ment and the wonderful prosperity of this city, although many of those 
names find places on other pages. From the humble beginnings of 
seventy-five years, when the commissioners decided that the beautiful 
spot on the northeast bank of the Elkhart river was the proper site 
for a county seat, Goshen has enjoyed a steady, substantial and en- 
couraging growth, and to-day stands in the front rank of the progres- 
sive and up-to-date cities of northern Indiana. 

Many factors contribute to and unite in forming the pre-eminence 
of Goshen among her sister cities. Geographical position has much to 
do with the history of both individuals and communities. Located at 
almost the exact center of the county. Goshen has accordingly formed 
an ideal county seat, and at the same time its commercial importance 
has kept pace with the years owing to its convenience as a trade center 
for the rich surrounding agricultural district. In the early years it 
was favorably situated as to transportation, by river or wagon road. 
Then in the fifties came the first great railroad line across the middle 
west, and happily Goshen was included in its course. Later, with the 
building of the Air Line division of the Lake Shore road, the city 
gained a station situation on th,e principal New York-Chicago railroad, 
and at the present time is a junction point of several lines of steam 
road, with consequent easy communication to all parts of the country. 

With the development of electric roads there have come added ad- 
vantages of the city. Besides a city street railway Goshen is at present 
the eastern terminus of the excellent inter-urban system between South 
Bend and the inter\'ening cities. The electric railroad connecting rural 
communities has sounded the knell of isolation, provincialism and the 
rnossback customs which only a few years ago were so characteristic 
of country towns. The products and the privileges of civilization are 
no longer in the exclusive right of the people of large cities. Culture 
is diffused among all. the entire country is growing cosmopolitan in 
tastes and pursuits: the city man dwells in the country, the countryman 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 149 

spends his time in the city; the world is becoming more closely knit 
together, and the grain of civilization gets finer with each succeeding 
generation. No one influence has done more to bring about this condi- 
tion than the inter-urban railway. It is interesting to note how this 
means of transportation lias supplanted the steam railroad. Only a 
few years ago the Lake Shore ran an accommodation train l)etween 
Elkhart and Goshen ; now practically all the passenger traffic between 
the two cities is cared for liy the electric road, and, more than that, the 
freight and express service which has also been installed on the line 
provides an expeditious and cheap method of transporting all kinds of 
produce and merchandise between the cities and connecting points. 

Goshen has always been liberal with manufacturing and industrial 
enterprises. The adjacent streams furnished excellent mill sites during 
the early days, and numerous factories and plants of \'arious kinds have 
taken advantage of the location and the cordial assistance of the citi- 
zens in all the subsequent years. The enterprising men of the city ha\e 
combined in various organizations in order to promote and upbuild in 
a legitimate and substantial manner the industries of the city. The 
Commercial Exchange and the Business Men's Protective Associations 
are both excellent organizations, and under the leadership of able men 
have done much for the city. 

The promotion of the best material interests of a city requires co- 
operation and organization on the part of its representative citizens. It 
was with a view to secure most effectively the upbuilding of the city 
that the Goshen Commercial Exchange was organized, an association 
of business and professional men who in the subsequent years have 
taken every opportunity to^ make known to the world the advantages of 
Goshen as a manufacturing and business center and to induce individ- 
uals, institutions, railroads, factories and various industries to locate 
here. The Exchange co-operated in the movement which resulted in 
the Carnegie librar}-. also was influential in bringing- Goshen College 
here, and every enterprise of importance located here in recent years 
has been helped and encouraged by the Exchange. 

The Exchange was organized January r, 1890, and incorporated 
a few days later. On Januar\' 8 were elected the first officers as follows : 
.\. F. Wilden, president; Rev. J. N. Barnett. vice-president; E. E. 
Mummert. secretar}'. and A. R. Beyerle, treasurer. The present officers, 
in 1905. are: E. E. C. Hawks, president; A. Deahl. vice-president; E. 
L. Jones, secretary, and O. M. Curtis, treasurer. 



150 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

As to appearance and civic imprcixenients (joshen has especial rea- 
son to be proud. It is known far and wide as the " Maple City of 
Northern Indiana," and the sugg-estion of beauty that this title implies 
is by no means belied by an actual visit to the city. The wide streets, 
stretching for a distance of several miles from north to south, are e\-ery- 
where shaded by magnificent maples, \vhose ornate foliage and graceful 
outlines give a sense of grateful repose and beauty to the homes and 
business district. If any Goshenite becomes pessimistic concerning the 
luxurious and captivating beauty of his city, he should, for purpose of 
contrast, visit some new-born town, set upon a wind-swept and sun- 
scorched prairie, where the gaunt and monotonous outlines of the houses 
are unsoftened and unrelieved by the dark background of trees, and he 
would thenceforth be grateful to the city fathers who ]5lanted the maples 
and enilx)wered the city in shade and coolness. 

Goshen's streets are broad, those in the business districts well paved 
with brick, and the work of paving is going on so that it is a matter 
of only a few years until all the principal thoroughfares are finished. 
Electric lights, water and fire protections are features already dwelt 
upon. The Goshen Gas Company furnishes both fuel and illuminating 
gas to liundreds of patrons : there are telephones and all the public con- 
veniences to be found in the modern city. There are opera houses, a 
Carnegie library, lecture courses are maintained : the city is noted for 
its educational and literary activities: all the church denominations are 
represented, and both the civic and institutidiial life of the city has 
reached a high standard. Sanitary conditions are indicated by the show- 
ing of the vital statistics that Goshen has the lowest death rate of any 
city in the state. 

In every direction of civic growth there has been progress, and 
not the lea.st in population, the census figures for w'hich are as follows : 
1840, 600: 1850, 780: i860, 2,053; 1870, .3.133: 1880, 3,918; 1890, 
6,033; 1900, 7,810. With her court house and her splendid school 
Ijuildings ; with her water works, lighting plants and street railroads : 
with her fine streets, pleasant with summer green, birds and squirrels, 
or merr}' with winter sleigh bells ; with her fine climate, her spacious 
outlying country-, and her excellent railroad facilities — (joshen is the 
fit capital of one of the best counties in the state, a satisfactory home 
for her citizens, and an inviting spot for individuals who seek homes, 
and for corporations who seek an advantageous location for their manu- 
facturing plants. 




DR. HAVILAH BEARDSLEY 




MRS. RACHEL C. BEARDSLEY 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 151 



CHAPTER XI. 
ELKHART. 

Towered cities please us then. 
And tlie Ijusy lium of men. 

— Milton. 

In contrast to her sister city of (ioslien, Elkhart mves its location 
more definitely to geographical position than to the fiat of a body 'A 
commissioners. The confluence of the St. Joseph an.d the I-llkhai-t riv- 
ers was the very kind of spot which would appeal to ])ioneers during 
the twenties and tliirties as an ideal site for a future metr<ipolis. Dif- 
ferent considerations moved the men of that dav than would apjieal with 
especial force to the town-makers of the j^resent day. In truth, many 
towns founded befure the davs of railroads have since provetl so dis- 
advantageousl)- located for the con\-enient approach of railrcjads that 
they have remained practicallv isolated from the main course of com- 
merce, whose stream has found easier channels and left the old-time 
town to one side. But it has been the happy lot of Elkhart to be well 
situated both for the primitive times and for the progressive ])resent. 
and its history shows stable growth and prosperity throughout the sev- 
enty-five years of its existence. 

Many facts concerning the early settlement of Elkhart ami \icin- 
ity have been set forth in an earlier chajjter, and- here we shall describe 
merely the chain of circumstance and event which led up to the sub- 
stantial greatness of the Cit\- of the Forks. Chester Sage, at whose 
house it will be remembered was held the first court in Elkhart countw 
made settlement on the banks of the St. Joseph and erected a log caliin 
where for so many years has been the Beardsley place. 

To Dr. Havilah Beardsley, of Ohio, belongs the title of " Father 
of Elkhart." From the Buckeye state he came some time alx)ut 1830, 
and with an eye for the useful and beautiful was captivated by the 
delightful region about the junction of the two rivers. In the way of 
his immediate occupation of the coveted land stood the Indian titles. 
for the Pottawottomies still sojourned in this vicinity and by rights of 
aboriginal possession as well as government guarantee claimed all this 
part of the state. After considerable negotiation Dr. Beardsley gained 



152 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

what he supposed was a vaHd title to tlie land on wliich has since grown 
up the city of Elkhart, although certain defects in the transaction caused 
a long series of litigations which were only settled in the supreme court 
of the United States. Without entering into these details, it will be 
mteresting to record the deed of sale l>y which Pierre Moran, or Peer- 
ish. a Pottawottomie chief, transferred to Dr. Beardsley the site of a 
future city. Thus runs the instrument in question : " This indenture 
made this twenty-first day of April in the year of our Lord one thou- 
sand eight hundred and thirty-one, between Pierre Moran, of the first 
part, and Havilah Beardsley, of the county of Elkhart and state of Indi- 
ana, of the second part. Witnesseth that whereas by the provisions of 
the thirtl article of a treaty made and crmcluded between commissioners 
of the United States and the Ottawas, Chippewas, and Pottawottomies, 
at Chicago, on the 29th day of August, 1821, one section of land to be 
located under the direction of the president of the United States was 
granted to the said Pierre jMoran at the mouth of Elkhart river, which 
land was not to be sold or conveyed without the consent of the president, 
and by the direction of the president section No. 5 in township 37 north, 
of range 5 east of the second principal meridian of the state of Indiana, 
was selected for, and has this day been sold by Pierre Moran to the 
abo\'e named Havilah Beardsley, for the sum of fifteen hundred dol- 
lars lawful money of the LTnited States, to him in hand paid, the re- 
cei]it whereof is hereby acknowledged. 

" This indenture therefore witnesseth that in consiileration of the 
payment aforesaid and in conformity with the foregoing stipulations 
and approbation, the said Pierre Moran has given grant, Ijargained 
end sold and 1>y these presents doth give, grant, bargain and sell unto 
the said Havilah Beardslev, i)arty of the second part, the above de- 
scribed tract of land, to have and to hold the same with all his rights, 
privileges and immunities thereunto belonging, to the said Havilah 
Beardsley, his heirs and assigns forever." 

This is duly signed, and in the course of the following year the 
presidential approbation of the transaction, signed with the hand of 
Andrew Jackson, arrived at Elkhart. It later came to light, however, 
that the Pottawottomie chief had been guilty of some double-dealing, 
having deeded the same section of land to Richard Godfrey of Michigan. 
After much litigation a compromise was effected, and Dr. Beardsley 
gave to Mr. Godfrey a large tract of land on the east side of the Elk- 
hart, 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 153 

At this point of our narrative we quote, as bearing directly upon 
the matters under immediate consideration and also as furnishing the 
reader a more intimate portrait of the man of wonderful energy and 
iron will who founded Elkhart, a life sketch of Mr. Beardsley, written 
a number of years ago and from close personal knowledge t>f the man 
and his work. 

Havilah Beardsley was born at New Fairfield, Connecticut, April 
I' 1795- While a child, his parents moved to Ohio, then the western 
verge of civilization. He was one in a family of fourteen children, 
twelve boys and two girls, all healthy and vigorous. Times were hard, 
the family poor; so at an early age they voluntarily left home and 
sought self support by engaging in such industries as the country af- 
forded, and were rewarded by eventually attaining good and honorable 
positions in life, a rare record containing no "black sheep." Beards- 
ley's Prairie, Michigan, was named after Ezra, the oldest of the sons. 

Havilah left iiis home when twehx years old and, with close appli- 
cation, rigid economy and self denial, managed to acquire a common 
school education, and in 1816 under the instruction of Professor Hill 
of Urbana, he commenced the study of medicine and in 1825 grad- 
uated from the Medical Department of the Transylvania University 
of Lexington, Ky. 

After a few years of profitable practice at Leesburg-, Ohio, he was 
attracted by glowing reports of the natural beauty and inducements 
of the St. Joseph River valley in northern Indiana, where it was 
claimed the "Big Strawberry grew;" and in 1830 on horseback, fol- 
lowing Indian trails, he explored that and much of the unsettled country 
in Indiana, Michigan and Illinois, going as far west as Chicagri. and 
returning by the way of Lafayette, where be came near locating but 
finally decided in favor of the St. Jose]3h \-alley. 

The fertile soil, beauty and location of the valley, untouched by 
the hand of man, its primeval forests dotted with verdured i>]ains, glim- 
mering lakes and meandered with flowing brooks, its groves and glades, 
presented a nicture of rarest beauty and formed an ideal home for the 
Indian whose simple wants were easily supplied by the countless game 
which surrounded his wigwam ; but the white man saw more thaiT all 
these ; he saw the miracle of cultivation. 

The beauty of the country appealed to the Doctor's esthetic taste, 
but in the waters of its rivers he could see greater powers than those 
of the soil, greater even than those of the fabled Geni of the Lamp. 



154 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

In iheir tinwing tiiles he beheld shmibering furces whicli in his practical 
niir.d could he harnessed to the factory's tireless wheels, and in imagina- 
tion he saw their fabrics transported upon the bosom of the ri\-er to 
Lake ^^lichigan and onward to the markets of the world. 

.\t the contluence of the St. J<iseph, Christiana and Elkhart rivers, 
he bought Section 5, an Indian reser\'ation owned by Moran, a Pot- 
tawottomie chief, and in 1832 employed George Crawford, a govern- 
ment sur\e}dr and relati\T hv marriage, to survey and plat the town 
of Llkhart on that section. 

Thi> was in the time of the stage co;ich and the prairie schooner, 
before the lime of railroads; it was when the rivers and lakes were 
the onl\- routes nf transportation, and no industrial communit}- could 
exist unless upon tlie banks of rivers or great lakes, hence the all-im- 
portance of the rivers on Section 5, from the evolutions of whose po- 
tentials would spring, a Cabin, a Town, a Commerce, a City. 

To-day we ha\e but faint conception of the obstacles to business 
which beset the pioneer nor of his courage and energy in facing them. 
Merchants bought and sold their goods on a credit of six and twelve 
months, their customers were consumers, not producers; the imports 
of the country largely exceeded the exports, causing money to be ex- 
ceedingly scarce, so much so that the circulating medium was not inaptly 
said to consist of hoop poles and coon skins. Returns from shipments 
to Xew York recjuired from three to four mouths, and an answer by 
mail from three to four weeks. 

But braving these and many other obstacles the Doctor bent his 
energies to the production of the most necessary wants of the immi- 
grants and in 1831 built at the mouth of the Christiana a mill for 
grinding- corn, its burrs were fashioned from native boulders and the 
corn was ground without bolting. Much of the meal was sold to the 
Indians and the writer witnessed their wonder and delight when a sifter 
was added and they first saw bolted meal. 

In the following year he placed a rope ferry across the St. Joseph 
river just below the mouth of the Christiana, and near the corn mill 
built a sa^\■mill. These were the first mills of the kind in the country. 
The next year he dammed the Elkhart, and erected a sawmill near 
\'oicnets douring mill, then one on Yellow Creek and another on the 
Baubaugo at Jim Town. At these mills the liest grades of ash, jjoplar 
and black ^valnut lumlier were sold for three to four dollars per thou- 
sand feet. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 155 

During" tlie years 33-34 and 35 most of the public lands were sold 
to settlers; town lots were in demand, buildings were erected and 
population rapidly increased ; all demanding an increase of manu- 
factured products. So the Doctor impro\-ed his corn mill by the addi- 
tion of machiner\- to grind wheat and. at a point where the highway 
crosses the Christiana on Cassopolis street, he built an oil mill and a 
w oolen factory and public carding machines and. at the foot of Alain 
street, he established another rope ferry across the St. Josqjh river. 

But in 1835 all the activities of the town were suddenly paralyzed 
by Godfrey, a Frenchman of Detroit, who claimed to be the rightful 
owner of Section 5, by right of a deed dated earlier than the Doctor's. 

Being" wards of the goxernment. Indians could n(jt themselves exe- 
cute titles, but must apply to the Indian department at Washington. 
Godfrey's deed was issued by the department with Commissioner Gen. 
Tipton's approval, but was not approved by the then President Jackson as 
required by law. Aloran had timely presented the facts of the transac- 
tion to the president, begging his non-approval of the sale on the charge 
of fraud, claiming that Godfrey had induced him to drink excessively 
and while drunk obtained consent to the transfer for the consideration 
of one old wornout horse and cart valued at twenty-five dollars. 

Although the Doctor had paid a fair price and had a clear title, 
while Godfrey's defecti\-e one was obtained by fraud and repudiated 
by Moran as soon as he became sober, yet the case was contested in 
court by Godfrey for six or seven years so stubbornly that, in the in- 
terest of property holders as well as his own, the Doctor effected a 
compromise by deeding to Godfrey all, or a part of all that part of Sec. 
5 lying .south of the St. Joseph river and east of the Elkhart river. 

During the time of the litigation the town stood still, no lots were 
sold, a few demanded the purchase money returned to them, w hich was 
done, and all the titles were considered worthless, while many specu- 
lated anxiouslv ujion the possibility (^f recovering damages from the 
Doctor. 

But the Doctor's zeal ne\"er relaxed, he continued building mills 
and personally attended to the management of his extensive business. 
He. opened up a farm in the heavy timber three miles south of Elkhart, 
he ministered to the sick, was active in urging the locating and opening 
of highways and building of needed bridges and in the interest of his 
suit for title made two trips to Wa.shington and several journeys on 
horseback to Indianapolis. His attorneys were Jesse D. Bright of cen- 



156 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

tral Indiana, Judge Niles of Laporte and one or two others whose names 
the writer has forgotten. 

About the year 1840, he canalled the waters of the Christiana across 
to the blufif of the St. Joseph, obtaining a fall of twenty-six feet : here 
he built a flouring mill which, until 1904, has done a large and constant 
business and about the year 1846, ^ built a paper mill, using power 
drawn from the same canal. With the exception of one at Peru, Ind., 
this was the first one built in the state. 

In 1850 he was active in securing the location of the Michigan 
Southern Railway Company, and, being a director in that company, his 
influence and liberal donation to the company of land secured for Elk- 
hart the location of the company's machine shops, which have added 
largely in the development of the town. 

From the fact that he prospered in all his various enterprises it 
will be seen that he was a man of ability, energy and sagacity: his 
energy was such that during the sickly seasons he rode day and night 
on horseback, sleeping as he rode, attending upon the sick, covering a 
distance of iifteen or more miles in each direction. His ability as a 
physician and surgeon was recognized as the best in the countiy ; and 
yet with all these duties he served the county one term as associate judge 
and was talked of as a Candidate for governor on the Whig ticket. 

He was broad, liberal and conservative in opinion, benevolent in 
spirit. Whig in politics, and Swedenborgian in religion, and as founder 
(!f the city of Elkhart is held in the highest respect by its citizens. 

At Greenfield, Ohio, in 1823. he married Rachel E. Calhoun, first 
cousin to the statesman. John C. Calhoun, which proved a union of the 
most perfect harmony of mind and spirit. She sympathized with him 
in his enterprises and willingly shared in the hardships attending those 
who lead in the van of civilization. Their son, J. R. Beardsley, gave 
Island Park to Elkhart; two sons. Charles and J. R. Beardsley and a 
son-in-law, B. L. Davenport, served two sessions each as state senators, 
and Richard Beardsley, the youngest son, became distinguished in pul)- 
lic life. He served in the L'nited States army as pay master nn the 
gunboat Owasco during the Rebellion and participated in the capture of 
New Orleans and the siege of Vicksbin-g. and for bra\erv was recom- 
mended for promotii>n by Commodore Porter, was ajiiiointed by Presi- 
dent Lincoln United States consul to Jerusalem and subsec|uently was 
promoted to consul general for the United States at Cairo, Egypt. Sec- 
retarv Seward, in his book of tra\el around the world, .savs he found 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 157 

Mr. Beardslev (Jiie uf the lirighttst diplomats in the sers'ice. He died 
at Cairo in January. 1876, and \)\ re(|uest <if the people of that city was 
buried there and in e\idence n\ their esteem they erected a tine monu- 
ment to his memory. 

Dr. Beardsley died in 1856 at Elkhart, his wife sur\i\ino- him un- 
til 1890. Theirs was the strenuous life and thev huilded better than 
they knew. 

The main business section of the jiresent city of Elkhart and all 
of the town as originally laid out is on the .south side of the St. Joseph 
river. But Elkhart as thus constituted cannot claim the honor of lieing 
the oldest center of population in this region. Elkhart once had an 
immediate rival, and its ultimate absorption of the older settlement is 
a case of the " survival of the fittest." Comparatively few of the pres- 
ent generation know that, when thev cross to the north side of the river. 
they are standing on the site of what was once known in the otlicial 
postoi¥ice guide and to the people of this part of the country as Pulaski. 
But such was the case. On the north side of the river Avas the house 
of Chester Sage mentioned above, also where Jesse Rush and a man 
by the name of Notfinger located at least two j-ears before Dr. Beards- 
ley came to this vicinity. Where Christiana creek empties its purling 
waters into the river. Cjeorge Crawford and jNIr. Huntsman built, in 
1829, the first grist mill, and in the same vear the postoffice authorities 
established there the first postoffice. with Mr. Crawford as its postmas- 
ter. It is said that the duties of this pioneer employe of Uncle Sam were 
not onerous, since his only duty was to examine the mails as the courier 
passed his residence north of the river on his way hack and forth be- 
tween Fort Wayne and Niles. 

But beyond its grist mill and its postoffice and its name, Pulaski 
had very little claim to be distinguished as a center of ]ropulation ; it 
w.-.s never ])latted, never had streets, and its large and flourishing neigh- 
bo/ on the south has long since spread over its site and arrogated to it- 
seb" all the ancient marks of a village. 

But Dr. Beardsley had no sooner come into possession of his 
tract of land to the south of the St. Joseph than he proceeded with all 
the energy and progressiveness so characteristic of his nature to laA- 
the foundation for the town which his judgment dictated as a future 
metropolis. To lay out the town he engaged the services of his neigh- 
bor, George Crawford, a civil engineer, who also platted Goshen. The 
original plat of Elkhart included fifty-four lots, and was bounded on 



168 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

the north Ijy the present Washington street, on the east In- the Elkhart 
river, on the south by Pigeon street, and on the west hy the ahey west 
of Second street. By an extension of tlie hmits, made on January 3, 
1835, the boundaries were extended to Higli and Vistula streets and the 
St, Joseph river. To this site Dr. Beardsley gave the name of Elk- 
hart, which name came into general use in 1832, Three years later the 
Pulaski ]jostoffice was moved to the south side of the river, some time 
later renamed Elkhart, and since this act of expansion there has been 
no Pulaski, only an ever increasing and growing Elkhart. 

Of Elkhart, the Express of ^larch 4, 1837, said: " It is pleasantly 
situated at the junction of the Elkhart with the St. Joseph river. Since 
it was laid out, a few years ago, its growth has been very rapid, and 
is now a flourishing village, containing four stores, two groceries, one 
pubHc house and a due portion of mechanics, etc. A bridge across the 
St, Joseph has just been completed. The day is not far distant when 
its immense (water) power will be brought into recjuisition to propel 
flouring mills and machinerv of ex'erv descripti(jn," a prophecy entirely 
fulfilled. 

Upon the original plat of the town Horace Root was tlie first to 
erect a building, a dwelling, and Samuel P. Beebe put up the second 
at the northw est corner of Main and Jackson streets. Across the street 
from the present site of Hotel Bucklen ]\Ir. Beebe erected a store build- 
ing, antl he is accredited with the honor of being the first merchant 
within the old village limits, although a store had been opened prior 
to that time on the north side of the St. Joseph by Renssaler Harris. 
Among the early merchants and business men were Elijah Beardsley, 
N. F. Broderick, John Davenport, J, S, and A, Defrees, George Craw- 
ford was in many ways a prominent man ; not only the first postmaster 
in this vicinity, but also remained in charge of the postoiifice after it 
was moved to the south side of the river, his term of service being from 
1829 to 1837. 

An early pioneer visiting Elkhart in April, 1838, gives the follow- 
ing impressions of the village: "The only manufactory was a small 
flouring mill, with perhaps a sawmill on Christiana creek, near the 
mouth. The principal citizens were Doctor Beardsley, his nephew, 
Elijah Beardsley, George Crawford, Samuel P. Beebe, N. F. Broderick, 
Col. Downing, John Davenport, Hiram Morgan, James Defrees, Dr. 
P, S, Kenyon, Lorenzo Scoville, Wm, Beaumont, Gen. W, B. Mitchell. 
Jacob Frush, John Compton, Dr. Wm. R. Ellis and Henry Crampton. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 159 

The only liotel was kept by Col. Downing- (wlu) tlied that \earj, on 
the present site of the Bucklen. He was a good man ; Ijut from the 
hungT)- look of the eagle on his sign, was dubbed by Judge Beebe 
as ■ Col. Buzzard." The Judge resided on the corner, northwest from 
the hotel, a \ery lumible frame dwelling embowered in a shady grove, 
while a rough pole fence surrounded his lot. Morgan and Defrees kept 
the red store, and Davenport and Broderick had a store farther south. 
Elijah Beardsley- dispensed justice to the people, as did also our vener- 
able friend N. F. Broderick. The constables were Hiram ^Morgan and 
Joseph Dome. (ien. Mitcliell was engaged as chief engineer in the 
surve}- of the Northern canal, and completed his labors alxDut that 
period. George Crawford was serving his county in the State Senate, 
and was interested in one of the mercantile establishments. Real estate 
was at a low ebb : lots ranging from $50 to $300. 

■' The southern and eastern portions of the town were covered 
with a thrift}- forest, worth jirobably $15 an acre. The town had been 
christened ' Pulaski,' and its postoffice still bore that name. There was 
no church in the place; but occasional meetings were held bv the Meth- 
. odists and United Brethren in the schoolhouse. Sabbath school was 
an unknown institution. There was no regular whiskey shop in the 
town ; but the merchants dispensed the needful by the cjuart when re- 
c[uired for medicinal or other purposes : but drunkenness had no exist- 
ence in the community. During this xear several new families arri\ed. 
^\mong- them were the Shuey and Irwin families, Robert Sanford and 
the McKelveys. Judge Beebe was the character of the place. He 
had seen t!iis beautiful spot as earlv as the \-ear 1S27 but did not locate 
here until after the town bad lieen started. He was a man of intelli- 
gence and at that time had just been elected probate judge liv three 
votes. He was a free thinker in religion and a practical joker." 

At a little log cabin schoolhouse, situated on the banks of the 
Elkhart ri\er, N. F. Broderick wielded the birch and taught the voui-ig 
Elkhartians the three " R's." He was the first school master in the 
village. In 1837 the second school building was erected on Second 
street. The renowned " Tammany Hall " was built in 183^) aufl here 
for many years all classes of entertainments were given, from the tem- 
perance lecture to the amateur theatricals and occasionally some stroll- 
ing player would excite the wonder of the inhabitants by his perform- 
ance. This hall stood at the corner of Main and Jefferson streets. Mrs. 
Beebe opened a Sabbath school at her home and also gave instructioi-) 



160 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

in luiglish U_> the older boys and girls. Between 1837 and 1840 Ur. 
Beardsley commenced the Iniilding of several mills. He erected a corn 
mill and a woolen and oil mill on the banks of the Elkhart. A little 
later when boats commenced to ascend the St. Joseph, warehouses 
were built along the Elkhart and there trading in farm produce and 
merchandise was conducted. Fifty-six dwellings constituted the total in 
the village in 1844. At that time there were sixty-seven voters. 

As has been referred to often in these pages, Elkhart's command- 
ing position in the industrial world has been due in large degree to its 
situation on the banks of two large streams and the possibilities of 
immense water-power development consequent thereto. Xine of the 
progressive business men of Elkhart were responsible for the proper 
development of the immense water power of the St. Joseph river that 
for years had lain d(.irmant. It was this movement that proved a strong- 
foundation for the upbuilding of the cit}' and added materially to its 
present greatness. After the hydraulics were constructed a demand 
was at once created for the cheap water jxiwer and factories began to 
seek Elkhart. Two years were required in the construction of the 
tlam antl the various races. The building was done during the years 
1867 and 1868 and was under the direct supervision of Silas DeCamp. 
Nearly $100,000 was expended by the compau}- in the harnessing of 
this great water power. The men who comprised the companv were : 
John Davenport, president: John AIcNaughton. vice presiflent and 
treasurer ; Samuel Hoke, secretary : J. R. Beardsley, B. L. Davenport, 
William Proctor, Dr. A. S. Davenport, A. P. Simonton, S. S. Strong. 

As early as 1832 a dam was constructed across the Elkhart river. 
Abner Simonton, a brother of D. S. Simonton, w^as the builder of 
this first dam. A lock was also built at one side for the accommoda- 
tion of the IxDats that then went up as far as Goshen. Several times 
within the succeeding years \-arious <!ams were washed awav bv the 
spring floods and it was not until 1875 ^''''l^ ^ permanent dam was con- 
structed. Mr. Clark Lane had lived near water powers all of his life 
and when he gazed upon the Elkhart a\ inding around the Ixjttoms to 
the south of Jackson street, he knew that a large tract of land could 
be reclaimed and at the same time the water power strengthened. Ac- 
cordingly he purchased the land and cut ofif 1,800 feet of winding ri\er 
by a channel only 180 feet in length. A dam of stone and cement 
was then constructed near the site of the Indiana Buggv Co.'s plant 
and all of the bottom land reclaimed bv the building of dvkes. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 161 

The first white cliild linrn in the original \'inage of Elkhart is said 
to- be John H. Broderick. who came into the world in October. i83'5. 
The old Beardsley flouring mill, one of the most interesting landmarks 
of pioneer days, was built by R. D. Braden. the first millwright in the 
town. Dr. Beardsley erected the first brick residence in 1848. on the 
site of the present Beardsley home. The ^Morehouse block, (jii I\Iain 
street, v.as the first brick business block. The business district grew 
rapidly during these years, and at the same time social institutions, 
schools, churches and other factors of cix'ilization kept pace with the 
other phases of the city's development. 

Shortly after the incorporation of Elkhart as a village the Elk- 
hart Weekly Rcz'icz^' was established, and in the first number of that 
well known journal, issued February 5, 1859. with J. S. W^eller as pub- 
lisher, there appears a " business directory '" which is \ery interesting 
and instructive in the light it thnnvs on the business personnel of that 
day. Ihis list, which is not supposed to be inclusive, comprises the 
following: Clifton House. Xewcr)mb & Pierce; Elk House, C. Van- 
derhoot : Bank of Elkhart, P. Moorehouse, president: B. D. & G. Sher- 
wood, dr)- goods and general store: J. ^P Hackerthorn. general store: 
L. A. .Vlford & Son. general store; J. & A. S. Davenport, general store; 
C. Beardsley. manufacturer and dealer in paper; A. AI. Tucker, diy 
goods, etc.; S. S. Strong, dry goods, etc.: C. North, hardware; j. J. 
Keely. merchant tailor: H. Brett, boot and shoe manufacturer; E. J. 
King, dentist; G. F. Jones, general dealer; A. Heath & J. \\'. Shafer.' 
lawyers: Dr. W. ^^^ Chambers, physician and dentist; M. F. Shuey, 
lawyer : S. D. Harris, furniture and undertaker ; S. C. Conn, " daguer- 
rean artist;"' J. H. Rerick. physician and surgeon; Moorehouse & Babb, 
general store: W. E. Bonta, jeweler: Geo. Dean, barber: Thos. Hay. 
manufacturer and dealer in cabinet ware. In a later issue of the same 
paper are the following additional names; Clark House. J. R. Clark, 
proprietor; O. H. Main, lawyer; Drs. W'inans & Lawrence; ¥. W. 
Burns, drugs; S. Shelly, hardware: H. Crampton. justice of the peace. 

Elkhart, as a corporate part of the body politic, has had an exis- 
tence of nearly half a century. In 1858 a petition, signed by many 
of the electors in the \illage, was presented to- the county commission- 
ers, and in response thereto the board ordered an election for voting 
upon the question of incorporating Elkhart. The vote was taken on 
June 29. and out of 216 ballets a majority of fifty- four was reported in 
fa,vor of incorporation. Accordingly the commissioners declared, at 



162 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

their September session, tliat the xillage lie incorporated and be known 
as the " Town of Elkhart."' The names of the tirst trustees are P. 
Morehouse, Virgil Young- and A. P. Simonton. 

Elkhart remained in the list of towns for seventeen years. In this 
period the population, the manufacturing and commercial interests and 
the territorial area had expanded rapidly, and the old-fashioned form 
of go\-ernment was felt to be an incubus to the continued prosperity of 
the town. Therefore, on .\pril 28, ^S/^. the issue of city or town 
government was placed liefrire the citizens. That the lines l>etween the 
conser\-ative and liberal element were closely rlrawn and that the wis- 
dom of incorporation as a citv was h\ no means universally acknowl- 
edged, may be inferred from the vote, which stood 575 for incorpora- 
tion and 561 for continuance of the town system. By the small major- 
ity of fourteen ballots, therefore, the first election of municipal otficers 
was ordered, and on May 11, 1875, tlie following officials were voted 
into control : Mayor, Henry C. Wright ; clerk. Ben Brown and J. D. 
Wood; treasurer, Henry Bearuii : marshal, C. J. (iillette; assessor, B, 
O. Alanchester; ci\il engineer. C. Af. Pnictor: chief fire department, 
E. A. Campbell : attornew O. '!'. Chamberlain. Councilmen — Eirst 
ward, diaries Walley and John Cook ; Second ward, C. W. Green and 
S. S. Strong: Third ward, D. S. Simonton and \\'i]liam Cravit ; Eourth 
ward. Jolm Salkeld and Frank Jauriett : b'ifth \\ard, Jacob Arisman 
and T- S. Kinse\': .Sixth ward, Tavlor Arisman and Da\'id Kegereis. 

1876. ]\Iayiir. J. R. Reardsley : clerk, James H. State: treasurer, 
A. R. Beardsley: marshal. C. J. Gillette; attorney, J. M. Vanfleet; civil 
engineer, C. ]\I. Procttjr; chief fire department, E. A. Campbell; asses- 
sor, J. 'S\. Hughes. Councilmen — Eirst ward, John Cook and J. R. 
Randall ; Second ward, C. W. Green and R. D. Braden : Third ward, 
¥. L. Collins and J- W- Ellis: Fourth ward. Cyrus Seiler and J. Jacob- 
son; Fifth ward, B. O. Alanchester and H. J. Kremer; Sixth ward, J. 
R. Mather and A. C. Manning. 

1877. Mayor, J. R. Beardsley: clerk. J. H. State: treasurer, A. R. 
Beardsley: marshal, C. J. Gillette: attorney, J. ^I. Vanfleet : civil engin- 
eer, C. M. Proctor; chief fire department, F. G. Shaw. Councilmen — 
Eirst ward, John Cook and J. R. Randall: Second ward, C. W. Green 
and R. D. Braden : Third w;ird, J. W. Ellis and Joseph Hollis ; Fourth 
ward, Cyrus Seiler and J. Jacobson ; Fifth ward. H. J. Kremer and B. 
O. Alanchester; Sixth ward. .\. C. Manning and 'SI. M. KaufYman. 

1878. Mayor. .\. ;\1. Tucker: clerk. J. H. State: treasurer, A. R. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 163 

Beardsley; marshal. A. B. Miller; attorney, J. M. Vanfleet; civil engin- 
eer, C. Beardsley ; chief fire department, F. G. Shaw. Councilmen — 
First ward, Stephen .\. Burrows and John Cook; Second ward, John 
McNaughton and C. W. Green ; Third ward, Daniel Weaver and Joseph 
Hollis; Fourth ward. J. P. Primley and Cyrus Seiler; Fifth ward, C. 
H. Watson and B. O. ^Manchester ; Sixth ward, J. R. Mather and A. C. 
^Manning. 

1879. Mayor, A. M. Tucker; clerk, J. H. State; treasurer, A. R. 
Beardsley; marshal, A. B. Miller; attorney, J. M. Vanfleet; civil en- 
g-ineer, C. M. Proctor: chief fire department, Thomas Tumock and 
Clark Delo. Councilmen — First ward. J. R. Beardsley and S. A. Bur- 
rows; Second ward, C. W. Green and John McNaughton; Third ward, 
Joseph Hollis and Daniel Weaver; Fourth ward, George W. Stevens 
and J. P. Primley; Fifth ward. Heniy Kremer and C. H. W^atson ; 
Sixth ward, ^^'m. Isenbice and J. R. Mather. 

1880. Mayor. C. G. Conn; clerk. B. O. Alanchester and J. H. 
.State: treasurer. S. D. Devor; marshal, A. B. Miller; attorney, J. M. 
Vanfleet ; civil engineer. Henry Cook ; chief fire department, F. G. 
Shaw. Councilmen — First ward. James Bigelow and J. R. Beardsley; 
.Second ward, John Minnich and C. \V. Green ; third ward. Daniel 
Weaver and Joseph Hollis ; Fourth ward. John McNaughton and George 
W. Stevens; Fifth ward. C. H. Watson and Henry Kremer; Sixth 
ward, John Kemberling and Wm. Isenbice. 

t88i. Mayor, C. G. Conn; clerk. B. O. jNIanchester; treasurer, 
J. D. Devor: marshal, A. B. Miller; attorney, J. M. Vanfleet; civil en- 
.gineer. Henry Cook; chjef fire department, David Carpenter. Council- 
men — l-'irst ward, Erasmus Farley ; Second ward. H. B. Sherwood and 
J. M. Alinnich'; Third ward, S. N. Jackman and Daniel Weaver: F"ourth 
w ard. D. C. Ouimby and John McNaughton ; Fifth ward. J. H. Roswell 
and C. H. Watson; Sixth ward, Thomas Charles and John Kemberling. 

1882. Maj-or, C. G. Conn; clerk. W. D. Middleton: treasurer. J. 
D. Devnr; marshal. .\. B. Miller: attorney. O. T. Chamberlain; civil 
engineer, Henry Cnok ; chief fire department, David Carpenter. Coun- 
cilmen — b'irst ward, (ieorge Harker and Erasmus Farley; Second ward, 
C. \\'. Green and H. B. Sherwood: Third ward. Daniel Weaver and S. 
X. Jackman: Fourth ward, James Grififin and D. C. Ouimby; Fifth 
ward, H. J. Kremer and J H. Roswell ; Sixth ward. Conrad Ziesel and 
Thomas Charles. 

J 883. Mayor, C. (i. Conn and P. J. Parmater; clerk, W. D. Mid- 



164 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

dleton : treasurer, J. L). Devon marshal. A. B. Miller: attorney, O. T. 
Chamberlain; civil engineer, Henry Cook; chief tire department, J. D. 
Shultz. Councilmen — First ward, J- C. Erwin and William Barger; 
Second ward, E. R. Kerstetter and C. W. Green: Third ward, S. N. 
Jackman and Daniel \\'eaver ; Fourth ward, D. C. Ouimby and James 
Grififin; iMtth ward, W. A. Shaffer and Chas. H. Watson; Sixth ward, 
Thos. Charles. 

1884. Mavdr, Xorman Beckley: clerk, W. D. Middleton; treas- 
urer, J. D. Devor; marshal, Elliott CruU : attorney, P. L. Turner: civil 
engineer, Henry Cook ; chief fire department. J. D. Schultz. Council- 
men — First ward, J. C. Erwin and H. McLachlan : Second ward, John 
W. Eieldhouse and E. R. Kerstetter; Third ward, S. X. Jackman and 
John Linderman; Fourth ward, J. J. Hoffman and D. C. Ouimby: Fifth 
ward, W. A. Shaffer and C. H. Watson: Si.xth ward. S. Bertch and E. 
Goldthwait. 

1885. Mayor. S. M. Cummins; clerk. Andrew Schotield and W. 

D. Middleton: treasurer, J. D. Devor; marsiial, Elliott Cruil; attorney, 
P, L. Turner: civil engineer, Flenry Cook; chief fire department, Leon- 
ard Jones. Councilmen — First ward, Samuel Dotson and H. McLach- 
lan: Second ward. P. J. Parmater and J. W. Eieldhouse: Third ward, 
A. Mitchell and John Linderman: Fom-th ward. F. G. Shaw and J. J. 
Hoffman: Fifth ward, W. H. Wagner .and J.Foltz; Sixth ward. S. 
Bertch and E. Goldthwait. 

18S6. Mayor. Dame! Weaver: clerk, Harry S. Chester and An- 
drew Schofield; treasurer, J. D. Devor and E. A. Campbell; marshal, 
Elliott Crull ; attorney. Perry L. Turner: c\x\] engineer, Henry Cook; 
chief fire department, David Carpentei. Councilmen — First ward, Sam- 
uel Dotson and C. T. Green ; Second a\ ard. Peltire Hill aitd J. W. Field- 
house: Third \\ard, E. A. Carjjenter and Charles Walley : Fourth ward, 
F. G. Shaw and A. U]))); Fifth ward. C. H. Wagner and \V. A. Shaf- 
fer; Sixth ward. E. Goldthwait and S. Bertch. 

1887. Mayor. Daniel Weaver; clerk. Harry S. Chester; treasurer. 

E. A. Campbell: marshal, Elliott Crull; attorney. Perry L. Turner: civil 
engineer, Henry Cook ; chief fire department, David Carpenter. Coun- 
cilmen — b'irst ward. C. T. Green and J. J. Newman: Second ward, J. 
W. Eieldhouse and W. J. Aleader; Third ward. Guy C. Johnson and 
Chas. Walley: Fourth ward. F. G. Shaw and A. Upp; Fifth ward. C. 
H. Wagner and W. A. Shaft'er: Sixth ward. C. C. Needham antl E. 
Goldthwait 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY IfiS 

1888. Mayor, Everett Goldthwait ; clerk, Harry S. Cliester; treas- 
urer, E. A. Campbell : marshal, C. C. Xeedham : attorney, P. L. Turner : 
ci\'il engineer. Henry Cook: chief fire (le])artment, Frank Winegarchier. 
Councilmen — First ward, J. J. Newman and J. \\'. Slear: Second ward, 
W. J. Meader and L. B. Cooke: Third ward. (1. C. Johnson and A. R. 
Beardsley: Fourth ward, F. G. Shaw and John Rinehart : Fifth ward. 
C. H. Wagner and W. A. Shaffer: Sixth ward, David Moyer and Ar- 
thur Evans. 

1889. Mayor. F. Goldthwait: clerk. Harry S. Chester; treasurer. 
E. A. Campbell: marshal, C. C. Needham : attorney. P. L. Turner: civil 
engineer, Henry Cook: chief fire department, Ira Hummel. Council- 
men — First \\ard, ¥. W. Miller and J. W. Slear: Second ward. L. B. 
Cooke and J. J. Newman: Third ward. Guy C. Johnson and A. R. 
Beardsley: Fourth ward. John Rinehart and C. H. Clark: Fifth ward. 
W. Shaffer and [Mentor J. Hill; Sixth ward, .\rthur Evans and David 
Moyer. 

i8go. AIa}'or. Strafford Maxon ; clerk. George H. h'ister ; treas- 
urer. E. A. Campbell: marshal, Cornelius Coleman; attorney. Perry L. 
Turner: civil engineer. Henry Cook: chief fire department. Ira Hum- 
mel. Councilmen — First ward, 1^~. ^^^ Miller and J. W'. Slear; Second 
ward, Philip Christman and J. J. Newman : Third ward. Albert Kar- 
nell and Guy C. Johnson ; Fourth ward, John Rinehart and C. H. Clark : 
Fifth ward. George W. Kuhn and ^lentor J. Hill ; Sixth ward. Charles 
Miller and David Moyer. 

1891. Mayor, Straft"ord Maxon: clerk, George H. Fister; treas- 
urer, Edward A. Campbell; marshal, Cornelius Coleman; attorney. 
Perry L. Turner: civil engineer. Henry Cook: chief fire department. 
Jake Hummel. Councilmen — First ward, J. W. Slear and W. S. Pan- 

.cost; Second ward. Edwin W. Fobes and Phil Christman: Third ward. 
Albert Karnell and F. K. Fernald: Fourth ward, John Rinehart and 

C. H. Clark; Fifth ward. George A. Kuhn and G. W. Huntley: Sixth 
ward, Ellis M. Chester and Charles Miller. 

1892. Mayor, Otis D. Thompson; clerk, George H. Fister: treas- 
urer, Philetus P. Abel; marshal, \\'m, H. Dunbar; city judge. Joseph 

D. Arnold ; attorney, Peny L. Turner ; civil engineer. Charles L. Kin- 
ney ; chief fire dej^artment. George B. Dotson. Councilmen — First ward, 
Frederick W. Miller and Wilna S. Pancost; Second ward, Isaac Nadel 
and Edwin \V. Fobes: Third ward. .\. R. Beardsley and F. K. Fernald; 
Fourth ward. Tedediah M. Hughes and C. H. Clark; Fifth ward. George 



166 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

N. Sweitzer and G. W. Huntley: Sixtli ward. ("leorge W. Stuck and 
Ellis M. Chester. 

1893. Mayor. Otis D. Tlicmpson ; clerk, George H. Fister; treas- 
urer, Philetus P. Al>el ; marshal. William H. Dunbar : city judge. Jo- 
seph D. Arnold: attorney. Perry L. Turner: ci\il engineer, Charles L. 
Kinney: chief tire department, Nathan F. Smith. Councilmen — First 
ward, Frederick W. JMiller and Wilna S. Pancost ; Second ward. Lsaac 
Nadel and Edwin W. Fobes: Third ward, Albert R. Beardsley and F. 
K. Fernald: Fourth ward, Jedediah M. Hughes and C. H. Clark; Fifth 
ward, George N. Sweitzer and G. \\'. Huntley ; Sixth ward, George \\\ 
Stuck and Ellis M. Chester. 

1894. ^Nlayor, Henry B. Sykes; clerk. Kit !\IcKean: treasurer. 
Philetus P. Abel: city judge, Joseph D. Arnold: attorney. Perry L. 
Turner : civil engineer. Charles L. Kinney. Councilmen — First ward. 
Frederick W. Miller and Roljert S. Chamberlin : Second ward, John J. 
Newman and Isaac Nadel : Third ward, Melvin I'. Demarest and A. R. 
Beardsley: Fourth ward. Charles F. Jacobson and Jedadiah M. Hughes: 
Fifth ward, ^^'illiam J. Morrow and George N. Sweitzer: Sixth ward, 
Julius J. Shaw and George C. Stuck. 

i8g6. Mayor. Henry B. Sykes: cleik. Kit McKean : treasurer. 
Philetus P. Abel: city judge, Joseph D. Arnold: attorney. Perry L. 
Turner: civil engineer, Charles L. Kinney. Councilmen — First ward. 
Chas. H. Murray and R. S. Chamberlin: .Second ward. Herman Borne- 
man and John J. Newman: Third ward. Geo. \^innedge and ^L U. 
Demarest; Fourth ward. \\'. L. Collins and C. F. Jacobson: Fifth ward. 
Wm. Ecker and A\'. J. IXIorrow: Sixth \vard, R. M. Stewart and J. J. 
Shaw. 

1898. ]\layor. Porter Turner: clerk, Kit McKean: treasurer, F'. P. 
Abel; city judge, Collins Blake: attorney, P. L. Turner: civil engineer. 
Chas. L. Kinney and D. F. Cordrey: chief fire department, Chas. A. 
.Sanford. Councilmen — First ward, Benj. S. Monger and Chas. A. 
^lurrav: Second ward, Wm. Krau. ^^'m. Lloyd and Herman Borne- 
man; Third ward, John Jones and Geo. Vinne<lge: l*"ourth ward. ^^^ 
H. Winship and W. L. Collins: Fifth wru-d. A. M. Smith and Wm. 
Ecker; Sixth ward. J. J. Shaw and R. M. Stewart. 

1900. ^layor. Porter Turner: cleric Kit McKean: treasurer. P. 
P. Abel: citv judge. Collins Blake: attorney. Perry L. Turner: civil 
engineer, D. F. Cordrey and L. F. Hitchcock: chief fire department, 
Chas. A. Sanford. Councilmen — First ward. H. T. Douglass and Benj. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 167 

S. Monger ; Second ward, A. L. Burns and \\"m. E. Llu_\(l ; Third ward, 
Herman Borneman and John Jone.s; I'onrth ward, Guy C. Lemon, \V. 
H. Winship and L. Helfrick: Fiftli ward, .\. M. Smith and G. A. 
Kuhn ; Sixth ward, J. J. Shaw and R. J. Chester. 

1902. Mayor, Charles T. Greene : clerk, Emil V. Anderson ; treas- 
urer, Edward A. Camphell ; attorney. John M. VanFleet ; civil engineer, 
Carl R. Beardsley ; street commissioner, Frederick Poole ; chief of fire 
department, Charles A. Sanford ; city judge, Clyde C. Raymer. Coun- 
cilmen — First ward, E. A. Skinner, Perry L. Beck ; Second ward, W. 
B. Pratt, J. T. Keene; Third ward, John Jones, \\\ S. Hazelton; Fourth 
ward. A. L. Gotwalt, Fremont Thomas: Fifth ward, A. JNL Smith, Geo. 
W". Frederick: Sixth ward, Henry ^\'. Single, Ira H. Church. 

CITY OFFICIALS I9O5. 

The present members of the Elkhart municipal government are 
thus named : Mayor, Charles T. Greene : clerk. Emil V. Anderson : 
treasurer, Edward A. Campbell : attorney, John M. VanFleet : civil en- 
gineer, C. R. Beardsley: street commissioner. Fred Poole. Common 
Council — First ward. Perry L. Beck, Charles T. .Swaffield : Second ward, 
James T. Keene, Flerbert .\. Graham: Third ward, \\'alter S. Hazeltnn. 
James W. Ganiard: Fourth ward. Aretus L. Gotwalt, Herman O. Hart- 
mann : Fifth ward, Clement C. Kindy, Josephus M. Brukaker; .Sixth 
ward, James Alorrow, Charles Laudenslager. City Commissioners or 
Board of Appraisers — Eber Darling, Sr., president: Leander Ander- 
son, secretary: J. P. Sanders, F. H. Hanson, G. C. Kistner. Concord 
Township Officials — Trustee, Joseph H. Grosh: assessor. E. O. Fifer. 
Fire Department — Chief engineer. Charles A. Sanford: first assistant 
chief. Charles E. Wilcox. Metropolitan Police Department — Commis- 
sioners; Elliot Crull. president: Francis E. Tousley. James L. Har- 
man: Geo. H. Whiteman, secretary: Chas. E. Sihers. superintendent 
of police : A. B. ^liller, sergeant. City judge. Clyde Raymer : prose- 
cuting attorney. W'm. B, Hile: de])uty prosecuting attorney. E. .\. Bak- 
er. Board of Health — Dr. ^\^ H. Thomas, secretary : W. H. Ouaife, 
inspector. Board of School Trustees — Al. U. Damarest. president: W. 
H. Mann, secretary: W. H. Riblet, treasurer: D. ^^'. Thomas, superin- 
tendent of schools. Board of Park Commissioners — Chas. S. Tousley, 
])resident : James A. Bigelow, secretary: Edwin Walley, treasurer: Geo. 
H. Sweitzer. superintendent of parks. Public Library Board — .\. P. 



168 HISTORY' OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Kent, president; Rev. A. U. Ogilvie. secretary; Miss Katherine Sage, 
librarian, (jrace Lawn Cemetery — Jolm C. Middletijn, sextmi. 

The following newspaper item bearing U]xin the citv court of Elk- 
hart is of historical interest : " The fact that Governor Hanly is called 
upon, under the new law. to appoint city judges in manj' of the larger 
cities, emphasizes the fact that Elkhart has had a city court since 1876. 
It was organized by the city council under the law obtained in 1875. '^X 
the Hon. M. F. Shuey of that city in response to a demand by law- 
yers that the necessity of going to (joshen every time when litigation 
was required be dispensed with. Between 1881 and 1891 the court was 
of little consequence. The legislature in accepting an amendment, in- 
advertei.tly inserted a word which, by inference, rendered the judge- 
ship of no more consequence than a notary public. This was rectified 
in i8cji by amendment by the Hon. O. Z. Hubbell, and since then the 
jurisdiction of the court remained rmaffected until the new municipal 
code went into effect. " 

Elkhart is now constituted along the lines of a metropolitan city. 
It has a well organized and thoroughly efficient jwlice department. There 
was a time when a solitary individual wore a star of ofifice and took 
care of the reckless and criminal minded and otherwise protected his 
fellow citizens. For some years a marshal was elected by the people 
and a proper number of policemen appointed by the council. Now all 
this is changed, and the Elkhart police system is being operated under 
the state law. the commissioners being appointed by the governor. The 
Elkhart board of metropolitan police commissioners was organized un- 
der the state law. May 20. 1893. The police force now numliers twelve, 
inclusive 'of superintendent and the humane officer. 

Like all cities of its class, the present municipal fire department is 
the outgrowth of the " bucket brigade " and the old hand pump. In 
the early days whenever the cry of " Fire " was heard all work was in- 
stantly stopped, a line was formed, stretching from the river to the 
scene of the conflagration and buckets were passed to and fro. until 
the fire was out or the building destroyed. The first fire of importance 
is recorded as occuring October 9. 1848, at which time the Penwell 
Tavern, John Davenport's general store and the office of a weekly 
newspaper were destroyed. The " bucket brigade " was present at 
this fire. 

" Mike Shuey's Prifle " was the name of the first hand engine 
owned by the village. This ]3Ut in an appearance in the fall of 1863. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 169 

Mike was a well known citizen oi the town in those days and it was 
through his efforts that the engine was purchased. 

The present paid fire department was organized in 1894. The 
first company comprised Mac. Dotson, chief; Charles \Vilcox, assist- 
ant chief: E. LaBelle. second assistant chief: Frank Little, pipeman : 
.Vlgie Darling, hydrant: Charles .\. Sanford, driver hose carriage: 
W. H. Filer, driver hook and ladder; John Ulrich, ladder man. 

The present Elkhart fire department is a matter of just pride to 
die citizens. There are two fire stations, one at the city hall, and two 
others are at this writing in process of construction (in the west side. 
Well trained and uniformed firemen are alwavs a strong source of 
confidence to business men and prospective investors in industrial 
enterprises, and no forward ste]) in municipal improvement of recent 
years has been more profitable than the establishment of this paid fire 
department. The number of paid firemen at present consists of seven- 
teen, soon to be increased to twenty-three. Twelve horses are constant- 
ly in their stalls awaiting the signals to dash to duty, pulling behind 
them three hose carts, one combined hose wagon and chemical 
engine, and one hook and ladder truck. For most purposes the pressure 
in the mains is sufficient, liut engine power is always availah'le. 

ELKH.-VRT POSTOFFICE. 

The Elkhart postofifice has a record for magnitude of business 
and efficiency of service which places it among the foremost postoffices 
of the state; in point of net receipts it ranks next to Indianapolis. The 
historical progress noted between the old Pula.ski office, on the north 
side of the river in 1830, with its weekly mail, to the present fine office 
with its immense \'oIumes of hourly in and out going mail, its gross 
receipts of over one hundred thousand dollars annually, with its large 
force of employes, is in itself a striking resume of the histoiy of Elkhart 
city. At this writing W. H. Anderson is postmaster. He is soon to 
be succeeded by Dr. Charles Eisenbeiss. J. M. Hughes is assistant 
postmaster. There are ten clerks in the office, with one substitute, 
and eleven regular carriers with two substitutes. 

Elkhart has been fortunate in the additions to her public archi- 
tecture of the past few years, and any justifiable criticisms in the past 
must soon resolve into absolute praise of the character of pennanent 
buildings which are being constructed either for public or business pur- 
poses. A beautiful library and several splendid business blocks have 



170 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

marked \v(jnderful progress in this regard, and just at the time this 
history is heing written tlie record culminates in the federal building, 
where during the month of Xovember, 1905, the l-llkhart postoffice, 
whose (|uarters ha\e heen outgrown by the rapidly increased business, 
will be installed in a permanent and modern home. 

In March, 1903, Congress appropriated eighty-five thousand dol- 
lars for a new postijffice building at Elkhart. The grounds for the 
structure, whose value is estimated at twel\-e thousand dollars, are 
situated on Main street near the Century Club. The contract for the 
general c(.>nstruction of the building called for $62,400, which does 
not co\er the cost of luck boxes, light fixtures, safes, etc. The con- 
tract, dated July j6, 1904, called for completion by December i, 1905, 
and at the time of this writing the work had so far progressed that 
November 1 was set as the date of completion. 

The postoffice is splendidly situated. Built in the bjnic style of 
classic architecture, with two Ionic columns at the east facade, the 
base and steps of granite and the upper walls and cornices of light Bed- 
ford stone, the brick, stone and steel construction is as nearly fireproof 
as any building can be. The ground dimensions are 63 by 103 feet, 
the height over all is 32 feet, while the main storv is 21 feet high, 
and the liasement 9 feet and to inches. The pulilic entrances are 
from the east and the south, and the ]>ublic lobljv and all the depart- 
ments are finished in quartered white oak with marble base. The 
front vestibule is entirel)- of moss-figured Vermont marble. The di- 
mensions of the main room are 39 by 51 feet, lighted from overhead 
by a large skylight, in addition to the many stained-glass windows at 
the south and north. The money order and registry division occupies 
the southwest corner in a room 22 by 23 feet, while the postmaster's 
office, on the east side, is 14 \\\ if). In the basement are the carriers' 
room, fitted up with ])ri\ate lockers, toilet rooms and shower bath, and 
the heating plant. One of the provisions showing the modern safe- 
guards thrown about government work are two mezzanine stories, each 
reached by secret passageways, from which a lookout window gives an 
inspecting official full view of all the proceedings in the tlifferent de- 
partments, though the official himself cannot be observed. The super- 
intendent of construction, in charge of the erection of this building, 
is O. H. Dirham. 




SOLDIERS' MONUMENT 




SILAS BALDWIN 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 171 

With a population conservatively estimated at twenty thousand, 
Elkhart has all the other features of a modern industrial and residential 
center. Situated in tlie two civil townships of Concord and Osolo, 
with an approximate area of nine square miles, splendidly advantaged 
hy its water power and railroad situation, the city's resources are now- 
increasing at a rate never before equaled. The total assessed valua- 
tion of property, real and personal, shows the following" figures : Elk- 
hart city in Osolo township, $158,395, of which $25,690 is personal; 
and of Elkhart city in Concord township, the total is $4,307,440, the 
personal assessment being $1,362,335 of the total. In 1904 the total 
amount turned into the cit_\- treasur} b}- taxation amounted to $76,- 
887.49. The railroads furnish a large quota of this total. The Lake 
Shore paid taxes of $4,439.10 for the past year, the Indiana Trans- 
portation Company contributes $974.35, and the Big Eour about $600. 
In 1904 the total tax levy upon each hundred dollars of assessed valua- 
tion was $1.30, distributed as follows: 

General City Eund $ -85 

.Street and Alley Eund 05 

Water Eund 16 

Sinking 10 

Special School Eund 05 

Park Eund 04 

Library Fund 05 

Elkhart pays out a goodly sum for its chief utilities, water and 
light, the water bill for the first half year of 1905 being $7,387.50, and 
for the month of July it cost $1,093.90 to light the city. 

In this chapter may fitly be recorded the life history of Silas Bald- 
wiNj who was for forty-five years one of the most conspicuous figures 
in the business and civic life of Elkhart. Dying in Elkhart May 22, 
1889, he had passed the age of seventy-seven years, and his career from 
I)oyhood till death w'as filled with usefulness in every department of life 
to which he turned his attention. 

Born in East Bloomfield, New Jersey, Sqjtember jt,. iSii, being- 
one of the nine children of Daniel S. and Elizaljeth (Kent) Baldwin, 
when ten years old he accompanied the family to near Pittsburg, Penn- 
syhania, thence two years later moved to Warren county, Ohio, and 
in .\pril, 1828, settled on Beardsley Prairie, St. Joseph county, Indiana. 



172 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

He was therefore one of the pioneers of northern Indiana, and in order 
to reach the spot selected for settlement they had to practically hew 
their way through the dense forests, Indian trails heing at that time 
the nearest approach to a highway. 

Silas Baldwin began to meet the responsibilities and hardships of 
life at an early age. and attended the log-cabin school. He had begun 
working on a farm when ten years old, and at the age of twenty-one, 
in 1832, volunteered his services for the Black Hawk war. He was 
a lieutenant in a company commanded by Captain Isaac Butler, and 
was stationed in Chicago until relieved by Major Whistler of the regu- 
lar army. In 1836 he began speculating in government land and finally 
engaged in the mercantile business at Edwardsburg, Michigan, where 
he remained until he located permanently in Elkhart in 1843. At the 
time of his coming the village contained a sawmill, grist mill, a dis- 
tillery, two hotels, stores, and atout three hundred inhabitants. For 
a n.umber of years he was connected with the commercial life of the 
city, and though twice liurned out he e\'ery time rose superior to and 
master of circumstances and li\'ed to see a satisfactory culmination of 
his ambitions. 

Mr. Baldwin was identified with a number (if enterprises which 
ha\e frinned the very foundation of the material prosperity of Elk- 
hart. In 1850 he tiiok an active part in the movements which finally 
brought the Michigan Southern Railroad through Elkhart. He acted 
as agent for the company in securing the right of way from Baugo 
to Bristol, and on the completion of the road he was installed as first 
station agent at Elkhart. He held the office of postmaster of Elkhart 
from 1844 to 1848. In 1850 he became interested in the Elkhart Bank, 
and later he and his associates organized the First National Bank, 
which is now the nldest l)ank in the city. He was the first cashier of 
the institution, which ])osition he resigned in 1867 on account of 111 
health, ;md thereafter till his death was ^•ice president and a director. 
In early life he was a Democrat, being twice nominated for the legisla- 
ture b\- that party, but changed his political \ lews when Fort Sumter 
was fired upon and thereafter was a consistent Republican. 

In 1837 '^^''- Baldwin married Mrs. Jane Gq>hart. Their daughter 

, Elizabeth is the wife of Mr. A. R. Beardsley, of Elkhart. Another 

daughter, Helen Jane, became the wife of Colonel John W. Shaffer. 

She spent a great deal of time with him on the field of war, especiallv 

when he was tmder General McClellan. Volunteering as a nurse at 




m&ujLu 




CLARISSA W. ELLIS 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 173 

the Jeffersonville Soldiers' Hospital, as a result of the disease con- 
tracted in that service she died July 24, 1865. The patriotic record 
of the family during the Civil war culminated in the gallant young 
Frank Baldwin, who was killed at the battle of Stone River. Only a 
short time previous to this engagement he had been promoted to lieu- 
tenant in recognition of his personal bravery on the field of battle. He 
was only eighteen years old at the time of his death. 

Through his love for the Union cause in general and from a sense 
of his own great personal loss in connection with the great tragedy 
of the rebellion, Mr. Silas Baldwin caused to be erected and dedicated 
to the soldiers and sailors of the Civil war the splendid monument 
which stands on Main street near the Lake Shore tracks. Mr. Bald- 
win did not live to sec the completion of this memorial shaft, which 
was not readv for dedication until the .\ugust following his death. 



Another pioneer famil}- (jf Elkhart is represented by J. W. Ellis, 
who proliably deserves to rank as the oldest living pioneer of the city 
of Elkhart. A pioneer he should be named, although he was but a 
lad of some six summers when he arrix'ed in this county, hor very 
nearly .sevent}-five years since that time he has witnessed and partici- 
pated in the great activity which has transformed this county from a 
wilderness into a region of jircsperity and modern civilization. The 
mere statement cannot picture to us the kaleidoscope of changing con- 
ditions through which he has passed. On the day of his arrival in this 
county in 183 1 his boyish eyes looked upon a country whose primeval 
forests rolled away in e\-ery direction, scarred only here and there by 
the earliest settlers ; the St. Joseph river poured its floods along, un- 
])ollute(l by f.'ictory or cUy, the wild denizens of the land, whether ani- 
mals (ir red men, were so commonplace as to cause little more than 
])assing notice on the jiart of this lad. and altogether Elkhart county 
was \'ery nnich as it had been for centuries preceding the ad\'ent of 
white men. When Mr. Ellis came here the present city of Elkhart 
contained three or four log cabins, the postoffice was officially called 
Pulaski, at which the ])ostman stopped and delixered mail just once 
a month, the seat of justice for the newly organized county of Elkhart 
was still loc;'.ted tliere, and, instead of a great trunk line of railroad, 
the only means of communication with the outside world was either 
by the river which flowed by the settlement or by team and wagon 



174 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

across the country over new and rough highways. In the presence 
of a man whose memory connects this state of affairs with the won- 
derfully transfdrmed present, the true Elkhart county citizen feels that 
historical re\erence which ever attaches to the men and institutions 
surviving" fn im the earliest vears of this county. 

Born in Oswego county. New York, August 12, 1825. Mr. Ellis 
at this writing is in the shadow of his eightieth birthday. Himself a 
pioneer, he is also connected with a family of pioneers. Of Welsh 
descent, the first member of the family settled in this country during 
the colonial epoch of our country's history. Mr. Ellis's great-grand- 
father was Dr. David Ellis, a resident of New Hampshire; the grand- 
father, Jacn]) VAWs. was a soldier in the Revolutionarv war, one of 
the patriots who endured the sufferings of Valley Forge, and who. 
after the war, pioneered his way into the wilderness of New York, set- 
tling on and improving a farm in Oneida county, where he followed 
farming until his life came to its peaceful close at the age of seventy- 
two years. Longevity is another characteristic of the familv, nearlv 
all of them living to advanced age. 

The father of Mr. Ellis was also named Jacob, whose portrait 
appears herewith. Born in New Hampshire, where he was also reared 
and educated, he eniigrated to Onondaga county, New York, when it 
was a wilderness. He was one of his fathei-'s four children. After 
his marriage, at Saratoga, New York, he located in Oswego county 
and reared his family of seven children until he made his next great 
move and migrated to Elkhart county. Arriving in this county in 1831, 
he located on government land just east of the present city of Elkhart, 
and became one of the large landholders in this part of the county. 
The early development and commercial prosperity of Elkhart owed 
much to his enterprise and public spirit. He erected the first big ware- 
house on the St. Joseph river at this point, and for a long time did 
the largest storage and forwarding business in the county. He de- 
pended entirely on team and wagon and boats to transport merchandise 
and commodities out of and into the county, and these methods were 
not superseded until the advent of the railroad in 185 1. 

In his early life a stanch upholder of Whig principles, Jacob Ellis 
in the fifties became one of the organizers of the Republican party 
in this county. He held some minor offices but his public spirit and 
effective co-operation were felt in e\erything that made for the true 
welfare and progress of the county. Se^•enty-three years old at the 




JACOB ELLIS 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 175 

time of his death, he had heen identified with the Congregational church 
practically all his life, and had been the principal factor in the erection 
of the first church in Elkhart. 

Through his mother's family also Mr. J. W. Ellis is connected 
with Revolutionary ancestors. Before her marriage his mother was 
Catherine Birch, a native of New York state and a daughter of Thomas 
Birch, also of Welsh origin, who served through all the years of the 
war for independence. Mr. Ellis was the fifth of his parents" seven 
children, four daughters and three sons, who were all born in New 
York state and one of whom died young. Only two survive, Fannie 
Loomis, the living daughter, being a resident of California, whither 
she went in 1852. 

Mr. Ellis, who is thus the only one of his father's famil)- yet living 
in this coimty, gained his early education in the log schools which onh- 
the very oldest residents remember as having stood in Elkhart during 
the early days. It is stated that his oldest sister, Maria, who was well 
educated, taught the first school in the village of Elkhart. Mr. Ellis 
lived with and assisted his father up to the age of eighteen, after 
which he clerked in a store two years, had charge of his father's ware- 
house a like period, and in 1847 established himself in the mercantile 
business at Elkhart, having a general store. Two )'ears later. Ikuv- 
ever, he moved his business to Wakegan, Illinois. In a career of such 
varied experiences as that of Mr. Ellis presents, it is natural to find 
the spirit of argonautic enterprise which, in the spring of 1850, indticed 
him to sell his business in the east and cross the plains to California 
in search of his fortune on the golden slopes of the Pacific. Crossing 
the ^lissouri river at Council Bluffs, at a time when there was scarcely 
a permanent white settler west of that river and north of the Platte. 
he followed along the course of the latter river to Fort Laramie, crossed 
the Rocky Mountains and took the short cut by which he passed Salt 
Lake one hundred miles on the south ; down Bear River \alley, through 
Thousand Springs valley, to the headwaters of the Humboldt, follow- 
ing the same to the Humboldt Sink, thence across the Great American 
desert, overcame the crest of the Sierra Nevadas, and finallv, as the 
concluding stage of an ever memorable journey, descended into the 
valleys of California and arrived at Placerville. Mr. Ellis was unusually 
successful as a gold miner, although failing health compelled him to 
relinquish the occupation at the end of a year. On the last day of his 
mining he took out one hundred and twenty-eight dollars of gold, but 



176 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

the six nionths following were spent on a sick iied and he was obhged 
to leave the west and by Panama and New York returned to Waukegan. 
Resuming the mercantile business at that point, he remained only a 
year or so, when he sold out and in 1854 returned to Elkhart, with 
which citv he has been identified through all the subsequent half century. 

For the first seven years he was located on a farm adjoining the 
city on the west, then conducted a grocery and crockery establishment 
for two years, after which he became interested in the building of the 
Excelsior Starch works, being secretary and an acti^'e member of the 
firm for twent\--three vears. Since 1880 he has also been interested 
in the Elkhart Paper Compan\'. as president nf the concern for twenty- 
fi\e )-ears. He was a prominent factor in the formerly well known 
Mitten and Hosiery factory, and was one of the promoters and builders 
of the first street raihvay in Ibis city. Elkhart has profited in many 
ways by the enterprise and liberality of Mr. Ellis, and his name will 
always be found among those of the men who formed the solid and 
substantial foundation of Elkhart's development and prosperity during 
the first century of its existence. Since 1899 he has lived retired from 
the main activities of his life, spending much of his time in visiting 
friends and relatives in California. 

Mr. Ellis is one of the oldest members of the Masonic order in 
this county, having passed through the initiatory rites in 1862 and tak- 
ing all the degrees including the Knight Templar's. He has been one 
of the prijminent factors in the Congregational church, and has been 
deacon since 1872. Originally a Free-soiler. he identified himself with 
the Republican party at its organization and has voted for all the candi- 
dates from Lincoln down. He held the office of assessor of Concord 
towiishi]) from \H()0-iHjj. His associatii;)ns with the life and affairs 
of this county C(ner nearly all the important annals of the county, and 
in Elkhart he is now the only man living whose memory goes back to 
the three log cabins which formed the nucleus of the Cit}- of the Forks. 
His father built the first large frame house in the count)-, and during 
the early days this house formed the stage station and hotel or " tavern." 
as it was then called. 

Mr. I-lllis married, in 1849, Miss Clarissa \V. Green, a daughter of 
Isaiah and Mary (Gage) Green, who came from the Green Mountain 
state. Fi\-e children were Ixjrn of their marriage: Marv is the wife 
of Roswell I-". McGregor and resides with her father. Dr. J. Bartlett 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 177 

Ellis is a prominent physician of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Dr. C. I'"., 
also a physician, is located at Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Lulu B. is 
the wife of W. A. Billows, of Elkhart. James S., the youngest, died 
at the age of twenty-two years. 



178 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 



CHAPTER Xn. 

NAPPANEE. 

The people are the city. 

— Shakespeare. 

Divine Nature gave the fields, human art built the cities. 

— Varro. 

If this liistory of Elkhart county had been compiled two decades 
ago, a consistent representation of Nappanee, with regard to its relative 
size and commercial importance among other Elkhart county towns 
and cities, avouIcI have given its history a place in the chapter on 
" smaller centers.'" But so rapidly has this phenomenal caiter of popu- 
lation in the southwest corner of our county forged to the front in 
respects of population, business activity, and industrial resources, as 
well as the various other phases of urban life, that Nappanee desen-es 
separate consideration under a distinct capitular title as one of the three 
chief centers of this count}-. To celebrate the thirty odd years of Nap- 
panee's prosperous existence Air. G. N. Murray, the well known editor 
of the Nappanee Nezi's, has just compiled a comprehensive history of 
the citv which he has kindly furnished for publication, in its essential 
points, in this work. 

.\ clean town morally, socially and religiously. A town with beau- 
tiful shaded streets and well kept lawns, with many handsome homes, 
and more miles of cement sidewalk than any small town in the state, 
and creditable business bouses and hotels: a to\\n where farmers can 
sell their produce, grain and stock, and buy from merchants who carry 
up-to-date stocks of goods in all the various commercial lines, as well 
as building materials and wholesale manufactured products. A town 
with ten churches, of Sunday-schools, of good public schools, of places 
of amusement, a town of industrious and sober mechanics, of public- 
spirited citizens who work together unselfishly to improve the commun- 
ity in which they live; a town with all the modem benefits of banking, 
of railroad, telegraph, telephone, electric lights and water works and 
pure water. A town with many large fraternal and insurance orders, 
and courteous, well-read professional men. A town in the midst of 



> 

n H 
> ?D 




HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 179 

the most fertile farming regions in the middle west, where crops can 
be and are so varied that a total failure or farmers' " famine" is un- 
known; where energetic, industrious farmers own beautiful homes, well 
nourished lands and enjoy all the privileges of city life, and yet in touch 
with the health-giving influences of the country. A town in touch with 
the great onion lands of the state — lands which have within a few years 
been transformed from a marsh to garden. .V town, the youngest in 
Elkhart county, yet the third in size and importance commercially and 
political!}", with a population in the year 1905, just thirty-one years 
after the first plat was made, of two thousand seven hundred souls. 
Such, says Mr. Murray, is the Modern Nappanee. 

Nappanee is not only in the midst of a most thriving agricultural 
country but the town has distanced in commercial and manufacturing 
enterprise and importance all her neighboring country trading points, 
and is at present only rivaled by the cities, in the center of whicli circle 
she is happily situated as the medium whereby farming lands and town 
property is advanced in value. The county-seat, Goshen, is seventeen 
miles to the northeast; Elkhart, the largest city in the C(junty, to the 
north eighteen miles; Mishawaka and South Bend, twenty-four and 
twenty-eight miles to the northwest: Plymouth, twenty-two miles to 
the northwest ; and Warsaw twenty-two miles to the southeast. This 
circle of cities is made up of county seats, excepting Elkhart and Mish- 
awaka. Thus Nappanee becomes an important factor commercially 
and socially to St. Joseph, Marshall and Kosciusko counties, from which 
counties people come to trade, as well as a political factor in her own, 
Elkhart county, on whose extreme southern border the town is situated. 
Nappanee's corporation is one mile square and the south corporation line 
is on the county"? border line with Koscmsko county, three and one- 
half miles from the ^Marshall cc:)unt\- line and about the same distance 
from St. Joseph county. Alain street in Nappanee, running north and 
south, divides Locke and Union townships in Nappanee. Those older 
towns some eight or ten miles ilistant, which were once competitive 
points for Nappanee's merchants — Milford, Bremen, Wakarusa and 
Bourbon — are now no longer drawing factors from this vicinity, so 
rapid has been the growth of Najjpanee and the care exercised by her 
people in keeping in touch with the farming community. 

There is considerable interest in the early history of Nappanee. The 
early settlers are here now, and with them their children and grand- 
children. The inception of the town followed the construction of the 



180 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Chicago division of the Baltimore & Ohio Raih-oad in 1S73. The first 
station house was tliat now occupied li_\- the Unger miUinery rooms 
and stood ahout where the stock pens are nr.w located. Henry Ehy was 
the first station agent, he anil his hrother (ieorge residing at Locke. 
Mr. Eby also had the first goods on sale here, occupying room in the 
station house, which stood in the edge of the timljer. The original 
town site was laid out on the farms of and jjy Messrs. Daniel Aletzler. 
John Culp. jr.. and Henry Stahly. Sr., about the middle of December, 
1874, and l<its were ofi^ered for sale. The present Dietrich corner was 
laid out in -i clearing or " deadening " with tall timb«- standing here 
and there. This station was then called Locke Station. The railroad 
officials called the interested parties together to select a name. .Vll the 
names suggested were not acceptable to the railroad people, as they were 
similar or alike to some <jther station on the line. George Eby was 
in the council and he suggested Xappanee, an Indian name. This was 
rejected b\ those interested, though agreeable to the railroad people, 
who then said that it should remain Locke Station. \Mien the town 
was surveyed and the proposition for a j^ostoffice eventually came up 
the name Xappanee was selected as previously suggested, there already 
being a Locke, and the railroad people at once adopted the new name, 
spelling it Napanee. When it was adopted b\- the postoffice depart- 
ment at \\'ashington the second " p " was added. 

The B. & O. Railroad seemed then to have been the onh induce- 
ment f(jr people to buy these lots, for there were no other natural ad- 
vantages aside from the distance from other trading points. Notwith- 
standing that the town was laid out on the " water shed " — the highest 
point of ground in this part of the country — the water on the north side 
of Market street finding its way into the ( ireat Lakes and the water 
on the south side of Market street flowing on to the Gulf via the Kan- 
kakee, the early home-seeker found considerable water on the " shed." 
The town site was closely bordered by the forest on the southeast, and 
swamp ash prevailed along the willows and huckleberry bushes on por- 
tions of the town lots. There was an abundance of timber adjacent. In 
fact Messrs. J. C. Mellinger and B. F. Myers located a sawmill here in 
1873, prior to the time of laying out the town, the mill standing where 
the M. E. parsonage now is. However, these gentlemen resided in 
Locke, a then prosperous village two and a half miles north and west, 
at the time the town was platted in 1874. L^p to January, 1875. a large 
number of lots had been sold, but no one had attempted to erect a dwell- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY ISl 

ing thereon nr to enter the new tnwn as a citizen. There was no road 
south of the puhhc square then. It was anything but an inviting propo- 
sition. F.ut earl\- in that January C. D. Volkmann. at present local 
macliinist ami l)oiler-maker. was looking for a location to begin anew 
the battle f(M- this world's goods, having lost his dwelling in a New Paris 
fire. The oniv lots witliin his then financial reach were lots ^,7 ^I'lfl 38 
in the John Culp, Jr., (iriginal plat. .\ now rusty ddcument drawn by 
the late Robert H. W'alburn under date of Januaiy 1 1, 1875, in the form 
of a mortgage contract, shows that Mr. Volkmann came into possession 
of the two lots by paying twenty dollars cash and an agreement tn pay 
a balance of sixty dollars. He obtained these lots on a promise to erect 
a house and move his family to the new town site. .\ few days after 
found Mr. Volkmann erecting the first dwelling house e\er built in 
Nappanee, assisted bv his Ijrother-in-law, b^li Holderman. The weather 
was below zero and they worked b}- a rail fire. On Februar_\- 3 follow- 
ing he moved his family into the little house, thus becoming the " oldest 
inhabitant " of Nappanee l\v actual settlement on the then town site. In 
front of the house was a wh.eat field, in the rear was a frog pond. In 
the meanwhile he and his brother-in-law opened a blacksmith shop un 
one lot. Another industry to enter the town was a planing mill owned 
by the iate Joseph Strohm. This, together with the sawmill, was the 
early beginning of the large consolidated industr}- of the present, John 
D. and Frank Coppes as young men beginning the sawmill work here 
on the Mellinger mill in 1873, and afterward becoming financially inter- 
ested, buying the Myers' interest and finally absorbing the Strohm plan- 
ing mill in 1879. Two years later Samuel D. Coj^pes, the present tenker, 
joined hands w-ith his brothers and their brother-in-law, Mr. Mellinger, 
who in 1884 disposed of his interest, and the firm name became Coppes 
Brothers & Zook, and continued success brought consolidation of grow- 
ing interests and the ])resent name of Coppes, Zook & Mutschler Com- 
pany. 

In the meanwhile other industries followed and mercantile interests 
exjjanded as the country became cleared up and the town grew. After 
a short period of about fourteen years (short when compared with the 
experiences of hundreds of towns). Nappanee outgrew her township garb 
and assumed afifairs municipal. 

The town government will be somewhat changed under the latest 
laws governing cities and towns. But up to and at the i)re.sent time it 
is governed by a board of four trustees elected b\- the people of the entire 



182 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

corporation. Likewise, is a town clerk, a marshal and a treasurer elected. 
The l3oard of town trustees in 1905 is as follows: Charles Klaus, Will- 
iam Pollock. John Hartman and William Miller. The town clerk is 
O. G. Reinoehl; town treasurer. H. E. Coppes; town marshal, George 
Weyburu, and merchant night officer, Lee Hare. 

Municipal improvement has kept pace with business dex'elopment. 
The water and lighting system is a matter of pride to the citizens, 
and since the condition of streets, the supply of wholesome and abundance 
of water, and hght for puljlic and domestic purposes are among the 
features of a town which are first considered by the prospective citizen, 
Nappanee is fortunate in having gi\-en attention to these improve- 
ments at an early stage in her career. The water supplj- of Nappanee 
is pumped from a depth of one hundred and fifty-nine feet. To obtain 
adequate pressure for fire protection and other purposes the standpipe 
has been carried up one hundred and sixteen feet, above which is a 
steel tank, only recently placed in position, with a capacity of seventy- 
five thousand gallons. The pressure is fifty-four pounds to the square 
inch. To light the tdwn about twenty-five large arc lights are main- 
tained, and over two thousand incandescent bulbs. Economy and 
efficiency are both promoted by having the water works and electric 
light plant aimbined intO' practically one institution, in one building 
and under the same management. Those in active control of this 
municipal industry are Joseph E. S])icer. electrician, and John Pfefferle. 
engineer. 

Usually the first question asked about a country town by onfe who 
wishes to bring up a family therein is : " What is the character of its 
schools?" Among those institutions of which Nappanee is proud 
and Avhich have made an impression on the outside world, so to speak, 
are the pubbc schools. Every town and hamlet has its public schools, 
to be sure. But the educational facilities are far from being equal. 
In this respect Nappanee stands among the best. The Nappanee schools 
have not always been what they are now, but they have always been 
abreast of the growth and prosperity of the town and its best en- 
deavors, until at the present time they liave forged ahead of many 
educational institutions in more i)retentious cities and towns than 
Nappanee. 

For the past ten years Professor S. W. Baer, at the head of the 
schools, with a competent corps of teachers numbering ten at the 
present time, has devoted his time and energy to promoting the edu- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 183 

cational facilities of the Nappanee schools and with great success. 
He retires from school work this season. The Nappanee high school 
was organized in September, 1895, the beginning of Professor Baer's 
suijerintendenc}', with a four years' course. In 1898 the school was 
given its first commission from the state. The commission was re- 
newed in 1902 and again in 1905. This commission authorizes the 
.superintendent of schools to certify pupils for admission to the \'arious 
state colleges. In 1904 the h.igh school was put upon the diploma list 
for the Uni\ersity of Michigan. Northwestern University, the Uni- 
versity of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Ohio Wesleyan University. Delaware. 
Ohio. Besides the state colleges and the above named universities the 
graduates of the Nappanee high school are admitted without examina- 
tion to De Pauw University, I'ranklin College, Wabash College, Butler 
University, Earlham College, in fact all the higher institutions of 
learning both state and denominational in the state of Indiana. During 
the history of the high school there have gone forth from its halls 
eighty-four graduates, forty-four girls and forty boys. The opening 
of the September term brings to the schools a new superintendent in 
the person of Professor Charles F. Miller, of North Manchester, an 
educator of broad experience and recognized ability. The board of 
education is comprised of two manufacturers and one professional man : 
Frank Coppes. president: David F. Miller, secretary: Dr. \\'illar(l A. 
Price, treasurer. 

Nappanee is a city with twelve hundred church members and 
eleven hundred and eighty-seven Sunday-school attendants, and in its 
religious life is nO' less progressive than as a commercial and industrial 
center. 

The Methodist Episcopal church was founded here in 1874; mem- 
bers enrolled at this time two hundred and forty : services everv 
Sunday: Hanson C. Smith, pastor. Sunday-school enrollment one 
hundred and ninety. A\'. E. W'eldy, superintendent. 

The Mennonite church was founded here in 1870. Its present 
membership is one hundred. Services are held every alternate Sundav 
evening and alternate Sunday morning. D. Burkholder and N. Metzler, 
pastors. Sunday-school enrollment one hundred and fortv: Frank 
j\Iaust, superintendent. 

The United Brethren church was founded here in 1874; present 
enrollment of members one hundred and eighteen ; services every Sundav. 



1S4 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

J. C. AHiright, pastor. Alemhersliip oi Sunday-sclidol one hundred and 
fifteen. R. V. Yoder. superintendent. 

Aniish Alennonite church founded here in 1875 with thirteen mem- 
bers; present enrolhnent one hundred and four; ser\ices alternate Sun- 
days, mornings and evenings; James H. McGowan, pastor. Sunday- 
school membership one hundred and eight, John H. Walters, superin- 
tendent. 

The German Baptist ( Dnnkard ) cliurch was founded here in 1883; 
present membership one hundred and sexenty ; services every Sunday ; 
David Metzler, pastor. Membership of Sunday-school one hundred 
and seventy, Charles Reed, superintendent. 

The Progressive Brethren was founded here in 1888: present mem- 
bership two hundred and ten; services ever)- Sunday; H. B. Flora, 
pastor. Sundav-school enrollment one hundred and eighty. James 
Cosper. superintendent. 

The Evangelical church was founded here in 1891 ; present enrolled 
membership one hundred and ten; serxices every Sunday night and 
alternate Sunday mornings; Clifford D. Rarey. pastor. Sunday-school 
membershi]) one hundred and twent\'-f(un'. P. E. Reinggenberg, super- 
intendent. 

The Lutheran church was founded here in igoi ; membership' forty; 
serx'ices every Sunday; A. L. Boliek. pastor. Membership of Sunday- 
school sixty-nine; James B. Long, superintendent. 

Idle Presbyterian church was founded here in September. i8gy; 
present membershi]) forty ; services every Sunday ; Campbell L. ]\IacKay, 
pastor. Enrollment of Sunday-school forty-three, Arthur A. Laughlin, 
superintendent. This is the only congregation without a church build- 
ing, liut plans are already adopted and a church w ill lie built this summer 
at a cost of from five to six thousand dollars. .\t this time services are 
held in the Auditorium. 

Mennonite Brethren in Christ cliurch lias a membership of sixty- 
five; ser^-ices every Sunday morning and alternate Sunday evenings; 
C. K. Curtis, pastor. Sunday-school membershi]) fifty. Frank Baker, 
su])erinten{lent. 

Elsewdiere we have spoken of the princijjal manufacturing interests 
of Na])panee. Some of the business and professional men and firms of 
the ciiv in 1905 are as follows: Enos Newcomer, jeweler; S. \V. Craige. 
grocer; N. A. Lehman, furniture and undertaking; Howenstein. Burbach 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 185 

and Rusher, hardware ; Hartman Btx)thers, genera! nierchanthse ; 
Shively Brothers, manufacturers and dealers in harness and horse furnish- 
ing goods; the Nappanee Carriage Co.: J. M. Weygand and Co., 
furniture; Weiss and Frevert Brothers, hardware, etc.; the Coppes 
Hotel ; John S. Hayes, agricultural implements ; J. S. Walters, drugs ; 
Elias Blosser, shoe dealer ; Neff Brothers, farm implements ; Straus 
Brothers, bankers and real estate dealers; George E. Miller, photog- 
rapher; Nappanee Steam Laundry; Ldery Brothers, farm implements; 
Amasa H. Kaufman, department store ; D. Rickert, dry goods and 
groceries; Nappanee Telephone Company: C. \\'. Johnson and Co., 
drugs: J. W. Roshrugh. shoes and clothing: while of those «ho follow^ 
professional vocations are, J. O. Kantz, attorney, Charles P. Linger, 
attorney, John S. McEntafcr, attorney; John S. Inks, M. D., Chas. A. 
Inks, AI. D., Willard Arthur Price. Ph. G., M. D., Melvin D. Price, 
M. D.. Henry J. Defrees, M. D.. Robert S. McCormick. :M. D., John D. 
Scott, dentist, Edwin D. Stuckman, M. D. 



186 HISTORY' OF ELKHART COUNTY 



CHAPTER XHI. 
COMMUNICATION. 

Heaven forming each on other 1o depend. 
A master, or a .servanl. or a friend. 
Bids each on other for assistance call, 
Till one man's weakness grows the strength of all. 

— Pope. 

Man cannot live alone; he must communicate with others. W'e 
are iiarts of a great organism. So it is with communities. The time 
came wlien the railroad and telegraph brought them in closer relations 
with each other: but even from the first there was communication with 
the outside world, for absolute isolation is impossible. At first there 
were no railroads leading out from the eastern cities across the great 
valley of the ^Mississippi. The ninuntain ranges and dense forests were 
great barriers l)etween the east ;ind Indiana and Michigan territory. 
There was a canal from Troy to Buffalo, there were a few steamers on 
the great lakes, and there was a short horsecar railroad running out of 
Toledo. There were no roads, but in place of them were Indian trails. 

In all lands, however primitive and barbarous, even in the dense 
forest fastnesses of Africa or South America, there are passages leading 
from one locality to another. The word best descriptive of such courses 
of early communication is " trail." Before civilization introduced sci- 
entific road making, wild animals were duulitless the markers and siu'- 
veyors of roads. The narrow, deep-worn, and wavering path through 
the woods, indicating the route of the deer or bear or other wild denizen 
between its lair and the spring where it quenched its thirst <ir the spot 
where it sought its quarry, was the coiu'se \\hich the Indian, and later 
the white man, took in going through the woods or across the prairie. 
Trails are easily made, as anyone may know who observes how quickly 
the turf of a park or meadow is demarked by the regular passage of 
human feet. And as the wild animal pushed its way through the brush 
and trees, pursuing the easiest and therefore a winding course to its 
goal, it left some evidence in the broken twigs and bent bushes and 
trampled grass of its progress, so that tlie next creature bound in the 
same direction would pursue the same way and better define it, until 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 187 

•a new trail was marked out. Thus tlie animals were the first road 
makers, and blazed the way for their immediate successors, the roving- 
Indians. The latter would natural!}- extend and connect the trails of 
animals into certain long avenues of travel across the country, which 
thev would follow in making their pilgrimages from one hunting ground 
to another or for their war expeditions. 

Thus it happened that when the white nian first came to northern 
Indiana, as was also true of an}- other part of our country, he found 
certain coiu'ses of communication already marked out, and these were 
used by the pioneers until better, broader, straighter and more direct 
roads could be made. Oftentimes these old trails formed the most 
practicable and con\-enient route of travel, and were consecpient!}- the 
basis of a highway ordered and constructed by the state or county. In 
Elkhart county the familiar Indian trail from Fort Wayne was long the 
only route of tra\-el bet\\-een the latter place and points in Alichigan 
territory. 

The establishment of county roads was among the first acts of the 
county officials after the organization of the county. In the record of 
the board of justices, under date of November 7, 1831, is found a report 
rendered on a state road running from Logansport via Turkey Creek and 
Elkhart prairies to the northern line of the state in direction of Pigeon 
Prairie. Then in the March session of 1832 the " River Road " was 
reported on, this extending from the western line of the county, mainh- 
following the course of the St. Joseph river on the south side, to Pigeon 
Prairie. Also an item in the record of the session in May, 1832, order- 
ing that all public roads be laid out in the various districts, shows the 
progress that communication was making at that early date. 

The well known Fort Wayne road was the third to be reported 
on, the report being made under date of May 31, 1832. This extended 
from Fort Wayne, via Goshen, to South Bend. Road No. 4, ordered 
opened at the September session of 1832, was from the west line of the 
county on the north side of the St. Joseph, as far as Christiana creek, ;md 
thence in a northerly direction to the state line. 

From this time on the commissioners' records are filled with re- 
ports of proposed roads in various parts of the county, and many roads 
were surveyed and opened up for traffic within a few years. It soon 
became evident to the county fathers that the highways were not suffi- 
ciently wide, and therefore at the November session of 1836 it was 



188 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

ordered that all county roads should be made forty feet \\ide, whereas. 
they had been thirty or thirty-three in width. 

The early public highways were of course, comi)aretl with e\en uur 
present day standards, indescrilxibly rough, muddy, ill-graded, ill-draineil 
and generally inefficient. During the wet seasons in i)articular the roads 
were bad. so that a tra\eler returning from journeying west, when 
asked if he had been through Indiana, replied that he did not know fin- 
sure, but thought he must have been nearly through it in some places. 
Latterly, however, there has been an agitation for good roads. The 
subject occupied considerable time and attention at the Columbian expo- 
sition in 1893, as also at the St. Louis exposition, and is continually being 
debated at special congresses, good road conventions, in state legisla- 
tures and farmers' institutes. The country is waking up all along the 
line to the importance of having good roads. The general go\-ernment 
is taking a special interest in the matter. Several of the states have 
started out in the good roatl cause. 'While it costs a large sum of money 
to build and keep in repair a good road it is as notliing to the cost of a 
poor road. There is no greater drawljack to the development of a 
country than poor roads. They keep back a good country antl they 
are death to a ])oor one. If farmers were fully to realize how much 
they would gain l)y improving their roads to town they would mjt rest 
until the\' were put into fair condition. 

Elkhart count^• has not 1jeen behind ijther counties in the good 
roads mo\-ement. Some excellent macadam roads may lie found along 
the main traveled routes, and something additional is being done each 
year. A great improvement o\'er former times has been wrought, and 
the difference this has made in the transportation of produce to market 
is wonderful. Now farmers living along or near the line of these 
roads can come to town with all that their wagons can hold up. with 
comfort to tlieir teams and themsel\es. These roads have been the 
means of opening man\- good farms where liefore was a wilderness, 
and the \alue of lands has greatly increased. Of coiu'se they ha\e cost 
in the aggregate a great deal of money, but the increase of \-alues Iw 
these improvements fully repays tliose who ha\e to bear the expense. It 
was improved roads tliat made possible the change from ox teams to 
horses, and again from wagons to liuggies; and how do we know but 
that in a few^ years the roads \\U\ be so hard a.nd sniootli in all weather, 
and automobiles will be so impro\-ed, that the farmers will go speeding 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 189 

into tnwn with tlieir crops loaded in a motor wagon? And this is no 
visionary forecast. 

(iood hridges are a part of good roads, and the county has heen 
careful to provide them. During the early days the streams were either 
crossed at fords or by means of ferries. When the Rev. Isaac McCoy 
passed through the county on his way to the Carey Mission in 1824 
and came to the confluence of the St. Joseph and Elkhart he crossed the 
former on a rough pirogue, and in the passage the boat was overturned 
and it was with much ado that the possessions and persons of the com- 
pany were rescued. But gradually the ferries gave place to bridges, 
and side by side with the records ordering new roads will Ijc found ap- 
propriations for needed bridges in the county. With the development 
of the county the rude structures spanning the streams gave place to 
better, safer and more beautiful ones; at first wooden bridges and lat- 
terly, in many cases, stone and iron ones. 

Perhaps some of tho.se yet living in the county can remember the 
old ferry maintained at the mouth of the Elkhart river for some years. 
A license to establish such a ferry on the St. Joseph river was granted 
to Havilah Beardsle}- at the May session of the commissioners in 1832. 
This license was granted in cijnsideration of a payment to the county 
of four dollars per annum, and that the boat used as a ferry boat should 
be forty feet long by nine broad. The tolls fixed ranged from se\enty- 
five cents for each wagon with six horses or oxen, to one cent for each 
head of sheep, hogs or goats. 

There is a story of the primitive times when each traveler was 
hailed with the salutation, " ^^'hat is gning on in the outside world?" 
and the weary w^ayfarer was gladly fed and housed in return for the 
information that he might impart to the household concerning the events 
transpiring beyond the immediate communit}-. In truth there was a 
time when news — if such it could lie called when it was often very old 
when it reached the hearers — had no regular lines of dissemination and 
was carried only by the chance traveler. All pioneer communities have 
experienced such a situation to some degree, and the early settlers of 
Elkhart county had little definite connection with the outside world, 
although living in a comparatively modern age and only a few vears 
before the invention of the telegraph. 

Accordingly one of the first improvements sought after actual home 
and shelter and means of subsistence were provided was a postal service, 
such as all the settlers had been familiar with in their former homes in 



190 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

the more settled regions. " In the sjjring of this year. 183 1, I think it 
was," says Mr. J. H. Defrees. " a mail route was established between 
Fort Wayne and Niles, the mail to be carried over it once in fom" weeks. 
In the fall of the same year the postoftice increased the speed from once 
in four weeks to that of once in twn weeks. Many of you. no doubt, 
v\ell remember how elated you felt when you heard the sound of the 
old tin horn, lilown by ' Old Hall ' as he came wending his way through 
the grove east of the village (Goshen), with his ' tantrum ' sorrels, him- 
self astride of one, and the mail bags, containing news irom the ' settle- 
ments,' on the other, with a ' string ' fastened to the bits of the leader 
in order to guide him in the right path. The old horn with its music 
discoursed sweeter strains to its hearers than did ever Hall and Arnold's 
in their pahniest days." Think of it! one mail in four weeks, or in 
two weeks. Now, radiating in all directions through the country, ap- 
1 reaching within convenient distance of every home in the county, are 
the rural mail routes, delivering packages, letters and the metropolitan 
dailies once a day and with greater regularity and punctuality than was 
the case in the larger towns less than half a century ago. 

The postal service in the year 1837 at Cioshen is indicated by the 
following item in the Goshen E.vf^rc'ss: "Mail arrival and departure: 
Western mail arrives from Xiles \ia South Bend every Sunday and 
Wednesday evening; departs e\ery Tuesday and Saturday morning. 
Eastern mail via Fort Wayne arrives every Monday and Friday even- 
ing; departs Monday and Thursday morning. Southern mail via Lees- 
burg arrives every Thursday at 12 o'clock; dqjarts every Thursday at 
I o'clock p. m." And the same piper, on September 16, 1837, calls 
attention to a project for carrying the mail from Fort \\^ayne to Niles, 
Michigan, in four-horse coaches, and praises the proposition as " a grand 
undertaking," whereby this beautiful county would be opened up to 
immigrants, who naturally followed the easiest lines of access to new 
countries. " The mail from Ft. \\'ayne to Niles." says the editor, " is 
now carried through on a horse." 

In a fair consideration of the means of cnmmunication which the 
county has employed, the stage coach must be included — the old " twice- 
a-week " stage coach. It was a slow mode of travel but the passengers 
had a good time. The rate of speed in pleasant weather and with 
favorable roads was perhaps seven or eight miles an hour and the aver- 
age cost was perhaps five cents a mile. The vehicles have been forgot- 
ten as completely as the days they represented. When the steam horse, 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 191 

which at iirst plowed the waters, took to land in the east, the finest of 
the stages were taken west and some of them as far as the Rockies. 
But'what has hecome of tlie less pretentious ones which were not worth 
transporting? No one knows; they have simply dropped out of exist- 
ence. But what memories cluster around them! How the people at 
the taverns, yes, and all the villagers, looked and longed for the coming 
of the stage coach ! What a hustle there was on its arrival ! What 
hand-shakings! What greetings ! What interchanges ! What life! The 
stage brought the latest news from the outside world, brought the news- 
papers, brought the mails. But the uncertainty and irregularity con- 
nected with all this were very unsatisfactorv. 

Only by picturing to ourselves the past can we rightly appreciate 
the present. The ])essimist will continue his growling about the present 
state of social and material ciinditions, will complain that the world is 
fast verging to wrack an<l ruin ; that men and manners are not so good 
now as in "the good old days" : that the rain does not fall so plentifully, 
that the sunshine is not so abundant, that the grain does not grow so 
high, that the fruit is not so large nor so lucious ; and that affairs of 
church, state antl society are sinking to the "demnition bowwows." But 
the man of clear vision and unbiased judgment will calmly regard the 
world of yesterday as a happy and glorious memory of the times agone. 
lutt will consider it as only in the first and feeble steps of progress toward 
our present plane of enlightenment and culture, and. grateful for the 
gifts of the present, will look forward with even greater hope and antici- 
pation to the to-morrow of the world. 

It seems better, therefore, to ]Mcture to our readers what the life 
and conditions of our county were in the ]>ast. and. with the present 
always before them, to allow them to draw their own conclusions con- 
cerning the historical progress of Elkhart county. But before conclud- 
ing this part of the narrative and before entering upon the historv of the 
railroad period, we shall adduce a few more instances of the develop- 
ment of means of communication which have had a remarkable effect 
u])on the methods of living to-day and fifty years ago. 

There is probably not a person in Elkhart county \\lio does not at 
least know of the telephone, and in hundreds of homes and in nearly 
every business house will be found one of these instruments. sO' neces- 
sary an adjunct of modern life. Every road has its line of poles and 
strings of wire, binding together separate homes, communities, villages, 
and distant cities. But how many of us forget the modernness of the 



192 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

lelep'hcme. A. Graham Bell was conducting his successful experiments 
in the early seventies, but the first time the invention \vas exhibited in a 
practical form to the general public was at the centennial expositi(_)n in 
Philadelphia, in 1876. A standard encyclopedia, published in 1877. in 
describing this invention, speaks of it as "telegraphic transmission of 
articulate sounds," and further goes on to state as the climax of the won- 
derful discovery that "we may confidently expect that Mr. Bell will give 
us the means of making vnice and spoken words audible through the 
electric wire to an ear hundreds of miles distant.'' And now, with our 
ear at a receiver in Elkhart county, we may hear the tick of a watch nine 
hundred miles away in New York ! Only so short a time are we sei> 
arated from the primitive past. Various telephone antl telegraph com- 
panies are now operating their lines in and through this county, and the 
news of the war in the far east comes tO' every village as soon after the 
occurrence of the events as in former days a report concerning a trial at 
Goshen, would reach the country districts of the county. And the future 
historian may detail the displacing of our telegraph and telephone sys- 
tems by wireless telegraphy and telephony, and record many other 
wonderful things that we not even dream nf at the beginning fif this 
century. 

From the foregoing it appears that the world is coming to be all of 
a piece. Once every little community could live by itself, make its own 
clothes, wagons, tools, and all the articles necessary- for its existence. 
But the Robinson Crusoe ideal of man or community is now thoroughly 
discredited. With the coming of railroad, telegraph, telephone, etc.. 
closer relations were established, and communities and states became de- 
])endent upon each other. The same is true in larger form. Once our 
nation could live by itself and avoid entangling alliances with other 
nations, but that time is past. Ocean greyhounds and cables have made 
it impossible. To-day the United States can no more be a nation by 
herself than South Carolina could be a state by herself. She must per- 
form her proper part of right and justice among the nations of the earth. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 19;i 



CHAPTER XIV. 
TRANSPORTATION. 

Singing through the forests, 
Rattling over ridges ; 
Shooting under arches, 
Runihhng over bridges ; 
Whizzing through the mountain 
Buzzing o'er the v.ile. — 
Bless me! this is pleasant. 
Riding on the rail ! 



-John G. Saxe. 



The means of comniunicaticjn and transjiortation are the best indexes 
of a country's historical progress. .V community cannot advance in im- 
portance to the outside world unless It has the means of importing the 
culture and the products of the surrounding peoples and of exporting its 
own ideas and what it produces in the field or in the factory. In the 
preceding chapter we have considered in some phases the history of com- 
munication in Elkhart county, and how the county, Ijoth by its own 
efforts and by the progress of invention, has become an integral part 
of the great world, in intimate touch with all that transpires in the fam- 
ily of nations. In the following paragraphs we shall cuntinue the gen- 
eral subject but more particularly consider the matter of transportation, 
especially as that has been developed by the building of railroads. 

After Rome had conquered a nation she made roads to that nation. 
So she was in easy communication with the remotest parts of her em- 
pire, and they with her. As we have seen, the settlers of Elkhart county 
at once saw the necessity of getting in touch with the settled country 
and among their first acts was the construction of wagon roads. In 
those days nearly all supplies had to be brought in from the larger 
towns. Fort Wayne in particular was the source of most of the goods 
which the Elkhartians needed, and many still living in the county can 
recall the days when the long journey was made across the country by 
ox or horse team and wagon in order to fetch a load of provisions or 
tools or other equipment. It is said that during the first years the set- 
tlers had to take their corn to Niles or White Pigeon for grinding, and 
this necessitated a journey of three days. FI^^m this one may readily 
understand the importance of roads to the prosperitv of the countv. The 



194 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

difficulties of transportation in the thirties are retlected in the Icjcal news- 
papers, h'or instance, the Goshen Express^ on account of "the late rain 
and unusuall}' warm weather which rendered the roads almost im- 
passable," could not obtain paper from Ohio and for several weeks dur- 
ing- the winter of 1837-38 had to discontinue jmblication. In the winter 
of 1848 an item concerning the roads runs as follows: "Old Hascall 
arrived the other day from Fort Wayne, having come through mud up 
to his shirt collar. He saw several travelers sinking in the soil and 
trying to dig out their horses. The new plank road to Lima is almost 
commenced. " 

I'^rom time immemorial there have been two elements used in trans- 
]>ortation and travel — land and water. Men early learned the advantages 
possessed In' the water routes ()\-er land, and made vessels whereby 
persons and propertv could be transported from one point to another on 
the ri\'ers, lakes and seas. The existence of several navigable streams 
witliin the confines of Elkhart county was early taken into consideration 
by the settlers. .\nd it also seems that the location of the two prin- 
cipal towns of the county upon the twn larg'est streams was undoubtedly 
influenced by the possibilities of na\-igation which would thus Ije pre- 
sented. Many circumstances enter into the birth and subsequent devel- 
opment of a community, but Goshen and Elkhart in the early days before 
the railroads came enjoyed much of their prosperity because of the beau- 
tiful rivers which flow by them. In support of this view we may again 
quote from Mr. J. H. Defrees : "In 1831 the legislature passed an act 
granting Jacol> Studebaker the ])rivilege of damming the Elkhart river 
at or near Goshen, which was the first mill dam thrown across the 
stream. The river ha^'ing lieen declared na\-igalile by the LInited States 
authorities, the legislature required Mr. Studebaker to construct a 
suitable K)ck in bis dam for the purpose of jjassing and repassing boats. 
It was supposed at an early day that the river would be extensively used 
as a means of carrying off the productions of the country, and importing 
into it such necessaries as the wants of the people demanded." 

In the pioneer days the best route of transportation for merchandise 
to or from the east w-as Ijy way of the Great Lakes, and as the St. Joseph 
river afforded a comparatively easy outlet tO' Lake Michigan that stream 
formed the principal freight route until the railroad period. "The steam- 
boat days were the palmy jieriod of this little settlement of Elkhart," 
says the Elkhart Daily Truth, "and duririg the forties all merchandise 
and produce were transported to and from the 'village of the forks" by 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 195 

way of the river. The exact date cil' the commencement of navigation 
of the St. Joseph river by white men has never been recorded, but it 
is known that during the tlnrties keel Ijoats and "arks' were used on the 
river. During the period from 1830 to 1850 navigation flourished on 
the St. Joseph from Three Rivers to the mouth at St. Joseph, where the 
river empties into Lake Micliigan. The important towns along the 
stream were Three Rivers, Mendon, Bristol. Montville, Elkhart, Mish- 
awaka. South Bend, Niles and Berrien Springs, and the traffic increased 
as the years passed on. From the point of the island at the mouth of 
the Elkhart river it is ninety-six miles to St. Joseph by the winding 
stream. The space between Washington street and the confluence of 
the two rivers had lieen set a])art for warehouses and wharves, and 
this spot for twenty years was the center of business activity." 

Keel boats and arks were the familiar boats of the early times, and 
some of the old-timers yet living can recall, perhaps from personal ex- 
perience, the "keel-boating" and "arking" up and down the rivers. The 
keel boats were constructed ujion the plans of regular vessels with a 
flat bottom. Their usual dimensions were seventy-five feet length, twelve 
feet at beam, and gunwales twenty-six inches high. They had a carry- 
ing capacity of from three hundred to five hundred barrels of flour, 
so that h()we\'er slow might lie this mode of transportation it was in- 
finitely better than team anrl wagon. The boats were either rowed or 
carried by the current down the ri\'er. Oars eighteen feet long were used, 
and on the return trip, coming against the current, it was often necessary 
to pole the boats, and also each Ixiat was rigged with a windlass and by 
fastening a rope to a tree the crew were enabled to get it over the riffles 
that were found in many places on the stream. The arks were a more 
cumbersome and less na\igable craft, resembling somewhat a scow or 
immense raft, and the)- were used onl)- in gT)ing doWn the stream: (in 
reaching the mouth the cargo was unloaded, the vessel taken to pieces 
and the timber sold t(i the captains of the lower lake \-essels, and then 
the tired crew wmild make the I'cturn journey on foot through the 
forests. 

Many thousands of dollars were expended by the guxernment in 
those days to make the St. Josejih river navigable. Channels were 
dredged, and at the various riffles \vin.g dams constructed for the pur- 
]iose of forcmg the water into the channels. 

That the navigation of the F.lkhart seemed of vital necessity as late 



190 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

as 1842 may be seen from the lolluwing- newspaper extract of tliat 
year : 

"The Elkhart river from Hawks" mill, three miles above Goshen, 
to the mouth, might easily be rendered navig-able for arks and keel 
lx)ats. A large number of arks have already left Waterford and Goshen 
laden with flour, highwines, and pork; but great difficulty and damage 
have l3een experienced in passing the dams and bridges on the route, 
and boats have frequently been sunk in the attempt. On Thursday last 
several of the merchants of Goshen, interested in the navigation of the 
river, assembled at Kellogg's dam and proceeded to tear up the new 
bridge, against which several boats had struck. They were unmolested 
in the work and desisted only when the\- had made a free passage 
for the boats. \\"e understand it is their determination to remove all 
obstructions, such as mill dams ;uid bridges, peaceably if they can, 
forcibly if they must; if the grand jury and circuit court cannot effect 
it for them. The next threat is against DeCamps dam ; and if the law is 
not complied with, by the construction of suitable locks, it is certainly 
as proper for a boatman to tear down a dam as for a traveler to let down 
a fence built across the highw^ay." So we see that dams across the river 
were even more often objects of resentment in those days than at present. 

Another paragraph in the same issue indicates the importance of 
]-iver commerce on the St. Joseph : "We learn that on this day a large 
number of arks laden with 2,200 barrels of Hour and nearly a thousand 
barrels of pork and highwines passed thmugh the locks of Mishawaka 
destined for the eastern market. .N. large jiroportion of this was from 
Elkhart county." 

.Vlong in the forties steamboats began navigating the St. Joseph. 
Until within the past few years the Elkhart river has appeared upon 
the records of the war department as a navigable stream, but there is 
no record that the steamboats ever ventured upon its waters. 

"It was a beautiful Sunday morning in the spring of 1844," to 
<]uote again from the Daily Truth, "that the first steamtoat came pulling 
uj) the river. For days this e\'ent had been awaited by the inhabitants 
oi the little \illage, and most of them were down to the bridge to witness 
the adxent. .\ group of boys playing on the commons were startled when 
the sonorous whistle sounded, the cattle pricked up their ears and scudded 
awav. as the apparition came in view around the bend of the river. In 
that crowd of boys were Major James D. Braden and James Smith. 
Tutfing and wheezing the boat came slowly on, but when the low wooden 



Ills TORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 1»T 

bridge at Main street was readied, a halt had to 1)e made as the smoke 
stack could not go under tiie britlge. A consultation of war was held 
and the next morning the timbers in the middle span were removed and 
the boat moved through and up to the warehouses. Later the stacks 
were made with hinges so that they could be drcipped at the cry of 
'low bridge." 

"These river steamers were built somewhat on the ])lan oi the lum- 
ber carriers on the lakes. Thev were clear amidships and low, and the 
engine room was in the stern. Paddle wheels were built on either side. 
on some boats they were covered and nn others exposed. A few of the 
larger lx>ats could not come this far up the river. The steamers, and 
keel boats, also, drew rmly alxnit eighteen inches of water when loaded. 
The JMalilda Barne_\- was one of the first steamers txj push her nose up 
the river tn this ])()rt. although it is proljable that the Indiana was the 
boat that arrived on that eventful Sunday morning. Pioneers will re- 
member the Pocahontas, John Stryker, South Bend, Michigan. Gem, 
Ruby, Niles and many other of the river craft. These steamers would 
tow from three to four keel boats, and the running- of the riffles was ac- 
complished by means of the windlasses with which ever\' boat was pro- 
vided. With fair luck the trip could be made down the river in three 
days, and from fnur to five days consumed on the up trip. Air. Eben 
J. Davis says that the most exciting trip that he ever made down the 
river was earlv in April of 1848. A man at Three Rivers had built an 
ark eighty feet long and was carrying a colonv of young men and 
women to the settlement at New Buffalo. They had succeeded in reach- 
ing Elkhart, where the ark grounded on a sand bar. Mr. Davis was 
called to pilot them to St. Joe. The ciu'rent was running sw'ift and four 
days w'ere consumed in reaching the mouth of the river. Many nar- 
row escapes from sand bars and riffles occurred during that voyage." 

To-day only an occasional pleasure craft or small boats may be 
seen on these streams once thought so necessani^ to the development of 
a great civilization in northern Indiana. The days of river navigation 
and steamboating and "arking"" have a^ completely passed away as the 
stage coach or the Pottawottomie Indian. The text of the old negro 
preacher that "The world do move." is proved on every hand when 
we begin to examine into the history of a county like Elkhart. The 
rivers and the steamlxiats played a worthy part in the historical drama, 
but they were soon shifted off the stage to make way for the one 
greatest factor in the world develoiiment during the last century. The 



198 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

chief dex'elijper and rearranger of centers, ami reilistributer of civiliza- 
tion, was the railroad. 

Elkhart county happily lay in the path of railixiad construction by 
which the east and the middle west were tied together with bands 
of steel. Its railroad history is one of the most interesting phases of 
its historical existence. In the various sections of the middle west the 
advent of the railroad era marks the close of the pioneer period and the 
beginning of modern prosperity, and not only the material condition 
of the country but the very life and customs of the people are sharply 
dififerentiated in the two epochs. For this reason too much stress can- 
not be placed upon the railroad era, and happily for our purpose a great 
abundance of historical material is at hand for the proper treatment of 
this part of Elkhart county history. 

William Henry Smith, in, his history of Indiana, gives some of the 
points of view which should be kept in mind for the proper understand- 
ing of early railroad making through northern Indiana, and we venture 
to quote here two paragraphs which will throw considerable light on 
what follows. Says Mr. Smith : "The F.rie canal had been completed 
and the fever of railroad building had taken possession of the pul)lic 
mind, 'i'here was an abundance of idle capital, both in this country and 
in England, all seeking" investment, and the Ohio \alley presented the 
most enticing inducements. It was then that Indiana lost her oppor- 
tunity. It was )>rojected to unite Take Erie and Lake Michigan by a 
great double track railroad, and then to extend the road on southwesterly 
to the head of steamboat na\igation on the Illinois ri\er. It was a 
grand project. The road was to start from a point on Lake Erie at the 
head of Maumee Bay and connect with Lake Michigan at Michigan 
City. In 1835 the Buffalo & Mississippi Railroad Company was 
granted a charter by the legislature of Indiana and the route surveyed. 

"Among those interested in the j^roject was Daniel Webster, the 
great senator of [Massachusetts. He came out to Indiana when the 
work of building the ix)ad was begun with great ceremonies, he deliv- 
ering an address (in the occasion to a large concourse of people, gathered 
from al! parts, and throwing up the first sho\el of dirt. So confident 
were he ami his fellow projectors that the work would be completed 
and Michigan City become a great city on the lake, that they purchased 
a great deal of property, and thus the little town experienced its first 
boom. There were three things they did not count on : The first 
-•tumblini'- block was the Illinois legislature. Unfortunatelv for the 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY lO'J 

Buffalo & Mississippi Railroad, in those days it was necessary to get a 
charter in every state through which the road was to operate. Chicago 
was a Httle town in tlie swamps, hut her citizens were active and far- 
seeing. They could readily see that if the projected railroad was con- 
structed Michigan City would be the great lake port, and they would 
be left to enjoy the swamps. They organized a lobby and prevented the 
Illinois legislature from granting the charter asked for. The second 
obstacle was the apathy on the part of the citizens of Indiana. They 
seemed to take but little interest in it and made nO' effort to overcome the 
opposition of Chicago. The projectors nor the people of Indiana, it 
seems, did not deem it possible to reach the Mississippi by any other 
route. Or, if they did. they must have thought the hills along the 
Ohio and in southern Indiana could not \x overcome by a railroad, for 
no effort was made to reach the Oliin wholly through Indiana territory. 
The third obstacle was the great panic of 1837. That put an end. for 
the time being, to all railroad and canal building." 

The Xorthern Canal, whose proposed route lay through Fort 
Wayne, via Goshen, to Lake Michigan, is a subject of almost weekly 
mention in the county papers during the thirties. Hope seemed to 
spring eternal that this great \\ater way, and also the Buft'alo and Mich- 
igan Railroad, would be completed in the course of a few years. 

The history of railroad construction in this county has been ex- 
haustively and authoritatively investigated and treated liy ^Ir. \\'ilber 
L. Stonex, of Goshen, who himself has Ijeen oinnected \\ith some of 
the important railroad enterprises in the county and thus speaks from 
knowledge born of long experience and observation. As an acti\e and 
enthusiastic member of the Elkhart County Historical Society, and for 
some time its president. Mr. Stonex compiled and wrote for delivery 
before the society a historical paper describing the development of 
railroad transportation in the county ; this article, read before the 
society January 4, 1899, without doubt constitutes the best historv of 
this subject, and is given in its practical entirety in the following- 
paragraphs. 

The question which was of the most vital importance to the earlv 
settlers of Indiana was the question of transportation. The slow and 
expensive modes of travel made the development of the resources of 
the state almost impossible. How fully this was realized can be seen 
in reading the messages which from time to time the governors sub- 
mitted to the legislatures. 



200 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

From niau}- special references to the subject 1 select only a few. 
In 1815 (Jo\-ernor Posey recommended their careful attention to the 
improvement of the state roads and highways. In 1818 Governor Jen- 
nings urged the adoption of measures for the construction of highways 
and canals and the improvement of the navigation of the rivers of the 
state. In 1S26 Governor Ray declared the construction of roads and 
canals necessary to place the state of Indiana on an ecjual tinancial foot- 
ing with the older states. And again, in 1829, he said: " This subject 
can ne\er grow irksome, since it must lie the source of the blessings of 
ci\ilized life. To secure its benefits is a dut}' enjoined upon the legis- 
lature b.\- the obligations of the social compact." 

L'p to this time no other means were considered tlian roads, canals 
and navigable rivers. But in 1834 railroads were being built and Gov- 
ernor Noble, in speaking of these public improvements undertaken by 
the state, said : " No work should be commenced but such as would be 
of acknowledged public utility, and when completed would form a branch 
of some general system." And he called favorable attention in the same 
message to the Lawrenceburg & Indianapolis Railroad, for which a char- 
ter had already been granted. Along the lines thus proposed the state 
steadily pushed, and the construction by it of state roads. vWer improve- 
ments, canals and railroads was undertaken on a vast scale. This was 
forced upon the state by the rivalry of the various parts of the state, 
each of whicli demanded its own recognition and ncjne of which was 
willing to wait. The result was that \'ery soon the state became so 
heavil}- in\ol\-ed in debt that its credit failed, and by the year 1839 all 
work was practically suspended. 

But as early as 183G the state was so heavily burdened with the 
work already begun tliat no new lines were projected by it. But the 
vast system already laid out included all parts of the state and none 
was neglected. Elkhart county receivetl its proper recognition in the 
construction of state roads, and a canal was promised it. The latter 
was to run through the county seat, and was located through Goshen 
where Rock Run now flows, and would liave receixed its water supply 
from the reservoir at Rome City. But with the advent of railroads the 
canal projects were promptly abandoned. And when it became apparent 
that the state would not be able to construct them the people promptlv 
turned to individual enterprise. At this day we are amazed at the ex- 
hibition of courage and confidence which this involved. In our r)wn 
time even, with the Aast accumulation of wealth in the hands of indi- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 2ol 

viduals whicli is availalile for profitable investment, tiie construction of 
a railroad is an undertaking which no community or individual would 
seriouslv consider. What then must have been the faith and courage 
of our peojile of that early day of comparative poverty that they could 
undertake that which we would not? But our wonder is greater when 
we consider that the cost of such enterprises was then vastly greater 
than the same would cost now. The estimated cost of the Madison & 
IndianaDolis Railroad was not less than twenty-iive thousand dollars a 
mile. And the state actually e.\pended $1,493,013 on that road with 
the result of only twenty-eight miles in operation and twenty-seven 
miles more nearly but not quite graded. A very much larger sum than 
\\inild be required now to produce the same result. 

With infinite courage, charter after charter was sought from and 
granted by the legislature, for at that time there was no general law for 
the incorporation of such companies. One of the best conceived and 
most feasible of these projected roads was that which the Buffalo & 
Mississippi Railroad Company was organized to build. It was to extend 
from Toledo to Chicago, passing through Indiana so as to connect all of 
the county seats of the northern tier of counties. This much of its pur- 
pose was covered by its charter, and its possibilities were clearly indi- 
cated in its name. Its incorporators included William L. Latta, James 
R. McCord, James H. Barns, Joseph H. Defrees, Johnson Latta and 
E. W. H. Ellis of Goshen. On the 21st of February, 1837, the directors, 
William L. Latta and James R. McCord, of Goshen ; Robert Stewart, of 
]^Iichigan City ; and John Brown, Aaron Staunton, of LaPorte, met at 
South Bend and began active work to secure the construction of the 
road. To obtain the necessary funds they ordered that stock subscrip- 
tion books be opened for popular subscriptions on the second Tuesday 
of March, following, at designated places in Michigan City, LaPorte, 
South Bend, Elkhart, Goshen, Lima and Steuben. It was evidently 
the hope of the patriotic projectors of this road that stock enough would 
be taken to provide the money for constructing the road, or at least for 
making a good beginning. But the result was disappointing, and noth- 
ing of importance came of this effort. Nevertheless the fact remained 
that without such a road the country it was intended to traverse would 
never be developed, and its future prosperity depended upon it. With 
so large an issue at stake ultimate success was certain. Impressed w'ith 
this certainty a few of this little band determined to keep alive their 
organization, and as their ranks were depleted new men took their places. 



202 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

and year after year they met, elected officers and bided their time. 
Among- these men were Judge Osborne of LaPorte, Judge Stanfield and 
Schuyler Colfax of South Bend, John Davenport and Joseph H. Defrees 
of Elkhart, James H. Barns, E. W. H. Ellis. Milton Mercer and Dr. M. 
M. Latta of Goshen. The counties east of Elkhart do not seem to have 
shared in this hope and work. 

If the record of that company could be found it would be a valuable 
record and a monument to the earnestness of these men. They spared 
no efifort to secure the result they aimed at, but they abandoned all hope 
of succeeding by local contributions. When that which is now known 
as the Chicago, Pittsburg & Fort Wayne road was being extended from 
the east toward Fort W'ayne, they endeavored to have it constructed 
from Fort ^^'ayne to Chicago by way of Goshen. Failing in this they 
appealed to the legislature to urge their claims on the general govern- 
ment, and they secured from the legislature a joint resolution, approved 
January 19, 1846 (Acts 1846, p. 123), as follows: " A joint resolution 
in relation to the Bufifalo & Mississippi Railroad." 

Where.\s, The completion of saitl road would afford the general 
government many facilities in time of war with Great Britain (which 
even now seems not improbable) for the transportation of arms, ammuni- 
tions of war, troops and everything necessary for their comfort and con- 
venience, together with the speedy and expeditious dispatches so essen- 
tial to the safety and effective prosecution of the object of organized 
armies in a free and independent government like ours ; and 

Wherea.s, The communication between the upper valley of the 
^Mississippi and the commerce of Lake Michigan i.s entirely suspended 
during a considerable portion of the year in consec|uence of the Straits 
of Mackinaw being closed with ice ; and 

Whereas, The general government of the United States has on 
former occasions extended a liberal policy by aiding in the prosecution 
of internal improvements that are national in their character, by repeated 
donations of the pulilic domain, contributing thereby the means when 
properlv executed of advancing the interest of every individual in this 
\'ast, growing and happy republic : therefore be it 

Rcsok'cd. By the General .Assembly of the state of Indiana that 
our senators he instructed and our representatives requested to use all 
reasonable exertions to procure a donation of a variety of all the lands 
owned by the general government situated in the Fort Wayne and Win- 
amac land office districts, in the said state of Indiana, to aid in the con- 
struction of the said Buffalo & Mississippi Railroad. 

Even this eloquent and patriotic appeal of the great state of Indiana 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 203 

in its belialf failed to procure public aid. But about this time a rival 
compan}- \\ith better financial backing appeared and began the construc- 
tion of a railroad from Toledo to Chicago through the southern tier of 
counties in Michigan. Here was a great danger impending, for if this 
company, the Southern Michigan Railroad Company, succeeded in the 
construction of its parallel line connecting its same terminals it would 
make it impossible for the projectors of the Buffalo & Mississippi Com- 
pany ever to secure, in the face of such competition, the mone}- required 
for the construction of their road. Affairs having taken this critical 
turn, the gallant little band of patriots determined to compel their rival 
to build their road. This was to be brought about by preventing the 
granting to it of a charter for the construction of this part of its line 
which must come into the state at the southern bend of Lake Michigan 
except upon that condition. To secure this the county was induced to 
elect able men to the legislature pledged to labor for this result. In 
1849 Joseph H. Defrees and Michael C. Daugherty were elected from 
Goshen for that special purpose, and in 1850 Joseph H. Defrees was 
elected senator and Milton Mercer a representative to continue the con- 
test. But the projectors of the rival company, by coming intO' this state 
at the northern part of this county and making Elkhart, South Bend 
and LaPorte points on their line, were able to secure strong local co- 
operation, and, in spite of the opposition of Goshen, secured, under the 
name of Northern Indiana Railroad Company, the needed charter. But 
the new company for some reason caused it to be given out that the 
charter secured by it was in some respects unsatisfactory, and negotia- 
tions were begun for the transfer to it of the charter and franchises of 
the Buffalo & Mississippi Company. The result was an agreement by 
which, in consideration of such transfer, the company agreed to extend 
a spur from Elkhart to Goshen and run at least one train a dav between 
the towns. 

Besides this it was also agreed that if the citizens of Goshen would 
purchase and donate to it the tract of land now owned bv its successor, 
the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway Companv, on the east 
side of Goshen, it would erect and maintain a round house there. The 
land was donated and the round house erected. In the fall of 185 1 the 
railroad was built into Elkhart, and the year following saw it extended 
into Goshen as agreed. We, at this day, can scarcely realize the mag- 
nitude of this event and the wild enthusiasm of the people over it. The 
coming of the first train was celebrated by public meetings and lx>nfires, 



20i HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

and the men to whose perseverance it was dne were the heroes of the 
(lay. 'I"hc Dalix Truth thus describes the advent of the iron horse at 
Elkhart: "About four o'clock on a Friday afternoon early in the 
month of October, 1851, a wood-burning engine, hauling a train of tiat 
cars and caboose, roiled over the wooden bridge across the Elkhart river 
and puffed along to the foot of Main street, which was then in the forest 
south of the village proper. For weeks this event had been the topic 
of conversation among the inhabitants of the little hamlet, and the night 
previous to the advent of the iron horse had been an anxious one. Many 
people waited all night long in order to be on hand to welcome the in- 
coming train. Captain Chamberlain says that he was one of a party of 
boys who, escaping from the confines of a schoolroom presided over by 
C. J. Conn, had gone in swimming while awaiting the coming of the 
train. Jt had been heralded abroad that the road would run a free ex- 
cursion to \Miite Pigeon on the following Sunday, and people came for 
miles around to participate in the wonderful event. With an old-time 
passenger coach, a box car, and a numlser of flat cars arranged with 
planks for seats and crowded with passengers, the train started." 

The securing of the round house at Goshen was considered a very 
important thing, but when the company located its shops in Elkhart the 
round house was abandoned. This was in 1870. Because of the care- 
less phraseology of the deed to the company, which failed to make the 
maintenance of the round house a condition of the title, Goshen lost 
lx)th the rountl house and the land. But these were mere incidents. 
The railroad was the great prize and secured for Goshen all that its 
projectors hoped for. In 1850 its population was but seven hundred 
and eightv, in i860 it had increased to two thousand and fifty-three and 
its future was assured. 

The compulsorv construction of the road from Elkhart to Goshen 
led to its extension east to Toledo, and Goshen thus became a point on 
the main line, and Elkhart, favorably located at the junction of the 
two branches, became the natural location for the shops of the company, 
which have contributed more than anything else to the building up of 
that splendid and growing city. 

Fortunately for Goshen the new company bad no special use for 
the men who had so successfully struggled to secure its road. If it 
had honored them by making them directors in the new company they 
might have been satisfied to rest with the honor. But there is a pe- 
culiar fascination in railroad work, and the first success of these gen- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 205 

tlenieii only stimulated them to new efforts in the same line. Accord- 
ingly when Captain Wells, after having built a railroad from Kalama- 
zoo to White Pigeon and sold it to the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern 
Railroad Company, came to Goshen to secure the co-operation of its 
citizens in the construction of a road from White Pigeon to Wabash, 
through Goshen, he at once availed himself of the assistance of Mr. 
J. H. Defrees, who became one of the directors and most active workers 
in the new company, first known as the Goshen, Warsaw, Wabash Rail- 
road Company. This road was speedily constructed from Goshen to 
Warsaw, and was put in operation in 1870. If completed as originally 
intended it would have passed through Middlebury and connected at 
White Pigeon with the road running thence to Kalamazoo. To secure 
this, Aliddlebury voted liberal ;iid, and it was paid into the county 
treasurj- for the company, but tiie road was not built and the money was 
returned. The failure to construct this line was a most serious detri- 
ment to Goshen, as it would have placed Goshen midway on an important 
line extending from Grand Rapids to Indianapolis. Its construction 
was pre^-ented by the Lake Shore Sr Michigan Southern Company, which 
refused to agree to buy it if constructed, as Mr. Wells had been led to 
believe it would do, and the result was that it broke Mi". Wells finan- 
cially, and for a time Goshen was its northern terminus. In 1872 the 
extension of the road to Niles was promised if cities.along the line would 
aid it, and this having been done the extension was quickly made. 

Soon after this, in 1873-4, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Com- 
pany, having determined to extend its line into Chicago from the east, 
began to suney its line. The citizens of Goshen promptly endeavored 
to secure the location of the road through their city, and monev was 
raised to pay the expenses of a preliminary survey of such a line. '\[\-. 
Stonex"s first practical railroad work consisted in circulating a subscrip- 
tion paper for tliat purpose. While Goshen failed in this, the county 
secured tlie road and Xa]i]i;iiiee li;is grown from nothing ti) he a tlnriving 
town as the result. 

Aliout the same time the Chicago & Canada Southern Railfoad 
was projected, and its route was located through the county by way of 
]\Iiller.sburg, Benton, New Paris and Wakarusa. Goshen again en- 
deavored to secure it, but the location of our city is too elevated to 
enable a line to lie buill at Uav cost on a low grade through it, and the 
Canadian Southern was projected as a freight line to be built with a 



206 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

grade po low that it would be possible to dr;iw trains of one hundred 
loaded cars along- it with a single locomrtive. 

This conditicm liarred Goshen out and the line was Idcated, the 
right of way bought, and a considerable part of the road bed graded 
when work was stopped. It was understood that this was done in the 
interest of the Lake Shore & ^Michigan Southern Railroad Coni])any to 
prevent its formidable competition. 

It now seemed certain that no more railroad building would be 
done through Goshen unless brought about by Goshen. The only feasi- 
ble project seemed to be for the construction of a line running through 
the count}- from the northeast to the southwest, and a ccjmpany was 
promptly organized to construct such a line. The name of the company 
was Michigan. Indiana & Southwestern Railroad Company. Its pro^ 
posed terminals were Jackson, Michigan, and Danville, Illinois. Milton 
Mercer was one of the most active of its promoters. After some changes 
this company became the Canada and St. Louis Railroad Company, of 
which the first directors included Milton Mercer. E. D. Chipman and 
W. L. Stonex, of Goshen, and Jonathan S. Mather, of Middlebur^-. In 
August, 1888, the control of this company passed into the hands of J. J. 
Burns and associates. Goshen and Middlebury voted aid, and the road 
was completed from Goshen to Battle Creek, Michigan, and put in oper- 
ation by January, 1889. The company about that time became finan- 
cially embarrassed and soon after failed. Only a fe\\ kne\\- what ef^nrts 
were made to complete this line or to keep it from falling into control of 
the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company. Only an un- 
avoidable accident prevented the extension to Goshen of the Indiana, 
Illinois & Iowa Railroad from Knox to connect with it by way of Ply- 
mouth and extend it as intended from Battle Creek to Bay City. 

This having occurred, an attempt was made to sell the road, as 
built, to the C. \Y. & M. R. R. Company, and every detail of this had 
been agreed upon. If one day longer had been allowed to pass this 
A\'ould ha\'e nccurred, but by an unex])ecte(l and unfdreseen nin\-e the 
road went into other liand? and at last became, as it now is. the Goshen 
,& Michigan branch of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad 
Company. 

But Goshen had secured another road, and was crmnected with 
Middleburv by it. 

After having seen the. last enterprise well under way the indefa- 
tigable !\Iercer pmceeded to (irganize a C(.mpan)- to construct a road 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 207 

between Toledo and Chicago. It was organized as the Toledo & Chi- 
cago Air Line Railway Company, and was a Goshen organization. Mr. 
Mercer was its first president and Mr. Stonex was its first secretarw 
This project was favorably considered by the public, and it soon re- 
cei\-ed recognition, with the result that it was taken hold of by a party 
of eastern capitalists whO' secured control of it and undertook to con- 
struct the line. The Lake Shore Company at once antagonized it for 
the reason that, if constructed, the road would pass between the two 
branches of the company, and being considerably shorter between the 
same terminals would verv materially injure its line. Their opposition 
prevented all chance of negotiating the bonds of the company in the 
east, and this seemed to be fatal. But a combination of four eastern 
railroad companies was formed to jointly build the road for their joint 
use between Toledo and Chicago. Each company was to provide one- 
fourth of the money for the construction, and by this means the neces- 
sity of negotiating bonds was to be avoided. The matter was being 
carried forward secretlv under the management of Senator Brice when 
unfortunately an over-zealous newspaper reporter in Lima. Ohio, olv 
tained some knowledge of the facts and published them. This disclosure 
of the plan gave the management of the Lake Shore Company the neces- 
sary information to enable them to crush the enterprise, which they did. 

But before the end came Goshen had voted over sixty thousand 
tlnllars to aid toward the construction of the road on condition that its 
shops should be located here, and other towns and townships voted 
about the same amount. 

Notwithstanding the defeat of this enterprise the exploiting of it 
gave publicity to the value of such a line and the willingness of the 
people to aid in constructing it. Very soon after this the Wabash Rail- 
way Company put engineers in the field and surveyed a line for its 
system which would give it a short line from Detroit to Chicago, and 
they follo\\ed substantially the line of survey of the Canada Southern 
C ompany. The Wabash Company selected this for the very reason 
which had induced the former company to adopt it. its remarkably low 
grade. W'hen the line was being surveyed the citizens of Goshen had 
a public meeting and appointed a committee to try to induce the com- 
jiany to abandon the pioposed line and come nearer Cioshen. This the 
o impany endeavored to do, but finally abandoned the attemjjt. But when 
the road wa;= being constructed and the crossing of the road of the 



208 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Lake Shore Company was being made at [Millersburg, the latter com- 
]iany forced the former to make an overhead crossing, and by this means 
destroyed the ideal grade of the new company. If this had been antici- 
pated Goshen could have secured the new road. 

While this was interesting the citizens of Goshen, Mr. H. E. Buck- 
len was quietly engaged in the construction of a railroad from Elkhart 
toward South Bend. This was done in the name of the Elkhart & 
Western Railway Company. \Mien completed it was bought by the 
Lake Shore Company. The Elkhart & Western road, while not of great 
length, became and continues to be a very important line for the city of 
Elkhart. 

While the building nf these railroads seemed to be the great enter- 
prises, in comparison with which all others were almost insignificant, 
there had been quietly undertaken and carried forward another w'ork 
which in time developed into a \-ery great and important one. In 1886 
there was organized in Elkhart a company, under the name of the 
Citizens Street Railway Company, for the purpose of constructing a 
horse car line for the city. Its members were Elkhart citi/:ens. and 
they hurried the work forward to a successful accomplishment. After 
five years, in 1891, the company decided to abandon horse power and 
substitute electricity. This was of doubtful wisdom, as the use of that 
power was so new that it required costly experimenting. When it was 
put in operation as an electric line, according to the information obtain- 
able, there was but one other such line in the Lhiited States. After a 
.succession of heavv losses the operation of the road was suspended, and 
in the winter of 1892 a receiver was appointed for it. The road was 
sold to private parties at the receiver's sale in I'ebruar}-, 1894. 

In February. 1893, J- J- Burns and others organized a company 
known as the Indiana Electric Railway Company, by Goshen citizens, 
chiefly to build an electric railway in Goshen. After building about a 
mile and a half of track this company also failed and went intn the 
hands of a receiver, and in Xovember. 1893, its assets passed into the 
liands of private parties. 

In ]\Iay, 1894, J- J. Burns and others organized a com])any known 
as the Indiana Electric Railway C(jnipany for tlic purpose of buying the 
roads above referred to and of cnnipleting anil connecting them into a 
single svstem. The new company Imught the lines and scjdu had the 
Elkhart line in nperatii.n, and not long aftei" the ( ioshen line was also 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 209 

put ill operation, the first car (in the hitter hnc being run on tlie Fourth 
of July, 1896, and from time to tiirie during tiie next two years gradual 
extensions of these hues were made. In Septeml^er, 1898, the owners 
of the South Bend & Misha\\aka Street Raihvay hnes, Arthur Kennedy 
and Frances J. Torrence, of Pittslxirg, Pennsylvania, bought the stock 
of the Indiana Electric Railway Company and took possession of the 
property early m October. This long delayed construction of the line 
required to connect the two cities was pushed rapidly forward, and on 
the 2 1 St of December. 1898, the first car was run from Elkhart to 
Goshen. 

Much has been said of the prospective chain of electric railways 
from Cleveland to Chicago. The building that is being done by the 
Indiana Railway Company is gradually bringing this in sight. The 
construction on the South Bend-LaPorte line will make a connection be- 
tween Michigan City on Lake Michigan, to Goshen, two-thirds of the 
way across the state to the east. The St. Joseph Valley line under con- 
struction will carry- this chain farther to the east from Elkhart to La- 
Grange. This will lea\e onl}' two gaps in the chain between Chicago 
and Cleveland, the one between Hammond and Michigan City and that 
from Ladrange to an electric line extending some distance west from 
Toledo. 

I\Iiddlebury is already connected by electric line with LaGrange, 
and the developments of the next few years will no doubt see all the 
centers of this county connected not only with each other but with the 
outside world. 

The Winona Interurban Railwa\' Co., co-operating with the Com- 
mercial E.xchange of Goshen, took up the matter of building an electric 
line between Goshen and ^Varsaw. in 1903. Elkhart township voted in 
August, 1904, $30,000 for the construction of the road which was to 
pass through Waterford, New Paris, Milford and Leesburg. Active 
work of construction began in July, 1905, and at present writing nearly 
all the grading is finished, and by the first of the year the entire line 
will be equipped and in operation. The length of the line is twenty-four 
miles, the estimated cost, rolling stock, power house and equipment in- 
cluded, being not less than $500,000. This is an independent line, but in- 
creasing- as it does the length of electric transportation in the county, is an 
important connecting link across the country between the principal trunk 
lines and affords the long desired communication lietween Goshen and 



■210 HISTORY OF ELKHAKT COUNTY 

I lie t(i«ns til the south. From ^^'arsavv extension of these electric 
iincs will c\entually be carried on to Indianapolis. 

The Huntington. Columbia City and Xorthwestern is a projected 
line which will doubtless be built in the near future, running from 
Goshen to Lake Wawassee and other centers to the southeast. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 211 



CHAPTER XV. 
BCSIXESS, ]\IAXUFACTUR1XG AXD IXDUSTRY. 

Wherever a ship ploughs the sea, or a plough furrows the field : wherever a mine 
yields its treasure; wherever a ship or railroad train carries freight to market; wher- 
ever the smoke of the furnace rises, or the clang of the loom resounds ; even in the 
lonely garret where the seamstress plies her busy needle, — there is Industry. 

— James A. Garfield. 

Under this comprehensive title may he considered all those human 
activities which have for a basis the obsolete principle of barter and 
exchange, the conversion of natural or raw materials into forms suit- 
able for the use of mankind, and the various phases of work outside of 
that connected with agriculture or the professions, such as trades and 
mechanical pursuits. 

Robinson Crusoe, after being cast upon his desert island, was com- 
])elled to build his own shelter, tO' make his own clothes, to fashion many 
of his implements and his household utensils, to cultivate the soil and 
raise and prepare all things needful for his bodily sustenance, to enact 
for his own guidance all his laws and rules of conduct, and be his own 
army for protection against the cannibals. Such a type of all-around 
man, jack of all trades, self-sufficient and prepared for all the uses .and 
adversities of the world, was at one time considered the proper ideal 
by which each person should fashion his life. But such individualism 
is now seen to te exceedingly primitive, and instead of making the man 
more independent it really places him more abjectly in dependence upon 
all tlif liumbler wants and necessities which are at the base of the 
higher life. Societ}' as now organized, and in its general tendencies 
toward the working out of the problems of human destiny, divides into 
numerous occupations the work of the world, specializing it for each 
class of workers, and thereby leaves each of us the greater lilierty to 
work out otu' real individuality. 

The men and \\omen who settled Elkhart countv in the early thir- 
ties were in a measure Crusoes, in that most of the necessities of life, 
whether for eating, wearing or for performing the work of field and 
household, were home products. Planted in the depth of a great wilder- 
ness, remote from mills and often unattended by craftsmen, the men and 



212 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

women who laid here the foundntimis id' civihzed society were of neces- 
sity their own artisans to a \cry hiri^e extent, and every home was a 
factory. Man\- a farmer or farmer's son. Ijecoming skilled in some par- 
ticular trade, was enabled iherehy to add substantially to the family 
inconie. 

Xext to shelter and foodstuffs cliithing was the issue of paramount 
importance to the hard}- pioneers, and in tlie division of labor this indus- 
try was left to the women. Every cabin was flanked by its patch of 
flax, and the planter who did not possess a few sheep had to trade with 
his neighbor ior wool. From these raw materials the old-fashioned 
housewife was expected to produce clothing for the family and linen for 
Ihe bed and table. The full grown flax was pulled u]) and spread out 
on the ground to rot in the ram and dew. after which it was thoroughly 
broken, by the older boys, if there were any, with the vigorous use 
of the flax-brake, then put through a softening process called "skutch- 
ing," and a separating process known as "hacking," which left ready 
for the spinstress two fabrics, tow and thread fiber. By the use of the 
little spinning wheel, proficiency in the handling of which was for the 
girls a test of advancing womanhood, the fiber, or lint, was made into a 
fine, strong thread called warp and the tow into a coarser thread used as 
filling. These were woven together on a hand loom, and from the tow- 
linen produced was made the summer wear for the family, the females 
usually preferring to color theirs with homemade dyestuff to suit their 
taste^ while the less pretentious men folks were satisfied to take it as it 
came from the loom. When the wool was brought in, the good mother 
and her daughters shaped it into convenient rolls by the aid of a pair 
of hand-cards provided for that purpose and spun on the big wheel into 
varn filling (sometimes used for knitting stockings, mittens and com- 
forters), which, when woven with the linen warp, made the "linsey- 
woolsey" of the good old days, or, if woven with cotton warp, resulted 
in the fabric know as "jeans." The former, suitably dyed, was in 
general use as a strong, warm and handsome texture for feminine ap- 
parel, a-nd the latter, colored with bultcrnut juice, was tailored by the 
women for the men's wear. 

For footwear the wandering cobbler who tra\eled from house to 
house was relied upon to fashion boots and shoes from the home-tanned 
hides, or moccasins were procuretl from the Indians. Occasionally the 
shoemaker would not get around until after snowfall and many a 
venerable grandsire can, tell of s.;oing barefooted to his chores with 



HISTORY OF ELKFI.\RT COUXT^' '213 

snow on the grouml. A well prepared coonskin made a \er}- warm 
and equally unsightly cap. Coonskins also formed a kind of currency 
of the woods, the pelt lieing considered as good as gold and accepted in 
exchange for all kinds of commodities. Properly selected rye straws 
were woven by the women into- bonnets for themselyes and hats for 
their masters. The women also fashioned for themselves curiously 
wrought sunbonnets of brightly colored goods shaped over pasteboard 
strips with fluted and ruffled capes falling behind over the shoulders. 
The manufacture of quilts gave opportunities for social gatherings when 
there were neighbors close enough to get back home before chore time, 
and the quilting ranked along with the huskings. logrollings and house- 
raisings among the primitive society functions of early days. The 
industries of the homestead did not include the preservation of fruits 
and vegetables, save to a small extent by drying. Imt meats were pre- 
served in various ways : lye-iiominy was a regular institution, and some 
other food articles were occasionally laid by for winter, thus forming 
the beginnings of the packing and canning industries of later times. 

Prior to the advent of cabinet-makers the settlers perforce included 
that trade among their accomplishments, and made their own beds, 
tables, cupboards and chairs. For bedsteads an oak butt about eight 
feet long and of sufficient diameter was split into rails and posts, a 
shorter log was split up for slats, and the pieces selected were dressed 
down with the drawknife and fitted together with the axe. Two rails 
were used for each side and three for each end, the rounded ends of the 
slats being driven into auger holes in the rails, and the four high corner 
posts were tied together at the top with strong cords from which cur- 
tains might be suspended if desired. In the more fortunate homes 
a feather bed surmounted the "straw tick." and with plenty of "kiver," 
such a lodgment was comfortable on the coldest winter night. With 
equal skill a table was constructed by pinning two thin oak clapboards, 
smoothed with a sharp ax on the upper side, to cross pieces set on four 
strong legs, the surface of the table being about four feet by six. Of 
general similarity though different in details is the (uitfit described as 
making up the housekeeping suite with which the newly wedded Jacob 
Weybright and E\ a Hess, the first young couple of Goshen to be mar- 
ried, began their wedded life. Their outfit consisted of five chairs, 
and the table was made from ;i dry-goods box. The bedstead consisted 
of two poles stuck in the log-wall and supported by crotched sticks 



214 HISTORY OF ELKHART COl'XTY 

resting on the lloor. Cords were used instead of slats, and npcm tlie 
cords thin l)ark was placed and then came the liedding. 

Such liomely processes constituted the Jieginnings of industrial 
acti\-it_v in Klkhart count}-, as elsewhere, and continued necessarily until 
the mills came into existence and mechanics appeared and mads were 
opened to the trade centers; indeed they cduld be ohserved more or less 
for manv years in the remotei- districts, and puncheon tic Kirs and split- 
-slab benches were used in scIukiIs after they had. disaijpeared from the 
homes. 

Inasmuch as every man had to be his nwn mechanic and carjienter 
during the first years, it is the more ditficnlt tn determine upon the in- 
dividual whn should lie hnncred in history as being the tirst regular 
follower of such a trade. Xor can the localit_\- in \vhich such a man 
plied his art be any more accurately settled. Accnrding to the best in- 
formation Jacob T. L"ri])e was the first mechanic in Elkhart township 
t() follow his trade as a means of livelihond. 

The cutting nf millstunes was a \ery useful art during those 
years, and the tirst man known v \vd\e followed that line of wDrk was 
jtihn Ink's, who made stones for the Rock Run and Elkhart nn'lls. 

In an agricultural coninunntv the lilaclssnnth >hop occupies a [ilace 
of only less importance than the \-i!lagc store, .and oftentimes the cross- 
roads 1>!acksmith shop has been the nucleus around which has grown up 
a thrifty town, it was only in the year 1890 that the first blacksmith 
of Goslien passed to his final reward. He was then ninety-three years 
old. He bad also been tlie hr^^t millwright in this yiart of the count)'. 
His daughter. Mrs. .Mar)- ( i. Hale, has in her possession the brst piece 
(if furniture ma(k in (ioshen, in the shajie of a cradle made of cherr)' 
wood. rile maker of this cradle was Henr\- Kector, who is annalled 
as the brst cabinet-maker to apjjear at (Ioshen. 

fn .Middlel;ur\' the first blacksmith shop was ke]it li\' a man named 
Hawkins, and the rtrst wagon maker of that town was Daniel C Bishop. 
Spinning wheels, which ha\'c lieen abo\e indicated as fornnng a verv 
necessar_\ ]iart of the pioneer household, were manufactured li\' 1^'red- 
erick Harriman. who was the first settler at Xew I'aris and erected a 
sho]> there for his trade. 

Trades and occu]iations seemingl_\- dixerse were often ])ursued b}' 
one man. k'or instance. Dav-id Ebi, one of the earh' settlers of York 
township, was not only the first c;u-penter and joiner of that neighbor- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 215 

hood, liut alsn attended to the (kuies nt undertaker. When the fever 
and ague were so prevalent in the autunin.s of 1837 and 1S38 .Mr. h.hi 
wa.s once taxed with (irders fur three coffins in the .same day. 

The carpenter was natin-ally a very niiportant i)ers<inage in the 
inchistnal worlii of that (hi\ , e\en thuugh houses were not Iniih on very 
elal;orate jjlans. .\niong the men wliose skill and ])rofessions entitled 
them tn the name of carpenter during- the thirties was James Heck, of 
C.oshen. cnncerning wlnni the fdUi'wing anecdote will he nf interest; 

" lames Heck, the secmid sheriff of the county, was a cari)enter and 
secured the contract f( r Imilding the hrst Alethoclist meeting house. 
The structure was a sfpiru'e fr.ame .affair and when it came to the roof 
lieck huilt it as steep as jxissihle. This made some of the memhers of 
the church quite angry, as they claimed that the roof destroyed the 
architectural l)eauty. if it had any. of the huilding. Beck was a very 
liheral man and. had placed his name on the subscription li.st for $25. a 
very large sum in those da\s. In the settlement the trustees decided to 
dock Beck $25 on his contract for disfiguring the roof. He good- 
naturedly consented to the reduction, hut when it came to ]iaying his 
subscription be stated that he would not let the trustees outdo him in 
liberalitv and would throw off bis subscrijition." 

The milling industry jilayed such an important ])art in the early 
history of Elkhart coitntw and still forms such a large source of manu- 
facturing wealth, that it is \erv consistent with the general ]iurpose of 
our history to ciuote at length from an article written by Mr. J. P. 
Hawks and read before a meeting of the Historical Societ\-. .\s a 
member of the Hawks family which holds the premier position in mill- 
ing circles of the county, so comprehensive are his knowledge and per- 
sonal experience in all matters forming the subject of his address that 
his historical article covers manv facts of interest outside of this par- 
ticular cor.nection. and it is a pri\i!egc to be able to afford our readers 
so much compact information. 

1 will first speak." sa_\s Mr. Hawks. " of the first mill buildings. 
It is a question whether ( loshen or Elkhart should ha\e the honor of 
having the first mill. But the best authority that I have found says 
that the first mill was built by Air. Carpenter on Rock Run, near the 
northwest corner of our beautiful Oakridge cemetery, in 1830 or 1831, 
and the second on Christiana creek, across the St. Joe from the Elkhart, 
and third the McConnell mill, sititated near the present site of the Big 
Four freight office. The fourth was the Waterford mill, huilt by Elias 



216 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Baker in 1S34, and then followed the Bainter mill and the mill on Solo- 
mon's creek and the Darr mill in Benton and others. I ha\e since read 
in an obituary of a Mr. Inks, tiiat he built a corncracker on Solomon's 
creek, the first m the county. Mr. Israel Hess says the Elkhart mill 
was the first. It would he highly interesting if we could have photo- 
graphs of these several mills, but that w-as before the days of photog- 
raphy. I think the first three of these buildings were all built of logs, 
as were most of the dwellings of those days. I think the Baker mill 
was the first frame mill building in this county and for many counties 
adjoining. It was nearly square, about thirty by thirty feet, two stories, 
with a high hip roof, which gave some extra garret room over part of 
the house and much used for some purposes. The Carpenter mill. I 
think, had but one small run of stone and without bolts, and only used 
for grinding corn. Of the other two' mills I have no knowledge as to 
their outfit, but most likely it was very meager. About the Waterford 
mill I can be more specific in description of outfit and w'orking. My 
father, Cephas Hawks, Sr., bought this mill of Mr. Baker in 1835. It 
then had two runs of stones; one run was a regular made Ijurr for wheat, 
and the other made from the natural stone, commonly called nigger 
heads, and was used only for grinding corn. I think these stones were 
made by the Mr. Inks above spoken of. It had one bolting reel, alxiut 
tweh-e or fourteen feet long and covered with three grades of bolting 
cloth, the first four or five feet being very fine for getting the superfine 
flour; the ne.xt section coarser for common flour; the third still coarser 
to catch middlings and shorts, while the bran was thrown out at the 
end of the bolt. This bolt was hung in the lower story, close under the 
stones, and the meal dropped into a short wooden trough, which carried 
it into the head of the bolt. In those days corn meal was never bolted 
at the mill, and hence the necessity of a corn meal sieve in the outfit nf 
every well regulated family. Custom so increased that the second year 
after some grand improvements were made in the old mill, .\nother run 
of wheat burrs were put in. the bolting capacity was increased and 
moNcd up into the garret, ele\ ators were made for carrying the meal up 
into the bolts, etc., etc. But. oh, the labor that was necessary to do the 
work of that mill. Every bushel of grain had to be shouldered and 
carried three or four times, first from the wagon into the mill, then 
shouldered again to pour into the hoppers and again when ground, and 
lastly from the mill to the wagon. What wheat we bought for making 
flour for sale must be taken first to the platform scales, then up one and 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 217 

sometimes two pair of stairs to the bin. Having established a reputa- 
tion for making the best flour in the county, our custom was verj- large 
and wide-spread, reaching from the state line on the north to the Wa- 
bash on the south, and embraced all of Elkhart, Noble, LaGrange, Kosci- 
usko and parts of Whitley, Marshall and St. Joe counties. Of course, 
coming so far, they must bring large grists, and came prepared with 
provisions and horse feed to wait until it could be ground, which was 
sometimes a tedious waiting of two or three days. A strict watch was 
kept that they were not cheated in their turn, and it often required much 
diplomacy to keep the peace among them. It often looked about the 
yard like an army encamped, or a camp meeting, so many teams in 
waiting. A unique feature of that old mill was the ten by twelve foot 
square room in one corner, called the office. Its furnishing was a large 
old-fashioned parlor cook-stove, having a large oven over the fire pot 
for baking, and a hole and lid on top for boiling the tea kettle. A wide 
board bench around three sides, with a small rough board desk nailed 
up on cleats in one corner, constituted the furnishings of that room. 
These benches, with a bag of bran for a mattress and an overcoat or a 
bunch of bags for a pillow, furnished beds for many waiting customers. 
On cold nights that little room wouUl be filled with customers or village 
loungers, and heated up to about one hundred degrees, with the flat top 
of the old stove covered with corn. Many a jolly evening was spent 
eating scorched, not popped, corn, telling stories, cracking jokes and 
cracking nuts, all of which were \ery plenty in those days. And such 
a looking place was that room ! The floor was inches deep with flour 
paste mixed w'ith tobacco juice, crumbs of bread and meat from the 
customers" lunch, ant! with popcorn and nut shells. Oh, it was a beautv! 

" One unique character who came about four times a year from the 
Haw Patch, with his big prairie-schooner wagon and his four large, fat 
horses, himself sitting proudly erect on his wheel or saddle horse, hold- 
ing his one line in his left hand and his black-snake whip in his right 
hand, was Mr, McDavitt. You could hear the crack of that whi]) and 
the word of command to that team, calling each horse ])y name, for a 
quarter of a mile. Never were horses under better command. He could 
turn a corner, wheel a circle, cramp and back to the mill door to the 
very dot and never miss. He would sometimes, while waiting, hitch 
up just to give us exhibitions of driving, and would always draw a 
crowd. 

" So much for the old mill. The time had come when it would 



218 HISTORY OF ELKHART COL'XTY 

IV ii meul tlie .i^n iwing- deniands of the Cduntiv, and smnc time in the 
"40s. 1 think in '47. a new mill was ])lanned and hnilt. lars^-er and more 
cnmplete. In size alionl foi-t>- hy sixty feet, and tive stories hii^h. with 
five nins of the hest hurrs that conltl he fonnd, with the then newest 
niaehinerx and ennveniences, sueh as elevators for hoth wheat and meal, 
lart^er holtini^ ca]xicities for hoth merchant and custom work, and screen 
and snnitter for cleaning- wiie.at (for up to that time the wheat was 
grdund just as it came from the farmer's fanning mill), large scales, 
a hop])er to em])ty into from th.e w.agon ;md ;i (Imp for the wheat from 
the scales to the elevator, sn that mnch of the hard lifting reiptired in 
the old mill was ohviated in the new. The capacity of each run of hurrs 
was increased one-half or more 1>\" new water wheels, irnn shafting and 
cog wheels, i:^etter and more perfect hoxing, hearings, etc. So tliat the 
capacity of the new mill was sufficient to serve all of our greatly in- 
creased custom work and turn out ahout lift\- harrels of flnnr per da\" 
of merchant work. This was a hig thing in those days, whereas the 
( loshen Milling Company can now make h\e hundred barrels jier day, 
and vet 1 will here sav that (.rdinarily and on an average the net jirofits 
of the hftv harrels per day mill in the '.30s was equal to or l)etter than 
that of the five hundred barrel mill in the 'ijos. The reasons are; Less 
expense and more profits. While we did much of the work ourselves 
and our (,wn labor was never reckoned, 1 might mention here, how- 
ever, that die mill stuft'. bran and shorts, is much more valuable to-day 
'man then. '-"armers harl plenty of chea]) corn to feed and would not 
inn- mill feed. The bran we sold what we could at three cents ])er 
bushel or one dollar for a wagon load, and the bi.gger loads the}' took 
tlie better we liked it. We fed all w-e could ourselves, and shoveled 
hundreds of bushels into the tail race to feed the fish or be carried down 
into the St. Joe. 

" Transportati(.in was a great item in those early days. Only two 
wavs were open to us. The one was by teams, and that was the every- 
da^^ \-ear-around wa^■. and the other was by arking" down the river, 
which we could onl_\' do in the spring and fall or after heavy rains when 
the river was high. Our main markets were Chicago, Michigan City. 
St. Joseph and Fort Wayne. When the roads were bad. as the\- were 
most of the time, a good team could only haul ten barrels of flour, and 
it took eight davs for a trip to Chicago, four or five to Michigan Cit\- 
or St. Toe or Fort ^^'a^■ne. Our plan was to load from fixe to ten teams 
and start from the mill early in the morning. One of us (for we were 



IllSroin' ()1" ELKHART COUNTY 219 

nianv in tliose davs ) wiili nuv "\\n team headed the train and led the 
van, and we would go to the market we thought the best, sell the best we 
could, Imv whatever we could that we needed in our trade at home, 
mostly salt, coffee and muslin, and gi\ing each team a light load of these 
things, hasten hack home with what money was left to invest in more 
wheat. These teams we used to i)ay from one dollar to one dollar and 
forty cents iier day, according as the roads and weather might he. Of 
course on such wages the men could not afford to hu}' anything on the 
trip but stabling, hay and lodging. .\11 carried their dinner bo.xes for 
themselves and grain for the horses. There was so much of this work 
to do that men who were ;il)le to own a team made this their business 
and sup]Jorted their fannlies in this wa}". 

■' But the arkin.g in the time of it was the much more e.xciting. 
more rapid and much chea])er way of getting our produce off to market. 
These arks were made of two timbers, which we called gunnels, hewn 
out in the woods or sawed in the mill, about six or eight inches thick, 
eighteeri to twenty-four inches wide, as we could find the logs to make 
tlieni, and from twent\- to thirty feet long, planked on the bottom with 
two-inch plank, corked and pitched till water tight. luich one of these 
would carr\- from one hundred to one hundred and fift_\- barrels of dour, 
and two and sometimes three of these cril)s, as they were called, were 
lashed together and called an ark, with a long, heavy oar at each end 
to steer it with. Captain .\. C. Manning, who afterward became the 
popular sheriff of our count}-, was a \ery efficient man to float these 
expensive and valuable laden arks down the Elkhart into and down to 
St. Joseph. Others, whose names 1 ha\e forgotten, used to run these 
arks for us. It took about six men, with the captain, to man an ark, 
one with the captain on the hind oar, t\\ (^ on the front oar and two for 
extra work, such as pushing with poles to keep it off of breakers and 
in eddy waters to accelerate the speefl. and care for the stuff. \\'e had 
three dams to jump and many bridges to go under, and these were often 
dangerous places, for to hit a bent of the bridge meant either a l.ient 
taken out or the breaking of the ark. and in either case it was a heav_\' 
loss. So also in g<iing over a dam, sometimes the sections of the ark, 
or cribs as we called them, would break apart or would dip water. The 
Xiles bridge was about the most dangerous place on the trip, and here 
we once had a bad break and lost and damaged many barrels of flour. 
Usually one of our folks went with these expeditions to care for and 
make sales, and \-our humble writer, though then but a bov and being 



220 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

of less consequence as a hard worker at home, was sent on the ark. We 
usually carried our own provisions, cooked and ate our ow'n meals, either 
on the ark or ou the bank where we tied up for the night, and in mild 
weather we slept out doors, or rather in our blankets as best we could. 
Right here I must relate a joke on myself. We had tied up for the 
night, a chilly night' near a large fami house, and so after eating our 
supper we all went up to the house to secure lodging if possible. The 
people were very kind and accommodating, as people in new C(iuntries 
mostly are, and said the}- would do' the best they could for us. So 
when bed time came the men were stored away, some in beds and some 
on the floor. But the writer had made a good impression, and the 
good man of the house had whispered to me to keep still till the men 
were stored away and then he would provide for me. The result was 
a place in the spare bed room and a soft clean bed. But the joke is 
in the sequel. In the morning when the captain called for his bill it 
was five cents each for himself and men. The boy lx)ss was not cute 
enough to let the men get out of hearing first, Vnit at once asked for 
his bill and was charged ten cents. This gave the jolly men a chance 
to guy me all the day for having to pay double price for lodging. 

"One thing more and I close. The work of dressing the stones. 
This had to be done about e\-ery three days, so that one run of stone out 
of the five was idle all the time in the ])rocess of dressing". To we older 
men this stone dressing is fresh in our memory, though we have seen 
little of it in the last ten years of our lives. But to our children and 
grandchildren it will be something new and strange. The top, a re- 
volving st(ine. was lifted bv a great crane from the s]iindle on which it 
whirled when at work and turned down-side up and placed upon blocks 
prepared fur it. and then both the upper and the bed stone was ready for 
the dresser. This was first to lay off furrows from the inner to the outer 
sui:face. The furrows were picked out and deepened, and the surface 
between the furrows carefully picked and sharpened for the grinding. 
When the stone became worn down or smooth it would only mash in- 
stead of grind the grain. The furrows were for the purpose of carry- 
ing or working the grain to the outer surface of the stone, wdiere most 
of the grinding was done. The tool for doing this dressing was quite 
imicpie. T will add that for many years no blacksmith could be found 
near here that could harden and temper the steel points of these picks 
to stand their severe work, and consequentlv we had tri ha\'e manv of 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 221 

them so that some migiit be constantly on tlieir way to and returning 
from Chicago or Buffalo for dressing and sharpening by experts. 

"Tn 1868 this mill was torn down and hn)ught to Goshen and 
erected on the Hydraulic canal at the foot of what was then Market 
street, hut now Lincoln avenue, to which have been added from time to 
time, addition after addition, story upon story and improvement upon 
improvement, both inside and out, until the old mill is lost in the new, 
and in its place stands the Goshen Milling Company's l>ig plant: the 
old five runs of stone out and gone, and twent)--two stands of steel 
rollers, four rollers to each stand, doing the work of grinding, new 
processes doing- the bolting, the packing' by machiner}^ instead of by 
hand, and much more than I can take your time to tell." 

There are considerable data at hand A\hich will afford an insight 
intO' the business life of the county-seat town during the thirties and 
forties. It is interesting to know some of the enterprises which figured 
in the commercial activity of this city at that time, and this informa- 
tion is best afforded by giving the advertisers in the first issue of the 
Goshen Express on January 28, 1837. They are : 

T. Harris & Co., drugs and medicines, wines and liquors, and gen- 
eral merchandise and provisions. Dr. Chamberlain informed the pub- 
lic that he kept drugs, medicines, paints, oils, dyestuffs. etc.. etc.. and 
assures the public that "he can afford to sell at a much lower rate than 
they have been hitherto purchasing in this place: also individuals pur- 
chasing of him will receive genuine articles." 

Barns and Defrees offered "at the white corner store" a general 
assortment of winter and spring goods to be disposed of cheap for cash 
or approved country produce, and an interesting postscript adds, "furs 
and peltries will be received for goods." A notice signed by William 
Latta, is given to the stockholders of the "Buffalo and IMississippi Rail- 
road Company" that "whereas five hundred shares have been subscribed 
for and five dollars paid on each share, an election for choosing of seven 
directors will be held at South Bend." Thomas Thomas announces 
the inangurati-on of a mercantile business, and in "his stock may he 
found almost every article wanted in this country." 

The business enterprise of the \illage of Benton was also repre- 
sented in this first Elkhart county paper by William H. Rector and 
Company, dealers in drv goods, groceries, hardware, cutleiw, crockery 
and glassware. 

.\ sheriff's notice indicates that the process of justice was as 



222 HISTORY OF ELKH.VRT COUNTY 

regular in fulfillment in those days as now : namely — "by virtue of a 
writ of z'ciiditioiid exponas by me directed from the Elkhart circuit court, 
1 will expose to sale at public outcry, at the court house in Goshen, on 
Saturday, the 25th day of February next between the hours of i and 3 
o'clock, in lot 201, in the town i:)f Goshen, taken as the property of 
Lewis G. Gordon to satisfy a judgment in favor of the State of Indiana. 
— Joseph Defrees, sheriff Elkhart cnunty." 

P. K. and J. R. Price advertise, in this same issue, saddles, bridles, 
harness, valises, portmanteaus, trunks, etc. T. P. L. Defrees announces 
himself proprietor of a smithing establishment. The "Cabinet Ware- 
house" is advertised by W. H. Rector as the place to obtain all kinds 
of first-class furniture. 

In this copy of the Express are alsij published a long list of un- 
called-for letters, notices of stock taken up, the sale of a school section. 
In the advertisements in these early papers may be found the best index 
of the business acti\'ity x^i Goshen and surrounding country, and by 
nothing better than an old newspaper mav we rehabilitate the life and 
times of nearly threescore and ten years ago. Of course it nuist not be 
iniderstood that this first Express contained a list of all the l)usiness en- 
terprises in Goshen at that date, for sub-secjuent issues show many others, 
hut our few quotations indicate some phases of history wliich could not 
more succinctly be given. 

A few years later, in a copy of the Goshen Democrat dated August 
5, 1841, is published a "Goshen Directory," which gives us the names 
of those in business, professions, trades, etc., who were also subscribers 
to the Democrat, and while this list naturally lacks oMiipleteness, it will 
tell us certainly a majority of those who at that data were the ener- 
getic spirits of the town. The "Directory" is as follows: Attorneys- 
at-law, E. AI. Chamberlain and M. C. Dougherty. Physicians and sur- 
geons, F. A\'. Taylor and William Dodge. Justices of the peace, Elias 
Carpenter, George Taylor, George Rumsey. Constables, Jesse Hilbush, 
John S. Freeman, Daniel S. Howell. Sheriff, Albert Banta. Clerk. 
William A. Thomas. Recorder. E. Ci. Chamberlain. ^lerchants. James 
Cook, Henry W. Bissell. James Anderson, J. H. Barns. Jackson and 
Fitzpatrick, Charles Darrow, Chauncey S. Flascall. John Cook, Milton 
Mercer, Samuel T. Young (grocer). Tavernkeeper, Edward Bonney. 
Boarding house, Simeon B. Brown. Ploughmaker and founder. George 
Ro'well. Bedstead-maker. Jacol> B. Kinney. Surveyor. James R. McCord. 
Tailors, George W'. Stewart. L. B. Pamieley, Smith Chamberlain. Car- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 223 

penters and joiners, Jacob S. Ramer, Joseph Parks. William Gahan, 
John Ramer, Caertes B. Dean. Abner Blue, Daniel Dickinson, James 
Jones. Tanners. Henr}- Xeff, Le\i Beck. Shoemaker, Samuel Mur- 
ray. Goldsmith and jeweler, Abner Stilson. Blacksmiths, Joseph Knox. 
Michael Basor. Jaco1> L. Powell, Joseph M. Derry, Wilson McConnell. 
Wagon maker, John Chamberlain. Mason. Joel Beehynier. School 
instructor. Nelson Prentiss. Chair maker, Aaron B. Clark. Cooper, 
Collins Kirkendall. I-'armers, etc.. Abram Gallentine, Thomas Miller, 
Nathan Devine, Jacob Cornell, Daniel Fetters. (In the chapter on Elk- 
hart will be found a similar list of the early business men of that city.) 

Mr. P. M. Henkel siieaks of some of the merchants and repre- 
sentatives of the trades who flourished in Goshen during the middle 
forties. " James ^^'inder, James and John Cook, Frederick and Leon- 
ard Harris (the latter the father of Hon. Charles B. Harris). Nelson 
Marsten, and Barns and Defrees constituted the leading business men 
of the village. Every department of mechanical trade had its repre- 
sentative, from house building to shoemaking. George P. Rowell car- 
ried on a small foundry in which he made the castings for plows, while 
Daniel Kohler and Frederick Hope, Sr.. were the principal builders of 
wagons." As ti> hotels in Goshen si.xty years ago Mr. Henkel states 
there were two. " James Cook in part entertained the traveling public, 
while Samuel T. Clymer kept the American, which was situated on the 
corner now owned by Mrs. Kindig. This was a frame building" and 
well arranged to accommodate the traveler. The landlonl. Mr. Clymer. 
was a man of fair intelligence, genial in disposition, and e\er ready 
to accommodate his guests. In this respect he ne\'er failed to make 
known his own importance In' stating some circumstance that took 
place just after or during the time he was a member of the legislature. 
This information invariably left the impression upon his guests that 
he was a man of some importance."' 

BUSINESS IN 1905. 

Under this heading we s])eak of business in the liroad sense of. 
including commerce, manufacturin.g and finance. The Hon. James 
Bryce, author of that well known work " .American Commonwealth," 
in his more recent impressions of American life speaks of the growing 
predominance of business among the manifold interests of the people 
on diis side of the Atlantic. Business is king. Lender its broad man- 



224 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

tie are now included not only tradesmen and dealers in the domestic 
necessities, but all whose acti\ity in the way of production or exchange 
contributes any factor to the sum total of the world's work. Under 
this broad interpretation it would lie manifestly impossible to include 
in a work of this nature an account of the varied activities of Elkhart 
county such as to make specific menti(jn of each establishment or firm 
engaged in any line of business. Even a summary of the iiersons en- 
gaged in business such as we have compiled from the records concern- 
ing (loshen in the thirties and forties would be impracticable, for the 
two ]irnici])al cities of the county contain enough of such liusiness repre- 
sentati\-es to' require a separate directory for their names. Here we 
will attempt only an imperfect record of some of the representative 
concerns identified with the large field of business at the present time. 
.\nd only the three cities of Goshen, Elkhart and Nappanee will lie 
drawn upon for examples, since the business activities of the smaller 
centers have already been treated under their appropriate title. 

But before entering into the consideration of some specific enter- 
prises which are at the foundation of Elkhart county's material wealth 
and prosperity it will be well to slnnv what the county in the aggregate 
is worth, in so far as that mav be reckoned from the onlv available 
sources, namely, the property assessment. The total assessed valua- 
tion of real and personal ])roperty in Elkhart county in 1904 amounted 
to $23,666,350. The assessed value is conservatively estimated as twen- 
ty-five ]>er cent of the real \'alue, ct^mputing on which basis we can 
l)lace a very low figure on the worth of Elkhart C(junty in stating it to 
be a hundred million dollars. And this is mainly vital wealth, by which 
is meant, conferring constant benefit upon its possessors, — not potential 
or .fictitious. For wealth of material resources or otherwise is true 
wealth only as it can be made useful in its relation to- mankind, in some 
of the manifold economic machinery of ci\'ilization. Considered from 
this ]joint of view, the wealth of Elkhart county at the beginning of its 
history could be reckoned as naught, for its virgin soil, its forests, its 
•water power were, as w-e have said in a previous chapter, potential and 
not active resources. But now a hundred million dollars could not buy 
Elkhart county, although it is a comparatively insignificant spot on the 
total surface of the globe. 

The following table gives the assessment figures for 1904 by town- 
ships and cities : 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 225 

Townships— Assessed Property Valuation 

in 1904. 

Elkhart $ 1,186,170 

Clinton 1,089.580 

Benton 1,013.640 

Jackson 1,231,830 

Harrison 1,026,390 

Concord i, 554,415 

Baugo 638,470 

Olive 507,435 

Jefiferson 615,665 

York 322,215 

Washington 4il,9S5 

Osolo 332,365 

Cleveland 310,775 

Union 7,063,950 . 

Locke 558,43s 

Middlebury 721,055 

Cities— 

Goshen 3-55I-I55 

Millersbnrg 1 13.700 

Elkhart 

Concord Township 5,917.840 

Osolo Tow nship 148,230 

VVakarnsa 320.975 

, Middleburv 216,215 

Bristol . ; 168,810 

Nappar.ee , 625,820 

Total $23,666,350 

ELKH.\RT COUNTY BANKS. 

Elkliart county in 1905 has ten banks, liesides the Elkhart Loan and 
Trust Company of Goshen. In point of age, since it has been open for 
business throughout a period of over lialf a century, the Salem Bank, 
of Goshen, deserves prior consideration. The Salem Bank was estab- 
lished in 1854, and has opened its doors every business day from then 
4Lintil now. and for thirty-five years has Ijeen practically under the same 
management. Mr. Frank A. Hascall, the cashier, has l>een behind its 
counters since 1866, which long service is itself very noteworthy. The 
Salem Bank is a private bank, under the proprietorship of the John 
A\'. Irwin estate. (See sketch of John \\'. Irwin.) Mr. Frank J. Ir- 
win is vice-president, F. A. Hascall is cashier, and \Villiam Nymeyer. 
assistant cashier. The capital stock is $60,000; surplus and profits, 
.$101,305; deposits, $246,197; loans and discounts, $301,830. and cash 
on hand and in banks, $114,378. 

The State Bank of Goshen has the following officers : 

Charles W. Miller, president; F. P. Abbott, vice president; David W.. Neidig, 
cashier; Alfred Lovvry, assistant cashier. Directors: Charles W. Miller, F. P. Abbott, 
Joe H. Lesh. Harrv M. Sanders, .Mfred Lowry. D. W. Neidig, Lou W. Vail. 

Report of the condition of the State Bank of Goshen at the close of its business 
on May 29, 1905. shows the following: 



22r, HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

RESOURCES. 

Loans and Discounts $ 155,767.84 

Overdrafts 5175 

Due from Banks and Bankers 46,50562 

Other Real Estate 10.100.00 

Furniture and Fi.xtnres 2.519.86 

Premiums 250.00 

Cash Items 20,565.94 

Total $ 235.85^oi 

LI.\B1LIT1ES. 

Capital Stock paid in $ 60,000.00 

Surplus Fund 5,000.00 

Undivided Profits, less E.xpenses i. 271. 10 

Individual Deposits on Demand 169,580.91 

Total $235,852.01 

Tlie Citv Xatifjiial Bank cf fio.shen, the only natinnal liank at tlie 
county seat, lias tlie following officials : 

F. G. Hubbell, president; F. E. C. Hawks, vice president; C. J. Garvin, cashier; 
LaMar Gillette, assistant cashier. Directors: F. G. Hubbell, F. E. C. Hawks, D. A. 
Sanders, Haines Egbert, C. J. Garvin. 

The report of the condition of the City National Bank, May 29, 1905 : 

Loans, Discounts and Bonds $ 332,979.49 

Overdrafts 815.00 

U. S. Bonds 48,000.00 

Furniture and Fixtures 2,500.00 

Cash and Due from Banks 190,558.83 

Due from LI. S. Treas 2,400.00 

Total $ 577,253-32 

Capital $ 100,000.00 

Surplus 50,000.00 

Undivided Profits, less Expenses 14,061.20 

Circulation 48,000.00 

Deposits 365.072.12 

Dividends L^npaid 120.00 

Total $ 577.253-32 

The report of the condition of The First National Bank, at Elkhart, at the close 
of business. May 29, 1905 : 

RESOURCES. 

Loans and discounts $326,027.04 

Overdrafts, secured and unsecured 955-22 

U. S. bonds to secure circulation 100,000.00 

Stocks, securities, etc 85,693.83 

Banking-house furniture and fixtures I2,842..44 

Other real estate owned 1,746.25 

Due from approved reserve agents 210.439.97 

Checks and other cash items 232.28 

Notes of other National Banks 3.95S-Oo 

Fractional paper currency, nickels and cents ,^7.05 

Specie 64,001 .00 

Legal tender notes 10,000.00 74,001.00 

Redemption fund Avith U. S. Treasurer (5 per cent of cir- 
culation) 5.000.00 

Total $820,930.08 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 227 

LIAIULITIES. 

Capital stock paid in $100,000.00 

Surplus fund : 40,000.00 

Undivided profits less expenses and taxes paid 4,52379 

National bank notes outstanding loo.oco.oo 

Individual deposits subject to check 573.oi6.i3 

Demand certificates of deposit 3,432.64 

Cashier's checks outstanding 9S7-5-2 

Total $820,930.08 

C. H. Winchester, president ; J. A. Cook, vice-president ; W. H. Knickerbocker, 
cashier. Directors: C. H. Winchester, J. A, Cook, W. H. Knickerbocker, A. R. 
Beardsley, F. G. Davenport. 

The St. Josepli Valley Bank at Elkhart, Avhich was established in 
1872. and is " State Bank No. u " in the ot^cial report, shows its 
splendid condition in tlie following recent report : 

RESOURCES. 

Loans and Discounts $410,496.51 

Bonds 55985 

Overdraft 964.06 

Bank Building, Furniture and Fixtures 16,000.00 

Other Real Estate Owned 1,200.00 

Cash on Hand and Due from Reserve Agents 223,785.28 

Total $653,005.70 

LIABILITIES. 

Capital Stock , $100,000.00 

Surplus 45,000.00 

Undivided Profits, "Net" 7o9-2.97 

Deposits 500,412.73 

Total $653,005.70 

The directors are : Jolm \\'. I-'ieldhouse. Herman Borneman. Wal- 
'er S. Hazelton, Thomas Snell. T. T. Snell. Officers: Thomas Snell, 
president; T. T. Snell, \ice-president ; Walter S. Hazelton. cashier. 

The Farmers and Traders Bank nf Xappanee is a jirivate institu- 
tion, hacked hy the prestige and ca])ital nf the Coppes family. Mr. S. 
D. Copjies is presitlent, H. F. C(i]ii)es cashier, H. D. Greene assistant 
cashier, and 1'". 1^^. Co]jpes second assistant cashier. 

In the town of Bristol ]\Ir. Tlnnnas Hilbish commenced the hank- 
ing business in 1891 in cnnncctiMn witli his store: in i<)Oi separated 
them, and in 1905 ca]3italized the hanJc for $10,000. The nfhcers are 
Thomas Hilbish, president, and C. \\". Hilbish, cashier. 

The banks of Middlebmy. W'akarusa and New Paris are spoken 
of in ccinnection with the histories of those towns. (See Chai^ter IX.) 

The First State Bank of Elkhart, which was incorporated January 
4, 1905, by its reports of business since that time indicates a remarkable 



228 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

and steadily successful progress, due to the close and careful attention 
paid to all its patronage and its financial management. The following 
items are suggestive of the strength of this institution : 

Deposits, January ii, 1905 $ 68,550.17 

Deposits, March 15, 1905 188,655.44 

Deposits, May 29, 1905 253.683.17 

Deposits, August 25, 1905 292.154.03 

Its report of August 25. 1905, reveals the following: 

RESOURCES. 

Loans and Discounts $159,265.35 

Bonds 10,000.00 

Over Drafts 216.42 

Furniture and Fixtures 1,677.12 

Cash and Due from Banks 173,904.47 

Total $345,063.36 

LIABILITIES. 

Capital Stock Paid in $ 50,000.00 

Undivided Profits 2,909.33 

Deposits 292,154.03 

Total $345,063.36 

The officers of the First State Banlc are men of known integrity 
and financial ahility in Elkhart county, and their names are guarantee 
of the character of their undertaking, for they have been actively iden- 
tified with hanking in Elkhart since 1880. Norman Sage is president, 
J. Cioldberg, vice-president. Charles T. (Ireene, cashier, and hrank A. 
Sage, assistant cashier. 

MANUFACTURING. 
Goshen. 

The milling industry of Elkhart cottnt}' justly receives nnich atten- 
tion in this work, for it has been of vital importance to the people from 
the pioneer times to the present. As representative of the modern sci- 
ence of flour-making in contrast with the primitive methods and mills 
elsewhere described, a few^ facts concerning the Goshen Milling- Com- 
pany will be of interest at this point. 

The Goshen Milling Company commenced business in April. 1883. 
It was formed by a union of two milling" firms, C. & E. Hawks, and 
W. A. & H. K. Thomas, who were in business right across the street 
from one another. Both were \ery old firms, Messrs. C. & E. Hawks 
in particular ha\ing (iperated a flouring mill in Waterford, a village 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 229 

three miles south of Goshen im the same river, the Elkhart, since 1837. 
In 1868 upon the completion of the Hydraulic Canal this mill was 
nii'vcd to Goshen and very much enlarged. The capacity has been in- 
creased since that time and now seveii hundred barrels of flour are 
turned out h\ the Hawks mill daily, while the other mill is used to 
manufacture r}'e and Inickwheat flour, corn meal and chop feed. Be- 
sides manufacturing-. The Gnsheu Alilling Company does an extensive 
business in i)u\ing- and shipping corn and oats and rye. A larg'e part 
of the Hour made is exported to England, Scotland, Ireland and Nor- 
way. Their leading lirands of flour are the Blended I'atent (ierbelle 
and the Roller Straight, Ne\-er Fail and the Family Vhmr. Cooks' 
Delight. The capital stock and surplus of the firm amounts to $100,- 
000. The president and general manager is Frank E. C. Hawks, vice- 
president, E. \\'. Hawks, secretary and treasurer, Herbert H. (iortner. 
while the general superintendent is George D. Hawks. The main office 
of the companv is on Lincoln avenue in the new Metropolitan lilock. 
About Eft}- men are employed and the \-alue of the flour and feed manu- 
factured amounts to fullx- a million dollars per annum. Tlie company 
uses mostly water power, but has a coupled compound, condensing" 
Corliss engine to fall back upon in case of accident. The company fur- 
nishes power for the operating of four large dynamos belonging to the 
Hawks Electric Company. This company furnishes the current for 
power as well as for lighting, and does a very large business. 

One of the manufacturing enterprises which concern closely the 
every day life of (iosben citizens is the Goshen Gas Light Company. 
This was organized on December 17, 1875, by Charles B. Alderman, 
La Porte Heefner. C. P. Noland and J. Desha Patton, with a capital 
stock of $20,000. On the 26th day of May, 1899, the Goshen Gas 
Light Company was acquired by th.e Goshen Gas Company, a corpora- 
tion organized by J- T. Lynn, Chas. J. Garvin, C. \V. Miller, F. H. 
Shelton and F. K. Pelton, with a capital stock of $60,000. The offi- 
cers of the company are now as follows : President, J. T. Lynn ; vice- 
president, Chas. J- Garvin : secretary and treasurer, A. L. Wilkinson. 
The companv now has about fifteen hundred consumers and is sending 
out about 25,000,000 C. E. of gas per annum. 

The Goshen Rublwr Works, located on North Seventh street, was 
established in 1899 and incorporated in 1901, and from a small busi- 
ness furnishing employment to sixteen persons has increased until over 
one hundred and fifty are now on the payrolls. At this plant are manu- 



230 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

factured all kinds of mechanical rubber goods — bicycle tires, automo- 
bile tires, inner tubes, soit rubber specialties and insulated wire. The 
Goshen Rubber Works was incorporated by W". M. Page, H. H. Nill, 
Benj. Johnson, Alex. McDonnell, H. C. Zeigler. Jerry Hayes, all of 
Montpelier, Indiana, and F. D. Zeigler, of Goshen, Indiana. The above 
parties compose the present board of directors, with the addition of 
Mr. A. J. \\'hisler. The ofificers are : H. C. Zeigler, of Montpelier, 
Indiana, president: H. H. Nill, of Montpelier, Indiana, vice-president; 
Jerry Hayes, of Montpelier, Indiana, treasurer ; C. W. Kinnan, of Mont- 
pelier, Indiana, secretary: A. J. Whisler, of Goshen, Indiana, superin- 
tendent : F. D. Zeigler, of Goshen, Indiana, manager and assistant 
treasurer. 

The company is capitalized at $200,000, and an annual output of 
ni_it less than $250,000. The capacity is conservatively estimated at 
$500,000. From 100 to }6o people are employed. 

The Sanders and Egbert Company conduct one of the big manu- 
facturing industries of the county. They are wholesale manufacturers 
of hardwood lumber of all kinds, making a specialty of walnut and thin 
lumber. The plant and \ards of the inditstry at Goshen cover about 
forty acres, the great area of logs and lumber at once attracting the 
attention of strangers t<.i this as 'Uie of the important institutions of 
Goshen. Several hundred men are employed in the \arious depart- 
ments of the business, and about twenty million feet of hardwood lum- 
ter is put on the market each year by this firm. The business was or- 
ganized in 1880 as John li. Lesh & Co., later was known as Lesh, San- 
ders & Egbert Co.. and for some years has been conducted under the 
present name. D. A. Sanders is president and general manager. Haines 
Egbert is \ice-president and secretary, and John W. Egbert is treas- 
urer. 

The Hawks Furniture Company, Goshen, was organized in 1873 
by a partnership consisting of Cephas, Eleazer and Joel P. Hawks, to- 
gether with Daniel Fravel, for the purpose of manufacturing common 
bedsteads and tables. As the business grew it became necessary to 
enlarge the facilities, hence frequent additions to the plant were made. 
In 1884 the business was incorporated under the present name. In 
1S85 the frame buildings were destroyed by fire, entailing a loss to the 
company of over $25,000. With the spirit n\' enterprise which has 
ahvavs been a characteristic of the Hawks family, llie ruins were scarcelv 
cold before plans had lieen jirejiared for a plant on a more extensi\"e 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 231 

scale, and the present substantial brick factor}' buildings are the result. 
These were completed in 1886. 

From the manufacture of the very cheapest kind of furniture with- 
out being finished, the line of manufacture now consists of chamber 
suites in solid mahogany, bird's eye maple, and c|uartered oak, to- 
gether witli all that goes to make up a complete line of chamber furni- 
ture. 

The officers of the company are Edwin W. Hawks, president; 
Frank £. C. Hawks, vice-president: and Herbert H. Gortner, secretary 
and treasurer. 

The Goshen Rubber Company, established at Goshen in 190^, capi- 
tal stock $75,000, has become one of the important manufacturing- con- 
cerns of the city. The present officers are : B. F. Deahl, president ; G. 
B. Slate, secretary and treasurer and general manager; Geo. F. Alder- 
man, A'ice-president. The number of employes is about twenty per- 
sons. The annual business is placed at $60,000. The manufacture is 
a general line of rubber goods and rubber specialties, and the taking of 
special contracts, a booklet of sixteen pages being' given to a list of 
manufactured articles. 

The I X-L and Goshen Pump Company has a history dating back 
nearly half a century. The Goshen Pump Company was established 
in 1854 by William D. Platter, in 1878 was purchased by William L. 
Bivins, and in 1885 by the I X-L Pump Co. The I X-L Pump Co. was 
established in 1879 by James A. Arthur, Alfred Lowry and John Kor- 
rady, Jr. The two companies were incorporated under the laws of 
Indiana in 1885, and in 1895 were consolidated under a state charter. 
The present officers of the company are B. F. Deahl, president; Jnhn 
Hale, vice-president; George Mutschler, Sr., treasurer; James A. Ar- 
thur, secretary. The capital stock is $36,000, the average nunil>er of 
emploves is sixt_\-. and the \a1ue (if the annual output is one hundred 
thousand dollars. "Fhe main line of manufacture is now kitchen furni- 
ture, also including window and door screens, ladders, swings, steel 
tanks, etc. Recently the company began the erection of an addition 
to their finishing room, 48 by 112 feet, two stories and basement, of 
brick, with modern freight elevators ; also a brick building in which to 
install an electric lighting plant, and a hundred and sixty feet of modern 
lumber sheds. These improvements were made necessary by the rapid 
increase of business within the past lew years, an increase which the 



232 HISTORY OF ELKHART COL'NTY 

members of the company claim is due to their strict adherence to the 
mottoes: "Good Goods from Goshen." and "Prompt Service." 

The Goshen Churn and Ladder Ci)mi)any was estahlislied and in- 
corporated October 5. 1901, b}' the men who still figure as its officers: 
namely. J. B. Hager. president: Charles McDonald, \ice-president : J. 
B. Cripe, manager: Aaron Hartzler, secretan' and treasurer.- Tlie 
caj.ital stock is ten thousand dollars, and din'ing the bnsv season, which 
extends oxer the greater part of the rear. fn)m seventy to se\enty-fi\'e 
persons are emjiloyed in the manufacture of the " I'amous " churns 
and ladders. 

The Thomas- All '.right Compau}-. founders and machiiusts and manu- 
facturing hydraulic presses exclusi\e!y. was established in 1878 by Eli 
M. Allirigbt and George X. Thomas, was incorjwrated in 1891. and its 
present officers are E. M. Albright. ])resi<lent: Bella W'illhide, vice- 
president: ^\^ A. ^^'illhide, secretary and treasurer. There are between 
twenty and twenty-five employes, and the annual output is valued at 
seventy-five thousand dollars. .\ sixty-page catalogue descriljes the va- 
rious presses manufacturetl by this company, among theni being tank- 
age presses, lard presses, leather, baling, book and paper, ^■eneer, and 
many other ]jresses. all operated by hydraulic power. 

The Art Xo\elty Company of Goshen began business in July, IQ04, 
and in the past vear its sales have run u]> to fifteen thousand dollars. 
The output consists of plate, book and hat racks, Ix^lsters, screens, easels, 
cabinets, etc. William Ackerman is ]5resident : Woodson ^'. E. !Mes- 
sick. secretary and treasurer: J. C. Messick. \ice-])resident : and C. H. 
Messick. designer. 

A manufacturing business \alued between $75,000 and $90,000 
per annum is carried on at Goshen by the Boreal Manufacturing Com- 
pany, manufacturers of gio\'es and mittens. This business was estal> 
lished in Decemlier, 1903, by Louis J. Phillips, and the officers at pres- 
ent are Edw. S. Rogers, president an<l treasurer, and Nathan Ashcer, 
manager. The capital stock is ten th<"iusand dollars, and seventv-five 
persrms are employed. 

The Goshen Phannacal Company, manufacturing pharmacists and 
chemists, established their business at Goshen in 1890. at first as a part- 
nership between E. D. Chipman and A. E. Davis. Licorporation was 
effected in 1900. with a capital stock of $25,000. and the present ofii- 
cers are: Frederick Simpson, president: L. ^^'. \'ail. vice-president: 






cm 






, \ 


i 



' I 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COL-XTY 233 

E. D. Chipnian, secretary, treasurer and general manager. There are 
twelve employes, anil an annual output valued at $30,000. 

GOSHEN 01'ER.\ HOUSE. 

The new business block and theatre building, in course of erection 
in the summer of 1905 by the Sanders, Hay and Neidig Company, gives 
Goshen another institution of distinctive character and one of which the 
citizens may well feel proud. Erected at a cost, including real estate, 
of $75,000, with a frontage of iii feet and depth of 162 feet, three 
stories high, material of buffed Bedford limestone and buft'ed Roman 
mottled brick, the entire building is of unsually beautiful proportions 
and eft'ective design. The theatre, 67 by 162 feet, is on the ground 
llo(jr. Three sets of doors go from the street into the main \estibule, 
and two sets admit to the lobby. To the right as the lobby is entered 
is the pri\ate (jlfice of the theatre manager. Adjoining it is the 1k)x 
office, with ticket window opening into the lobby as well as the gallery 
passageways. Next to the 1x>x office, and with an opening from the 
foyer, is a check room for hats, coats, etc. Two sets of doors open 
from the lobby into a 10-foot foyer, at the right and left of which, 
are the stairways, each 4J/2 feet wide, leading up to the balcony. The 
stairs are very easy, the rise being six inches and the tread 1 1 inches. 

Col. J. M. Wood, the architect, has followed the classic style of 
architecture in the interior of the theatre and tends somewhat toward 
the Ionic. The decorative effects will be subdued, dignified and very 
artistic. The scheme of coloring will be a liarmony of delicate greens, 
blended with old ivory. All of the furnishings, including the draperies, 
carpets, etc., will be handsome and in keeping with the general character 
of the theatre. 

Over 1,100 people can be seated in the theatre. The main audi- 
torium measures 64 feet wide and 66 feet long. The height is about 
45 feet. The four proscenium boxes, two .on either side, seat six per- 
sons each and the two loges, one on either side, four persons each. The 
lx)xes are in the Ionic style, w^ith huge pillars as the di\i<ling line. 

The balcony seats 325 people. 

The gallery is of the regulation city kind, with Ijenches. 

The orchestra pit is ^y> feet wide with under stage entrance. 

The proscenium opening is 38 feet wide and 28 feet high. The arch 
itself is an elipse, 20 feet deep and 50 feet long, extending from the 
outer edge of the boxes. It \y\\\ be done in relief plaster, with magnifi- 



2M HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

cent decorations and pnne tlie attracti\'e feature of the tlieatre. Built 
of steel and lirick, the arch will, when the asbestos curtain is lowered 
and fire-pronf doors closed, cumpletely separate the stage from the 
auditorium, doing away with much of the danger of fire, as fires in 
tlieatres nearly always start on the stage. 

The architect has been careful to compl}- with the state law in de- 
tail. A general heating plant in the basement will furnish the heat 
fur the whole block. Steam will be used. All the plumbing is of the 
latest kind. In all there are seven exits, the lower floor, balconj' and 
galler}- ;dl ha\-ing openings into the alley on the south of the building. 
The law provides for jo inches of exit space for every lOO people. 
Col. \\'ood"s plans provide 40 inches, just double the amount required 
bv law. All apparatus for fighting fire will be ]ilaced in the theatre, 

A wide stairway south of the double room will lead to^ the upper 
floors of the entire block, wide corridors being arranged. The offices 
will be finished in metropolitan style, steam heated, electric lighted and 
with toilet rooms. The woodwork will be in oak, with red beech floors. 
There are several suites. On the third floor, over the double rooiu, will 
be a lodge room, with kitchen, buffet, 1>illiard room, card room, recep- 
tion ]iarlor, etc. 

Suspended from tlie liuilding by means uf heavy iron chains a 
wrought iron, highly ornamental, and prisiu glass canopy or porte 
cochere, will extend out over the full width of the sidewalk, affording 
shelter in front of the whole entrance to the playhouse. 

The Sanders. Hay and Neidig Company, through wdiose enterprise 
this fine building has been erected in Goshen, was incorporated Feb- 
ruary 6, 1905, W'ith the following well known business and financial men 
as its officers : George W. Hay, president : Daniel .X. Sanders, vice-presi- 
dent ; Harrv M. Sanders, secretary; and David W. Neidig. treasurer. 

The Kelly Foundr}- and .Machine Company was established in 
fioshen in 1887, Frank, Charles, Edward and Clark Kelly being the 
leading factors of the institution. The foundry was built on the pres- 
ent site on the east side in 1891, and in January. 1896, the business 
was incorporated under the above name. This is one of the most 
stable and prosperous manufacturing concerns of Goshen, over a hun- 
dred men finding employment in its various departmenls. 

The Goshen Buggy Top Company has a history of unsual growth 
and prosperity, having from time to time enlarged its plant, originally 



HISTORY OI' ELKHART COUNTY 235 

located in tlie uld woolen mill building, and very recently has added 
thirty thousand feet of floor space. Buggy tops and other component 
parts of buggies and carriages are manufactured. 

Tlie Goshen Veneer Company, whose plant is located north of the 
Lake Shore road and in the northwest quarter of the city, is a com- 
plete plant for the making of all kinds of veneering", from the rough 
logs to the finished prciduct. M. C. Dow is the president of the com- 
pany. 

Ladders, lawn and similar wood articles are made for a large 
trade liy the Goshen Manufacturing Company, whose capital stock is 
$125,000. A special line of doors is the product of the Goshen Sash 
and Door Companj'. Other concerns worthy of mention are the Banta 
Furniture Company, Goshen Cigar Company, Goshen Eyelet Company, 
Goshen Shirt Factory, Goshen Brick Company and the Goshen Motor 
Works. 

Elkhart. 

lake shore and michigan southern railroad. 

A city within a city would be an apt description of the aggregate 
institutions built up b\' the Lake Shore System in their relation to 
the city of Elkhart. Doubtless the majority of the people of the county 
do not realize the significance and true proportions of these institutions 
as a part of the county's business interests. A recent writer estimated 
the gross earning power of the wage-working population of Elkhart 
at one hundred and fifty thousand dollars a month, and of this great 
sum the Lake Shore Company paid ninety thousand to its employes 
living and centering in the city. This railroad paid to the city last 
year nearly five thousand dollars in taxes upon its assessed valuation 
of property within the city limits. There are hundreds of miles of 
side and switch tracks, 'lundreds of acres covered by the shops and 
yards, there is a \ast area of roof covering the different mechanical 
and operating departments, and on such a scale have the railroad of- 
ficials seen fit to build up this division point that a visitor could hardly 
gain an adequate idea of it all in several days of observation and in- 
quiry. 

Recently there have been constructed, about a nfile and a quarter 
west of the depot, what are known as the " hum]i " yards, at a cost 
of over a luillion dollars. Here are miles and miles of track and all 



236 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

the most modern facilities for handling freight trains. .Vt this point 
the thousands of cars of freight which come in from the east consigned 
to points west of Chicago, instead of being sent into the j-ards at Chi- 
cago, where delay, confusion and loss are always imminent, are here 
made up into the solid trains which go straight through to their destina- 
tion. .\mong other improvements at Elkhart is the immense new en- 
gine roundhouse, which, with its surroundings, cost over six hundred 
thousanv! dollars. Also a coal dock was installed at a cost of fifty-six 
thousand. Of tlie mechanical dejiartments there are the great locomo- 
tive shops, the rail shop, the (ira\it carpenter shops, the roundhouses, 
the foundry, the store de])artment, besides the \-arious administrative 
and operating departments located here. 

Mr. T. J. Dawson is the assistant superintendent at Elkhart, with 
oiifice in the passenger station. C. W. Cross, the master mechanic, 
popular alike with his subordinates and with the citizens, has been here 
five }ears. Joseph Chidley is assistant master mechanic, and Oscar 
Antz is general foreman of the sbojis. Other officials are D. Brennan, 
master black.smith. W'nliam (ira\it, master carpenter, Samuel Bates, 
yardmaster, ^^^ J. Diehl, of the stores department, F. E. Kilpatrick, 
supervisor of signals, and J. .S. Rice, road painter. 

The im]X)rtance of the Lake Shore Railroad's share in the industrial 
interests of Elkhart may be understood when it is stated that at least 
a fourth of the city's ixjpulation depend <lirectly or indirecth' for em- 
ployment and means of livelihood u])on the \arious departments of the 
railroad. The number of employes and the monthh- pavroll in sijme 
of the departments are given as follows; 

Locomotive shops, 550 employes, monthly payroll $30,000 

Foundry, 65 employes, monthly payndl 3,000 

Roundhouses, 200 employes, monthly payroll 10,000 

Rail shops, 63 employes, monthly payroll 3.57S 

(iravit shops (June 30) 320 employes, monthly ]jayroll 12,000 

There are four hundred engineers and an equal number of fire- 
men of the Michigan Southern division under the jurisdiction of the 
roundhouses at Elkhart, and sixty-live per cent of these live or make 
their headquarters at Elkhart. Each day one hundred and si.xty en- 
gmes are cared for at these roundhouses. ,\n estimate of the total 
number of railroad employes at Elkhart is conservative at fifteen hun- 
dred men. And, as one of the officials enthu.siastically states, thev are 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 237 

all high-grade American citizens, many of them owners of their homes, 
and permanent law-abiding citizens of Elkhart. 

Another interesting fact is that there has never been a strike. The 
employes are all organized, there being the unions of machinists, boil- 
ermakers, blacksmiths, carpenters, painters, molders, engineers, firemen, 
etc. 

The Elkhart Carriage and Harness Manufacturing Company, Elk- 
hart. In 1873 F. B. Pratt and Wm. B. Pratt, his son, began the manu- 
facturing of vehicles under the firm name of F. B. Pratt & Son, and 
inaugurated the plan of selling direct from the manufacturer to the 
consumer without the use of the middle man or jobber. In 1882, Mr. 
F. B. Pratt's second son, (jCO. B. Pratt, came into the business and the 
concern was known as the Elkhart Buggy Company. In 1888 a stock 
company was formed to be known as the Elkhart Carriage & Harness 
Mfg. Co., the stock being taken by Frederick B. Pratt, Wm. B. Pratt, 
Geo. B. Pratt and Otis D. Thompson. In 1891 F. B. Pratt sold his 
stock to Geo. B. Pratt and Wm. B. Pratt. In 1894 Mr. Thompson 
sold his stock to Geo. B. Pratt and Wm. B. Pratt and the entire stock 
is held by Geo. B. and Wm. B. Pratt at this time, 1905. The plan 
of selling a manufactured article is the same to-day as it w'as when 
the business started in 1873 — by advertising in papers and magazines 
and sending out catalogues illustrating and describing everything that 
the company makes, which includes a large line of both vehicles and 
harness. This business is all carried on through correspondence. The 
company employs from 300 to 500 people, shipping annually from 5,000 
to 9,000 finished \ehicles. The officers of the company are Wm. B. 
Pratt, president and secretary, and George B. Pratt, \-ice-president and 
treasurer. 

The Buescher Band Instrument Co., at Elkhart, manufacture the 
well known " True Tone " band instruments. 

The Bue.scher Mfg. Co. was organized about ten years ago with 
a capital stock of $15,000. In 1903, November, the capital stock was 
increased to $60,000. Between the years 1898 and 1903 there were 
emplo}-e(l Ijy that comijany an a\erage of about 150 men with an out- 
put of $150,000 each year. In April, 1904, the conipanv was re- 
organized under the name of tlie Buescher Band Instrument Co., with 
F. A. Buescher as ]iresident and J. H. Collins, secretary and treasurer. 

The factory and general offices of the Chicago Telephone Supply 
Co. are located at Elkhart. This business was established in 1896 



238 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

l3v A. J. Briggs, and has de\'elopecl into une of the largest manufactur- 
ing concerns of the county. Its capital stock is $500,000, its annual 
output amounts to $600,000 in value, and 400 persons are furnished 
employment. The present officers are: President, G. A. Briggs; sec- 
retary and treasurer, H. C. Randall; general manager, A. J. Briggs. 

Another representati\-e manufacturing industry at Elkhart is the 
Elkhart Bristol Board and Paper Co.. which was established in 1904. 
The capital stock is $60,000 and the officers are H. A. Metzger, presi- 
dent; C. E. Frye, treasurer, and A. E. Metzger, secretary. The out- 
put consists of hristols, covers, tough checks, document and folding 
box board, the amount being about fifteen tons per day and with an 
approximate value of fifty dollars per ton. There are thirty employes, 
and the plant is valued at one hundred thousand dollars. 

On May i. 1902, the Davis Acetylene Company commenced the 
building of acetylene gas generators at Elkhart. They equip entire 
towns as well as individual stores, factories and houses with illumina- 
tion the ecjual of gas or electricity, and their apparatus is available in 
places where gas plants and electricity could not be supplied owing to 
the size of the village. The Davis Acetylene Company is successors 
to Davis and Price, Davis and Flint, and the Carbolite Construction 
Company, the business having been carried on in Chicago' previous to 
its removal to Elkhart on the date mentioned. The present officers 
are: Augustine Davis, president; John T. h^arl. vice-president: A. C. 
Collins, secretary and treasurer, and J. H. Birch, superintendent of 
factory. The plant, consisting of two substantial brick and stone build- 
ings with office, together with the machinery, is valued at thirty thou- 
sand dollars, not including the value of patents and good will. The 
employes numlwr forty-five, while the output during the past year 
was 1,173 generators with a value of $60,000. 

The business of the Dr. Miles Medical Company, at Elkhart, ex- 
tends all over the United States, besides a considerable export trade. 
This medical manufacturing plant is one of the important concerns of 
the city, furnishing employment to al>out one hundred and fifty per- 
sons, whose aggregate salaries in 1904 tntaled $99,144. In proof of 
the completeness of the establishment, it may be stated that an exten- 
sive printing plant is run in connection with the other departments, 
where all the printing for the conipany is done. The business was in- 
corporated in 1885, and is capitalized at twenty-five thousand dollars. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 239 

Dr. Franklin Miles is president, George E. Compton is vice-president, 
A. H. Beardsley secretary, and A. R. Beardsley treasurer. 

The Gram' Dispensary is another institution built up in Elkhart 
b)- Dr. ]\liles. It \vas established in 1880, and incorporated in the fall 
of 1904 with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, and the following 
officers: Dr. Franklin jNIiles, president; Franklin Miles, Jr., treas- 
urer and secretary. The number of assistants, comprising physicians, 
druggists, correspondents, etc., runs from fifty to seventy-five at dif- 
ferent seasons of the year. 

The object of the Grand Dispensary is generally to treat patients 
by mail, especially those who reside in districts at a distance from com- 
petent medical aid, or have tried local physicians without success. Their 
practice extends into e\-ery state and territory in the United States and 
many foreign countries. 

The firm of Burrell and Morgan arc proprietors of the Elkhart City 
Mills, which they jiurchased in 1900. In 1903 they took over the Har- 
vest Queen Mills, one of the well known old flouring mills of Elkhart, 
and in J905 bought the grain elevator at iMisbawaka, and at the pres- 
ent time operate all three institutions, "ilieir product consists of fancy 
winter wheat flours. A. H. Burrell and D. B. Morgan comprise the 
firm. 

In the field of manufacturing enterjjrise the C. G. Conn musical 
instrument factory stands not only in first place at Elkhart, but as the 
greatest establishment of the kind in the world. This business has grown 
steadily from 1876 to the present, when hundreds of skilled workmen 
are every day engaged in the large factory at Elkhart in turning out 
what art known to world-wide fame as the Conn ^^'onder band instru- 
ments. The life of the founder of this institution and his identification 
with the welfare of Elkhart are given on other pages of this volume. 

The Edward Kelly Foundry Company was opened for business 
at Elkhart in Noxcmber, 1899, the large plant being located in the 
Allendale addition to Elkhart. Edward Kelly is the head of the insti- 
tution. As iron founders, machinists and pattern makers, their prod- 
uct consists of boiler fronts and toiler castings, grate and furnace cast- 
ings, besides the building of various kinds of special machinen,-. 

As a carriage manufacturing center Elkhart deserves rank well 
up among other northern Indiana cities. Besides the Elkhart Car- 
riage and Harness Company, mentioned elsewhere, there are the Noyes 
Carriage Company and the Indiana Bugg}- Compan_\-. Tlie manufac- 



240 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUN-TY 

lure of paper, one of the oldest industries of the city, is further repre- 
sented by the ConsoHdated Paper an.d Bag Company, Union Paper 
Company and the Elkhart Paper Ccjnipany. DeserA'ing of mention 
among the representative manufacturing concerns of the city are also 
the following: Barger Brothers, Sidway Manufacturing Company, 
Straus Mattress Factory, Kenyon Medical Company, Acme Cycle Com- 
])any, Garden City Stationery Company, Kuhlman Electrical Company, 
the Foster-Kimball Machine Company, and the National ]Manufacturing 
Company. 

x.\pp.\XKi:. 

The Coppes, Zook & Mutschler Company are proiirietors of Nap- 
panee's largest industry, coxering an area of some fourteen acres of 
ground. The company manufacture furniture and are merchant mill- 
ers and grain dealers. Factory A. is used for the manufacture of exten- 
sion and library tables: Factory B, for chamber suites, sideboards and 
chiffoniers; and Factor}- C, for kitchen furniture. 

Eniploying a capital of oxer $400,000 it becomes a great factor in 
the pi"osperity of the town. 

They have in all their various industries some 260 employes, with 
an annual pay-roll that reaches into the thousands of dollars. 

In addition to the furniture business and sawmill business, the 
firm of Coppes, Zook & Mutschler Company arc merchant millers and 
grain dealers. The steel elevator holds 30.000 liushels r)f wheat. The 
splendidly e(|uipped mill has a capacity of 250 barrels every twenty- 
four hours. The product of this mill is the x'cry best, and the firm not 
only enjoys a local trade through this part of the state, but for many 
years has had a large export trade m tiu: Clasgow market. The \alue 
of the mill's product last year, in round numbers, was ab<:)Ut $350,000. 
The members of the company are b'rank Copiies, president; John 
1). Coppes. \-ice-president : Daniel Zook, secretary: Albert Mutschler, 
treasurer ; the other two members being H. E. Zook and Chas. ]\Iutschler. 

The company's history dates from alxjut Alay i. 1902, when the 
firm of Coppes Bros. & Zook and the Na])panee b'urniture Company 
consolidated. The latter C(jmpany was engaged exclusively in manu- 
facturing tables and kitchen cabinets. The first named company was 
engaged in tlie sawmill business, lumber, planing mill, building mate- 
rial, and manufacturing boxes, and merchant millers and grain dealers. 
The Ijox business, retail lumber. ;md i)laning mill business, including 
building materials, were turned o\er to an(.>tber local institution on the 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 241 

consolidation, and tlie new coni])an\' took up its present lines as enu- 
merated above. 

The Union Canning' Company, at Xappanee, whose president and 
general manager is Arthur A. Laughlin, has a plant whose capacity is 
24,000 cans per day, with storage for 15,000 bushels of onions and 150 
tons of cabbage. With Mr. Laughlin the stockholders are S. D. Coppes, 
the banker, and Hartman Bros., general merchants. Mr. Coppes is 
treasurer, Mr. Tobias Hartman is the vice-president. 

Besides this plant the company owns 80 acres of onion land south- 
east of town. 

The pickle industr\ is one which is at the present time being pushed. 
The west wing of the factory is 30 x 90 feet and contains eleven salt- 
ing vats (with the exception of two on the outside) each holding one 
thousand bushels. Aside from these, the company has a station at Syra- 
cuse and one at Leesburg, each station with a capacity of six thousand 
bushels of pickles, though the one at Syracuse is being enlarged this 
season on account of the increased acreage. The company began the 
pickle business here in 1900, at Syracuse in 1904, and at Leesburg in 
1905. The Nappanee acreage is 125, Syracuse 80, and Leesburg 60. 
The amount paid out to the farmers h.ere and at the other stations will 
be in excess of $12,000 this year. 

Brown Brothers Manufacturing Company, at Nappanee. Inhlders 
of all kinds of galvanized steel tanks, was established in a small way 
about six years ago, by J. W. Brown. The plant has been greath- en- 
larged since then, there are now twenty office employes liesides those in 
the shops, and the annual value of the output at present is over thirty 
thousand dollars. 

Gorge L. Lamb is manufacturing at Nappanee a fine line of screens, 
easels, music cabinets, book shelves, hat racks, umbrella holders, tabou- 
rettes. wall pockets, brushes, etc. His force of employes has reached a 
total of forty in the busy season. His business in 1904 was in excess 
of thirty thousand dollars, and the rapid increase during the present 
year tias caused him tn construct a large addition to his plant. 

George Freese's Sons. Nappanee, are manufacturers of high grade 
separator butter, ice cream and artificial ice, wholesalers of fancy eggs 
and poultry, retailers of coal. The business was established in Elkhart 
by the late Hon. George Freese in 1857. The business was afterward 
moved to Goshen, and was brought to Nappanee in 1881. The firm 
has a splendid farm of 120 acres just north of town about three miles. 



242 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

on which they have blooded dairy stock of their own, where they feed 
a large number of hogs, and where they raise grain and food stuffs 
for their teams. They operate creamery separator stations at Milford, 
Wakarusa, Oak Grove, Burketville, Cromwell and Jonesville. The milk 
is hauled to these stations by the farmers and is separated, the cream 
being hauled by wagon or shipped to Nappanee by rail, while the milk 
is returned to the farmers, who haul it home for feeding purposes. Aside 
from the farmers employed in hauling milk from their neighborhoods, 
the firm has in their employ six teams of their own, and twenty-five men. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY '243 



CHAPTER XVI. 
THE ELKHART COUNTY PRESS. 

Trade hardly deems the busy day begun. 
Till his keen eye along the sheet has run; 
The blooming daughter throws her needle by 
And reads her schoolmate's marriage with a sigh ; 
While the grave mother puts her glasses on 
And gives a tear to some old crony gone. 
The preacher, too, his Sunday theme lays down, 
To know what last new folly fills the town; 
Lively or sad, life's meanest, mightiest things, 
The fate of fighting cocks, or fighting kings. 



— Sprague. 



Always co-operating with and almost coincident in progress with 
modern civiHzation is the press. \\"e can see a band of hardy pioneers 
hewing their way into the primeval forests, erecting their rude cabins, 
clearing off the timber and beginning the cultivation of the soil, becom- 
ing grouped into some sort of community living, with a store or trad- 
ing post in the midst; the building of a church for the spiritual reviving, 
a school for their children ; and not much later, the introduction of 
the printing press and the distribution of a primitive journal of local 
and foreign affairs. And with the first copy of the newspajjer the pub- 
lic finds a voice through wliich the general opinion may be heard, the 
community is bound together by another tie of ecjual strength with the 
church and the school, and thereliy man becomes more responsible to 
man and social progress is assured. It may he apropos of our subject 
to remark that, whereas the church and the school have as a rule, and 
by their ver}- nature, had their origin and support in the community at 
large, the press, which we cannot set down as a factor of civilization 
of less importance than the church or the school, has been founded 
and conducted through private enterprise and private capital. And 
those journals which haxe been most successful, Iwth from a financial 
point of view and as factors in promoting the general welfare, have been 
those which mo.st closely identified them.selves with the community as 
a whole, which have been most perfect weather-vanes of public senti- 
ment, and which have made the public interest their interest. 

It is a trite remark to say that the newspaper has exerted an in- 
calculable influence in the upbuilding of our country, but nevertheless 



244 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

most true, and worth recalling- often lest the truth he forgotten. To 
measure accurate!)- the influence which the press of Elkhart county 
has exerted uiKm her history is. of course, in-ipossihle, but the count- 
less uses to which the political, social, business and industrial forces of 
the county ha\-e put the newspapers indicate to even a casual observer 
the importance of the press as an institution of modern society. This 
county as well as the entire nortliern section of the state has felt the 
intellectual stimulus of a newspaper for nearly three-quarters of a cen- 
tury, and from the one sheet published in all this section of country 
during the early thirties, and then, a few years later, to the one or two 
thinly nourished irregular hebdomedals issued in Elkhart county, at 
present twelve or fifteen are pointed to with pride by the citizens of 
the county as furnishing a record of general activity and progress — 
the best indexes of the character and resources of the pe(.)ple and the 
county. 

The first northern Indiana pajjer to circulate in this county was 
the Northzixstcrn Review and Si. Joseph Infelligeneer. puljlished at 
South Bend for the first time in November, 1831. This journal is of 
particular interest since it was the result of the literary and mechanical 
enterprise of two men, J. D. and J. H. Defrees, who, the latter in par- 
ticular, were closely identified with the early history of Elkhart county. 
Says Mr. J. H. Defrees, in regard to this paper: " In the fall of 183 1 
J. D. Defrees and your humble speaker established a printing press in 
the village of South Bend, a town that had been laid off but a few 
months previous by Messrs. Hahn and Taylor and A. Coquillard, in 
St. Joseph county. Erom this press we issued a sheet called the North- 
■li'esfeni Pioneer, a name indicative of the fact that it was the first and 
only paper issued northwest of Piqua, Ohio, north of Indianapolis or 
west of Detroit. At this day an enterprise of this character would seem 
foolish ; for the red men of the woods outnun-ibered the pale faces almost 
two to one. But being full of ardor, and having selected St. Joseph 
county for our future home, we labored assiduously to bring it into 
notoriety, and you must pardon n-ie for saying that I believe this one 
circumstance did more to cause immigration to flow in u])on us than anv- 
thing else save the beauty of the country." 

The claim of priority made by Mr. Defrees must be qualified since 
we have also the statement that the Pottaivottomic and Miami Times 
of Logansport, established in .\ugust, 1829, was the first paper north 
of the Wabash. But certainly the paper of the Defrees brothers was 



HISTORY Ol- ELKHART COUNTY 245 

among the first, and furnished the medium through svhich the legal and 
other notices were published for all the counties around, as far west 
as LaPorte. 

Mr. Defrees, in continuing his remarks alxjut his pioneer newspa- 
per enterprise, relates an anecdote which shows, among other things, 
tile lofty character in which the press of early days was estimated, and 
which is worth repetition : "A short time after we got the press in 
operation, about midwinter, a young man, apparently about the age of 
nineteen or twenty years, came into the office and remarked tliat after 
awhile he wanted to get a piece in the news, and would pa}- fur it in 
maple sugar. Inc^uiry was made of him abcjut the character of the 
article which he wished pulilished. .After considerable hesitanc}- and 
confusion he said tliat he intended soon to get married, and wanted, 
when it took place, to have it printed in the paper. Quizzing the young 
man awhile, and finding out that he and his intended blue-eyed com- 
panion lived on Elkhart prairie, we told him we made no charge for 
publishing news of that character, and in due time the notice was sent 
to us. That young man, notwithstanding that he seemed to lie a little 
verdant in reference to rules of printers, made one of the best citizens 
that lived on that beautiful prairie." 

On May 2;^. 1832, the Defrees brothers mo\ed the office of the 
Pioneer to the second story of a Ikjusc in South Bend, once the tavern 
of Mr. Lilly, and from that new location sent forth their paper under 
the new title of St. Joseph Beacon, ajid thereafter its columns had more 
St. Joseph county local color and less of the surrounding counties. The 
Beacon continued on its career at South Bend until 1834, when it was 
moved to White Pigeon, and already in the meantime Mr. J. H. De- 
frees had come to Goshen. 

But the first paper to be actually published in Elkhart countv was 
the Goshen Express. This came into being, it seems, as a result of the 
political stress of the times, and propagandism of various sorts has 
been the birth-cause of hundreds of journals both liefore and since. The 
Express was edited by C. L. IMurra}- and .\.nth(iny Defrees, and a few 
months later the local men of influence and the supporters of the Jack- 
son brand of politics bought a press and instituted an opposition pajier, 
tmder the editorship of Thomas H. Bassett, which was called the Goshen 
Democrat. Tlie first number of the Express was issued on January 
28. 1837. and the Democrat first appeared to public eye in the follow- 
ing September. Neither paper was self-supporting at the time, and 



246 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

lived only as a political organ and by contributions from its friends. 
The financial panic of that period also smote heavily the journalistic 
aspirants. The Express survived with difficulty for several years. Mr. 
C. L. Murra}' and A. Defrees dissolved partnership on the Express 
in May, 1837, and thereafter Mr. Murray was sole proprietor and edi- 
tor, and then the paper was under a company ownership; finally the 
])lant was moved to Elkhart, thence, in 1845, to Kosciusko county, 
where i( sojourned thereafter. 

The Goshen Democrat not only justly claims sect)nd place in order 
of establishment among the newspapers of this county, but also is far 
and away the oldest journal from the point of continuous publication 
in the county and one of the oldest in the state. Its existence is prac- 
tically unbroken since 1837. Ebenezer Brown and Thomas H. Bassett 
were the men who founded and gave vitality and vigor to the enter- 
prise. The Democrat is almost coexistant with Goshen as a town, since 
the first issue appeared only a few days after the incoi"poration of Goshen 
was effected. Mr. Bassett continued as editor for about two years, 
when he was succeeded by Dr. E. W. H. Ellis, who published it for 
about ele^■en years. M. B. Hascall being his associate part of the time. 

At the " Golden Anniversary " of the Goshen Democrat, in the 
issue of May iS, 1887. a commemorative editorial narrates the consecu- 
tive history of the paper up to that time and therewith a number of facts 
of general interest. 

" To-day," saj's the article in question, " the (ioshen Democrat 
enters upon its fiftieth year. A little history of its existence written 
from memory may be interesting to many of its readers and patrons. 
In the early part of 1837 the late Ebenezer Brown Ixjught out an old 
office in Penn ^'an, New York, and shipped it to Niles, Michigan, by 
water and from there bmught it to Goshen by wagons. Thomas H. 
Bassett, a brilliant but somewhat eccentric young man, was also brought 
here by ]\Ir. Brown to take charge of the editorial department of the 
])aper. It took eighteen months to complete the first \x)lume, on ac- 
count of the many difficulties it had to encounter for want of sufficient 
support. It ran along until about 1840, when the immortal Dr. E. W. H. 
Ellis, one of the brightest intellects of the day, came here from South 
Bend and was placed at its head. He remained with it until 1850, when 
he was appointed state auditor and removed to Indianapolis. About 
1846 Colonel M. B. Hascall was a partner with Dr. Ellis for a year or 
two. About 1849 W. R. Ellis (also a partner) left here and went to 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 247 

Sontli Bend, where lie published an abohtion paper for awhile. In 
1850 the office passed into the hands of Enierick & Bouton for a time, 
and from them to Hon. Robert Lowry, who controlled it up to 1858, 
when he sold it to Earle & Heath and finally to J. T. Bennet. From 
1850 to 1873 it passed through the hands of several parties, the first 
being the present proprietor, and then to Beane & Osborne, \^^ A. 
Beane & Company, then back to Judge Lowry, and then again to the 
present proprietor. La Porte Heffner, Colonel AI. B. Hascall, Murray 
& Beane, and lastly to W. A. Beane, who has been sole proprietor since 
1878. and who has been intimately connected with it more years than 
any man living or dead. We commenced with it in 1844. and with the 
exception of a few rears have lieen with it ever since, a fraction over 
forty-three years. 

" Fifty years agu to-day we were living in Benton and was eight 
years old and going to school to ' Old Dantrow," as everylx)dy called 
the ■ schoolmaster.' The name teacher was not yet heard, in that neck 
of the woods at least. Several years later we commenced our career 
in tiie office. The older men around Benton at that time have all passed 
away, and the btiys of that day are now men far ad\-anced in life and 
are such men as John W. Irwin, R. D. and E. D. Irwin. David Darr, 
Ira and A. C. Jackson, the Weddells, the Longacres, the Butlers, the 
Kiblingers. Here in Goshen were W. A. Thomas, A. L. Hubbell, Mil- 
ton Mercer, Joseph D. Kno.x, John L. Crar}-. H. ^^^ Bissell, Smith 
Chamberlain, John L. and Abher Blue, all of whom were in the very 
flush of young manhood. 

" We would delight to see the long ixil! of employes, compositors, 
devils and other ' operatives " that have been connected in one way or 
.another since 1844. From memory we recall a few of them, as fol- 
lows : Charlie Dunbar, J. S. Castle. Albert West. Alfred Wheeler, N. 
C. Devine. .Scott, Washington Lightfoot, Henry K. Tliomas, John 
Cook, William Stanclifif, C. \\'. Stevens, Horace Harper, Wesley Crary, 
Thomas and Gardner Bouton, General Reuben \\'illiams. Grove Ben- 
nett, \y. C. and J. .\. Blaine. \\"illiam Coffin. H. W. Smith, Everett 
.\1ibott. Henry Furness, William McCoy, D. G. Lowry, Theodore Moore, 
Ben. Hattle, Napoleon Heefner, Guy Malcom, H. S. Fassett, E. M. 
Herr, James H. Banning, Am. Shilling, Joe Mikesell, Frank and Harris 
Alurray, \\'illiam Jernegan, R. D. Jillson, Milo D. Chamberlain, Eugene 
Martin, W. H. Norton, Luther W'aterson, Frank Rudy, W. W. Scher- 
ling, D. H. Wood, C. E. Beane, W. A. Shamory, Vallandingham, Ran- 



248 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

dall, Joseph Waugh. L. H. Thompson, Fred Hascall, Aaron WilHams, 
Thomas B. Starr, E. L. Barlow. Flemming. Frank W. Beane,, J. A. 
Beane, Samuel Connell. Rolliii Detrees, Sam Brenneman, Ed Black- 
man, John Devor, Lewis Carpenter, Casper Hett, Frank Pierce, Elmer 
McDowell, Charles Safford, John S. McDowell, Lafa)-ette Byron, Fred 
,\dams and ^^'arren Hohn." 

A\'ith the death of the venerahle editor and publisher, W. A. Beane, 
in 1893, the Democrat passed under the control of his son, Joseph A. 
Beane, who had been connected with the practical work and manage- 
ment of the paper since 1880, and who has since maintained the Demo- 
crat at the high standard set by his father. At the time of his assum- 
ing control the Democrat was a weekly, as it had been during all its 
previous history. From 1893 to 1897 Mr. Beane served his fellow 
citizens as postmaster, at the same time directing his journal, and in De- 
cember, 1897. he established the Daily Democrat, at that time the third 
daily in the city. A few years later the Daily Times was purchased by 
the A'raw. and alwut coincident with that consolidation tl'ie Democrat 
came nut as a semi-weekly, and has so continued. 

The mechanical equipment nf the Democrat is high class and mod- 
ern in t'\erv particular. .'V linotype machine, procured at an expense 
of sc\eral thousand dollars, with one operator, performs the work 
winch formerly busied a half dozen compositors. Power presses, a 
complete job dejjartment and all things needed for expeditious work 
maintain the Democrat in its leading position among the newspapers 
of the count}' and state. The editorial force of tlie Democrat consists 
of the following: J. A. Beane, editor ;ind publisher; \A'. V. Fink, city 
editor ; Will S. Davis and C. E. Kettring, reporters. Charles E. Smith 
is foreman of the press rooms and D. .\fton Letherman is linotype oper- 
ator. 

The Goshen Xeies-Times, under this title, has existed only since 
the consolidation in 1902 of the Goshen Times and the Goshen Nciw. 
The A^cu's-Tiiiies is owned by a st(ick company. O. W. Kinnison is 
]iresident of the company, O. ^L Kinnison. x-ice-jiresident and circula- 
tion manager, and Martin Starr is manager and editor. The city editor 
is P.. G. Whitehead, assisted by Frederick W. Morrice and Claude Cor- 
nell as reporters. Fred Menhert is foreman of the bindery, the foreman 
of the ]jress room is Chester Leas, foreman of the job department is 
Harry Lyons, and newspaper foreman Mose Cotherman. The entire 
force necessarv to collect news, to edit the different departments, to 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY ^49 

manage the ixisiness, to circulate the issues, and to perform the mechan- 
cal work, contains the names of thirty persons. The Nezm-Timcs is 
not only one of the foremost papers of northern Indiana from the point 
of view of subscription list and general equipment, but exerts a potent 
influence in public and business affairs. Its editor. Martin V. Starr, is 
one of the clean-cut, enterprising business men of Goshen, and it is 
due to his executive and organizing ability that this journal has ex- 
perienced such rapid and substantial progress in all its departments. 

The mechanical equipment of the Nczt's-Timcs has kept pace with 
the best improvements in the modern art of newspaper printing. That 
wonderful invention, the linotype, is a feature of this establishment antl 
puts in type all the ordinary news matter. Then there are full sets of 
all kinds of movable types. Seven presses, three job presses, one pony 
press, and three large cylinder presses, are almost constantly rumbling 
in the effort to turn out the large bulk of printed matter used in the 
daily and semi-weekly editions of the ]iaper and for business purposes. 
The bindery department, the only one in Goshen, is one of the best in 
this section of the state. Gas and steam power are employed for power. 

An important institution in connection with the Nr-a's-l^iiiics is the 
bookstore, which takes up im'st of the ground floor of the Ncws-Tiiiics 
building. Everything in the book line can be found on its shelves and 
an extensive line of stationery and stationer's supplies are carried in 
stock. The picture department is an attractive feature and a choice dis- 
play of art novelties are carried. The wall paper and picture framing 
departments are in the hands of capable men and careful attention is 
given to orders. All of the periodicals can be found here and it is, 
in truth, a Twentieth Century liookstore. 

The history of the Goshen Nncs. up to the time of its consolida- 
tion, was thus given in an historical edition of that paper in 1901 : 

From a struggling- weekly in 1882, the News Printing Com- 
pany has grown to its present splendid proportions. The compan\- now 
publishes a daily, mid-weekly and weekly, besides conducting a large 
job printing establishment, book bindery and bookstore. Modern ma- 
chinery is in use in all of the departments and from a force of two in 
1882, an increase has been made to twenty employes at the present time. 

February 9, 1882, the first number of The Goshen IVcckly Ncii's 
was issued, the name having been changed from Tltc Independent. In 
size it was a six column quarto, being the largest paper in the county at 
that time. The plant which forms the nucleus of the present large 



250 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

establishment had had quite a history prior to the time when TIic Nczw 
was first issued from the press. J. P. I'rickett started the first paper 
with the original outfit in January, -[875, at Syracuse and it was known 
as the Syracuse En.tcrprisc, an eight column folio. Thos. A. Starr, the 
founder of Tlic News, was employed in tlie mechanical department of 
the paper. Within a few months the plant was moved to Milford, by 
Iv J. Mc Alpine, who had secured the ownership. The name of the 
paper was changed to The Independent. In 187(1, *J^''- T. Ager and 
(). .V. Rhine, both of Goslien. purchased the plant and mo\-ed the office 
to this city, where it was continuetl as the Goshen Independent. After 
four }"ears s]3ent in Ohio m the newspaper business, Mr. Starr returned 
to Goshen in 1882 and purchased the plant on which he had worked 
in previous years and this formed the nucleus of the present large plant. 
The same old hand press, the same old type and furniture, that had 
done duty down at Syracuse, printed the first copy of The Xe-ies. A 
steam power press, new type and furniture were at once added to the 
plant and within six months the circulation had sho\\n a remarkable 
increase. Prior to the time of starting the /^(7;7_v Ne-ies, the circulation 
of the weekly had reached nearly 2,500. 

Coming from Hicksville, Ohio, in 188,^. where he had disposed of 
his interest in a thriving weekly, Mr. M. \'. Starr, the present editor 
and manager of the News Printing Company, purchased an interest in 
the business with his brother and on December lo. 1883, ^^^^ Goshen 
Daily Nezvs made its initial Ijow to the public and for eighteen years 
has been working for the advancement of the city. In 1884, the build- 
ing which The A'ezcs now occupies was erected and with the business 
office a small stock of goods and stationery was installed. \\'ithin a 
short time the job printing establishment of Starr Bros, was purchased 
:ui(l embodied in the newspaper plant. In 1886. an addition to the 
building was erected and a book bindery was installed. Two years later 
a further addition to the building was made, to the alley in the rear, 
and the building is now 166 feet in depth. .As the business increased 
more machinery was added from year to year. In December, 1894, a 
Thorne type-setting machine was installed and at present the plant is 
modern in every respect. The Mid-]]'eekly was launched this same 
year. 1894. The mechanical part includes three cylinder presses, job- 
bers, folding machines, and a full complement of type and furniture 
necessary in the conduct of the large business which The 
NeiM enjo)s. The building is heated by steam and lighted by 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 251 

electricit}-. The editorial rooms are arranged with the idea of time- 
saving and are ven,- convenient. The l>indery is located on the second 
lloor and modern machinery is in use in that department. 

The historv of the Goshen Times, the other component member of 
the consolidation, is thus given : 

The Goshen Times was founded in 1855. E. W. Metcalf, the first 
proprietor, sold his interest to Dr. E. W. H. Ellis and C. W. Stevens. 
Copeland and Cole secured the plant in June, 1862, and in November, 
1863, Cole was succeeded by H. W. Smith. William Al. Starr pur- 
chased the paper in 1867. .\ half interest was purchased by Dr. Henry 
J. Beyerle in 1877, and Mr. Starr retired in 1880, Dr. Beyerle becom- 
ing sole owner. Associated with him in later years were his two sons, 
A. R. and L. H., and finally the paper was transferred to Lincoln H. 
Beyerle. The Times issued a daily in 1882, but suspended in a few 
weeks, and was revived August 17, 1886. In September, 1899. \V. H. 
Ragan and ^^^ S. Gard purchased the Times plant, Mr. Card retiring 
in November. 1900. 

The history of the Elkhart Tnilh from its inception is thus set 
forth in an issue of the TriUli in igoo: 

Truth was founded October 15, 1889, by Hon. C. G. Conn, the 
noted band instrument manufacturer of Elkhart. A large job printing 
establishment was installed at the same time in connection with the 
newspaper plant. It was issued as a morning paper for several months 
until the Sentinel was absorbed, when it was changed to an afternoon 
paper, remaining as such ever since. The principles of Truth were 
announced in the first issue ; Democratic in politics, devoted to the inter- 
ests of workingmen, freedom of speech, and freedom at the polls, and 
it has always strictly adhered to these principles, advocating and lieing 
successful in bringing about many local reforms. 

On the day of its first issue, October 15, 1889, Truth appeared in 
size as a six column folio, with an eight jaage edition upon Saturdays. 
Owing to an increase in advertising patronage, within a month of its 
first issue, the size was increased upon November 19, 1889, to a seven 
column folio. A full telegraphic service was being used, and again, 
upon December 10, 1889. the paper was enlarged to an eight column 
folio. 

At the time of the issue of the daily, the JVeckly Truth was also 
established, and its publication has continued ever since. The circula- 



252 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

tion is largely throughout Elkhart county. On December lo of the same 
year the headlines read, " Elkhart and Goshen," and both cities were 
covered by carrier boys. 

Wednesday, February 12, i8qo, the Daily Sentinel was absorbed 
and Truth commenced to be issued as an afternoon paper, with a Sun- 
day edition issued at midnight Saturday. Since that date the paper 
has been published in the afternoons, but the Sunday edition was soon 
abandoned. Upon April i, T899, the size of Truth was increased to a 
six column folio and is now published in that form. 

The paper was issued the first two> years from an of^ce in the 
Blackburn block. December 15, 1891, the plant was moved into the 
commodious quarters now occupied by the paper at No. 308 South 
Main street, which was built especially for newspaper and publishing 
purposes. 

An attractive front discloses the home of Truth. The business and 
editorial offices are commodious. The first floor, rear, contains the com- 
posing rooms and bindery. In the basement three modern cylinder 
presses, besides several jobbers, are iii constant use. The stock room 
occupies the front of the basement. 

The Bristol Banner, one of the dominant Republican organs of the 
county and with the exception of one and perhaps more unimportant 
and ephemeral sheets the only paper Bristol has ever had, was founded 
in 1877, as a local newspaper and neutral in politics, by Cyrus F. Mos- 
ier, father of the present editor, and Frank G. Shutts. Later, when the 
entire control of the paper came, by purchase, into the hands of Mr. 
Mosier, the Banner was at once placed in the ranks of Republicanism 
and since 188 1 has been a vigilant and stanch supporter of the Grand 
Old Party and the principles it represents. 

Bristol as a prosperous town owes much to this enterprising jour- 
nal, which has been conducted with an e}-e single to the permanent 
growth and welfare of the beautiful little commercial center on the 
St. J()sci)h. The history of the Banner is that of one of the few suc- 
cessful newspapers. It has twenty-five hundred weekly readers, its col- 
lunns are considered an excellent advertising medium Inr liusiness con- 
cerns in all parts of the state, and for a town of six hundred people 
the Banner's long and successful career has not often lieen excelled. 
The present editor, in view of the present success nf his ])aper, takes a 
pardonable pride in what has Ijeen accomplished an<l at the same time 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 253 

does not hesitate to acknowledge that his enterprise, like all similar 
newspaper ventures, has had its ups and downs and varied fortunes. 
One of die verv creditable parts of the Bar.iwr's record is the fact of its 
continuous ownership in one famil} , and also that the plant to-day 
occupies the same room in which the paper was founded twenty-eight 
years ago. The Mosier family still own the business, and the Banner 
is edited and published by Hon. H. H. ]\Iosier, son of the founder. 
The Banner has played an impt)rtarit part in the politics of this sec- 
tion of the state, and both C. F. Mosier and his son, H. H-. ha\'e been 
honored by their party by being sent to the Indiana general assembly, 
H. H. ]Mosier Ijeing the present representative of Elkhart county. The 
personal histories of the father and son will be found elsewhere in this 
volume. 

The new spaper history cif j\iillersbui-g begins with the Press, wdiich 
was founded about 1872 and published by W. S. Unger, now deceased. 
Tliis public print did not long survive. 

On August 24, 1876, was founded the Millersburg Enterprise, by 
Joel P. Heatwole, now an ex-congressman of Minnesota. When Mr. 
Heatwole moved from Millersburg in 1878 the Enterprise dropped into 
the newspaper limbo and was never brought to light again. 

The ]\Iillersburg Grit, the present journalistic sheet which repre- 
sents Millersburg with so much public .spirit and effective leadership, 
was established in 1892. by W. S. Taylor, who in the following year 
was succeeded by W. B. Barnard. Mr. Barnard, a sketch of whose life 
appears elsewhere in this volume and who is one of the enterprising 
business men of his town, has continued the Grit u]) to the present time 
and has succeeded in infusing more than ordinary interest and jour- 
nalistic spice into its editorial make-up. Tiie Grit is a weekly, and 
stands for the best interests of the town and county. 

In Middlebury Joel P. Heatwole, after leaving the journalistic field 
of Millersburg, founded in 1878 the Middlebury Record. Newspaper 
history is seldom continuous, and about 1883 we find that ^liddlebury 
IS represented by the Independent, which about 1886 came under the 
ownership of H. W. Hi.xon. J. W. Blakemole edited the sheet two 
years for Mr. Hixon and then bouglit the entire concern. Soon after- 
ward J. R. Rheubottom bought the Independent and maintained its 
hebdomeflal functions until 1893. when he went to ^\'akarusa, however. 



254 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

leaving" his son in charge of the Indcpcndcut for some time. Since the 
Rhenbottoms left \\'. O. Eldridge has published the ludcpciidcut. 

The newspaper history of New Paris ended in a tragedy. On 
March 25, 1899, '^'^'^^ issued the first number of the New Paris Record. 
Its editor and publisher was E. L. (iraham, who was evidently quite a 
capable young man, and the Rccurd was a clean and creditably edited 
paper. He performed practically ah the duties of the publication alone, 
and one day, about a year after he began, the paper, some of the citizens 
found him dead in his press room. Pie had been almost instantly killed 
by the lever of his hand press flying" back and striking him in the head. 
Since that sad event no newspaper has been started in the town. 

Wakarusa has a more extensive list of newspaper enterprises than 
the other smaller centers of the county. In May, 1874, the Wakarusa 
Sun shed its first rays on the people of that community. Dr. Owen St. 
■Clair, who died in 1877, was its proprietor, and it was published on 
Thursday, a five-column folio. On his death the concern went to a 
Mr. Brubaker and then to John Firestone, who conducted it about a 
year, after which it seems to have gone intO' total and permanent eclipse. 

Then there was the Wakarusa Clipper. Not often do the archives 
of journalism present such a queer piece of editorial enterprise as this. 
Several copies are still extant. Volume I, No. 4, being dated January, 
1875. It was issued monthly, subscription price twenty-five cents dis- 
tinctly stated as " in advance," and the editor and publisher, whose 
-name appears on the title page is J. H. \Vonderlin. The Clipper con- 
iained four pages, each five by six inches, and in make-up and reading 
matter it deserves a tmique place in Elkhart C(iunty journalism. Squire 
Harrington sometimes lent his assistance in setting type, and he relates 
that when the supply of '" lower case " ran out the letters needed were 
placed in caps; as a result we find something like this — " ciTizeNs." 

In 1893 was founded the ^Vakarusa Tribune, by Mr. J. R. Rheu- 
bottom, already mentioned as ha\'ing" been pre\-iously connected with 
the Middlebury Independent. His son, IX ,\. Rheuliottom. shortly after- 
ward joined him, and now is the active head of the enterprise. The 
Tribune is a seven-column quarto, showing excellent mechanical make- 
up, and ably edited, making good its claim to jirint all the news. Its 
circulation is about twelve hundred copies each v>cek, a \z\'\ large circu- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 255 

lation for the size of its home town. Ed ]Molenhour is foreman and 
several persons assist in the work of pubhcation. 

The Wakarusa Citi::.cn was estabhslied Ijy C. T. and C. A. Smith, 
the first issue being dated January 3, 1902. It continued under Smith 
Brothers until the following November, when Mr. Rufus Ehret became 
its financial manager. After continuing this arrangement until April, 
1903, Mr. Ehret took full control of the enterprise and has since filled 
the editorial chair with the exception of three months. The Citizen 
is a weekly news-sheet, independent in politics. Mr. Ehret is ably as- 
sisted by Miss Eatbie Kline, who has a thorough understanding of the 
multitude of duties connected with the publication of a country news- 
paper. 

Founded only a few jears after the town, and keeping pace with 
its wonderful material development and growth, the Nappanee Nczcs 
is one of the most progressive and high-class newspapers in northern 
Indiana. The original germ of this enterprise may be traced to the 
old Wakarusa Suit, already described. The Sun plant was mo\'ed from 
Wakarusa to Nappanee by Anson B. Smith, who, on March i, 1878, 
issued the first number nf the Nappanee Weekly Nczcs. Mr. Smith 
retired after a year, and he is now a publisher in an Ohio town and 
also an ex-mayor of the place. The onus of the editorial position then 
devolved upon Mr. Whitman and E. D. Stoner, the former of whom 
is now station agent for the B. and O. road at this point. When Whit- 
man retired William H. Holdeman became Stoner's partner, and on 
July 29, 1880, Holdeman appears as sole editor and publisher. The 
paper was then issued as a five-column quarto. 

In January, 1888, Mr. Holdeman's proprietary interest was pur- 
chased by G. N. Murray, the son of the famous Elkhart county editor. 
C. L. Murray. Mr. Murray had just come from the business man- 
agement of the Goshen Nezus, and the first issue of the Napannee paper 
under his name was that of February 2d. Tlie jVrTcVs- in the meantime 
had been made a large folio sheet, and Mr. Murray changed it to a 
six-column quarto. Mr. Murray, whose interesting biography with 
that of his father appears elsewhere in this volume, has continued in 
successful control of the News to the present writing. He has a two- 
story building devoted almost entirely to his newspaper interests, having 
a first-class Ixjokstore in connection. The official force of the Nezt's 
is as follows : G. N. Murray, editor and publisher ; J. R. Murrav, assis- 



260 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

lanl editiir; :\liss Meta Frazier, 1)uokkeeper ; Miss Mary T. iMurray, 
cuiniinsitor: and Gale Best and Clara Swihart, apprentices. One of the 
must credital:le special issues ever gotten (Uit l)y Elkhart county jour- 
nals is that of the Xappanee Xc-ics entitled " Industrial Nappanee," 
which speaks more highly than words can of the finished workmanship 
and the editorial skill of the proprietor of the Nc^i's and his able assis- 
tants. 

Xap]xuiec supports another newspaper under the title of the Nap- 
]janee .-Itk-aiicc. This was established in 1892 l)y \\\ H. Holdeman, 
who soon sold it to a Mr. Stevens, from whom, in turn, its control 
])assed to D. O. Batchelor, who has been editor and publisher for the 
past seven years. • 

We liave already noticed several newspaper enterprises which 
came to an untimel}-, or timely, end, although they have either served 
as liroken links in the chain of journalistic enterprise, or, phoenix-like, 
some other paper has arisen from their ashes. An excursion into the 
newspaper graveyard of Elkhart county cnaliles us to decipher the 
o1>ituanes of several defunct press organs, altliough several, ha\'ing 
existed for a more rir less eplicmeral jjurpose, are no longer remembered 
by name even bv those vitally interested. It has been said that it is 
the easiest thing in the world to start a newspaper. That there is a 
sad sec|uel to that pert aphorism is evident from the fact that, taken 
bv and large,, the continuous]}- and really successful papers are always 
much in the minority as compared with all in existence. It is to fulfill 
the purpose of this history that we here make a few notes concerning 
several of these journals. 

Tlie exact status of the XortliL-ni Ind'umiaii in the early newspaper 
In'storv of the county cannot be definitely ascertained. There are a few 
bound copies in the possession of Editor Beane of the Democrat, and 
it is from these that this partial history is compiled. No. 23 of Volume 
T is dated June 25, 1840, and is published by L. P. Johnson. C. L. 
Murray assumed control with the issue of November 28, 1840, and 
he turned over the editorial duties to another representative of the own- 
ers in August, 1841, on his appointment to the ofiice of postmaster. 
The following issues had the name of C. W. McKenzie as editor. But 
in the following November, on his removal from the postmastership, 
Mr. Murray resumed the editorial management. Then early in 1842 
Thomas G. Harris became editor. In June, 1842, it began to be issued 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 257 

twice a week. The last luiniljer nf the Iiuiianian (at least of those pre- 
served by :Mr. Beane ) is dated April 4, 1844. It seems that during 
at least a part of the period of existence of the Iiuiianian the Goshen 
Democrat had suspended publication; for, in the issue of April 15, 1841, 
the editor of the Indianiaii mentions the reappearance of the (loshen 
Democrat under the charge of Dr. lillis, and reminds the latter, with 
well sustained dignity, that Goshen and vicinity could not support, by 
actual pa'tronage and w ithout jirivate contriinitions, more than one heb- 
diiniedai. 

The Goshen U'cdcly Adi'crtiscr issued its first number November 
21. 1844, Brunson and W'augh being publishers, Init the further career 
of this enterprise is not known. 

To oppose the rising tide of Whiggism in this cnunty Dr. E. W. 
H. Ellis published, during the campaign of 1S40. the Kimlcrliool; 
Dutclintan. which was purely political in character. 

The Democratic Vuion was established in 1867 by D. W. Sweet, 
and continued for some years as one of the organs of the Democracy 
at lilkhart. 

Ab(.)ut 1S80 the Elkhart County Journal came into existence at 
Elkhart under the proprietorship of Hawk and Christophel. 

The business of the Mennonite Pufjlishing Companv was established 
in the city of Gbicago in Januar)'. 1864, by Jiihn ]'". b'unk in an indi- 
x'idual capacity, the periodical issues being the Herald of Tnttli and 
Der Hcroid dcr IValirlieit. In the sjjring of 1867 the originator of the 
business moved to Elkhart, with a complete newspaper outfit, and set 
up and operated the first cylinder press ever brought to Elkhart. In 
the fall of the same year he associated with himself his brother, A. K. 
Funk, and the Ixisiness was run under the firm name of John F. Funk 
and Brother. In 1875 incori)oration was effected under the name of 
the Mennonite Publishing Company. At the beginning the work of 
the establishment was performed by three or four persons, while at 
the present time the company does about ninety thousand dollars' worth 
of business annually. The present officers are John F. Funk, president ; 
A. B. Kolb, vice-president; A. K. Funk, secretary and treasurer, and 
James A. Bell, general manager. The pulilications are all of a religious 
character. The first 1x)ok was " The Martyrs Mirror." a history of the 
religious persecutions of several centuries ago, published in both Eng- 
lish and German. The complete works of Menno Simon, on the Men- 
nonite faith and jiractice, were also published here. Church hymnals 



258 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

and other religious books form the Inilk of tlieir output, besides the 
various periodical publications, such as the Herald of Truth, weekly, 
the Mcnnonitischc Rimdschau. Aveekh-, the Ynung People's Paper, 
monthly, the Words of Cheer, weekly, and the Sicnday-School Lesson 
Helps and Gcnnaii Quarterly. The combined circulation of the papers 
amounts to fifteen thousand weekly, and 38,000 lesson helps are pub- 
lished each quarter. 

Before concluding this chapter some mention is due the hian who 
may fitly be termed the poet laureate of Elkhart county, whose verses, 
with their lilting meter, their intimate and appealing human nature, 
and true Indiana flavor, ha\e been published in the metropolitan press 
and have obtained a wide acquaintance all over the country. Harry 
S. Chester was born in 1862, in VVestfield, Massachusetts, came to Elk- 
hart in 1 88 1, served as city clerk of Elkhart four years, was coimty 
clerk four years, as one of the active Democrats of the county was 
sent a delegate to the National convention in 1892, and is now engaged 
in the monument business at Elkhart as a member of the firm of Cook 
and Chester. This tells the superficial aspects of his career, but his 
memory will rather be bound up with his poetr}% and the expression of 
his own amliition is doubtless best told in this simple dedication : 

" If this little book impart 
Joy unto a single heart, 
Better far for me than gold 
Recompense a thousand fold." 

From ]\Ir. Chester's little volume published a few years ago, en- 
titled " When the Light Goes Out, and Other Poems," we select two 
poems whose local associations make them especially appropriate in the 
history' of Elkhart county. 

OUT AT DUNLAP'S STATION. 

Makes a fellow kind 'er blue walkin' through the place — 

Never see a happy smile on a single face, 

All the joy an' pleasure of other days is dead; 

All the hope an' pluck an' grit an' energy is fled ; 

Hopes of better days ahead free from pain an' care 

Long ago have vanished like bubbles in the air, 

Those poor souls ain't livin' — jest exist from day to day — 

Out at Dunlap's Station where the paupers stay. 

"They're to blame for bein' there?" — Mebbe not. my friend — 
Troubles sometime chase a man way up to the end. 
Fortune ain't distributed in an equal way — 
Some are sick an' poor in youth an' poorer when they're gray ; 
Others allers have their health an' never strike a bog. 
An' fortune comes to them as slick as fallin' off a log, 
Who's to blame for all the woes its pretty hard to say, 
Out at Dunlap's Station where the paupers stay. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 259 

No man knows jest allers how misfortunes come about — 
Lots of men have lost their grip in helpin' others out. 
Some'll pray for God's own poor all penitent an' meek 
An' squeeze a piece of money till you hear the eagle shriek. 
'Taint no wonder they get rich an' keep away from debt, 
Grabbin' everything in sight an' keepin' all they get — 
Rather than be built like that I'd jest start out today 
An' go to Dunlap's Station, where the paupers stay. 

The world is tightin' shy of 'em an' leavin' 'em alone — 
Ther's no one takes much notice of a pauper's sob and moan; 
They've lost their independence an' they have no guidin' star 
An' the world ain't goin to study what a pauper's feelin's are. 
But there's a recompense for them that's equal to the best — 
The world can't put a price upon a sweet eternal rest. 
An' sleep'll come to them some time an' clear the clouds away — 
Out at Dunlap's Station, where the paupers stay. 

THE OLD ST. JOE. 

Oh, the old St. Joe— 
Oh, the dancing, glancing waters — how they ripple as they flow. 
Softly singing liquid symphonies far sweeter to my ear 
Than the melody of Mozart or the songs of Meyerbeer. 
How the summer sunlight shimmers on its bright reflecting breast, 
As it rolls along forever in a spirit of unrest. 

Oh, the old St. Joe— 
Oh, the wealth of blooming bushes and of willows bending low. 
And the pretty, perfect paradise, the island set in green. 
With its verdant shadows waving in the water's silver sheen ; 
And the graceful swallows twittering and sailing light and free, 
Dipping down to kiss the wavelets as they dance away in glee. 

Oh, the old St. Joe- 
Ob, the shady swimming ba\'OU where the boys were wont to go — • 
Oh, the happiness of childhood, oh, the joys we held so dear. 
The pleasure of disporting in the w-alers bright and clear — 
Forgetfulness maj' claim all else, but time can never dim 
The memory of a boy's delight — a good, old-fashioned swim. 

Oh, the old St. Joe- 
When Luna's beaming beauty sheds a soft refulgent glow ; 
Oh, the music of the waters as they improvise a trill 
In the running obli.gato to the plaintive whip-poor-will: 
And the gentle zephyrs humming through the waving willow trees — 
How they fill the soul with echoes of a hundi"ed harmonies. 

Oh. the old St. Joe- 
Like the future generations that arc yet to come and go. 
Forever and forever shall its waters flow away 
In a never failing current as they flow along to-<Iay. 
.A.nd lovers of old nature's brightest work will learn to know 
The many matchless beauties of the old St. Joe. 



260 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 



CHAPTER XVn. 
THE MEDICAL AND LEGAL PROFESSIONS. 

I hold every man a debtor to his profession ; from the which as men of course 
do seek to receive cowitenance and profit, so ought they of duty to endeavor them- 
selves by way of amends to be a help and ornament thereunto. 

— Bacon. 

Formerly the learned ]3rofessi(ms were considered to be the law, 
medicine, and divinity; lately they have been considered as includini^ 
also mechanical engineering, teaching, music and the fine arts, etc. 
Elkhart comity has always Ijeen well represented in these professions, 
though in an early day many of the incumbents would hardly be called 
learned. Elsewhere in this volume, in the chapter on churches, we have 
described the work and mentioned many representatives of the ministry, 
so that this chapter may be devoted in almost its entiretv tn those who 
have espoused vocations of the law and medicine. 

MEDICINE. 

The earlv followers of .\esculapius, in Elkhart county as elsewhere. 
were in the main honest, practical and sympathetic men. Without the 
advantages of broad technical training such as are within reach I'f the 
medical aspirant of the present day, without the vast heritage of accumu- 
lated experience, analyzed and classified for application to every morbid 
condition of mankind, the pioneer physician had to compensate for his 
narrowness of professional vision and skill by a pervasi\'e svmpatlu' and 
inspiring cheerfulness. Most of the practice was done by doctors who 
followed their profession as an adjunct to the more necessar\- — to their 
own welfare — occupation of tilling the new soil or merchandising or 
any other of the trades or activities by which the early settlers gained a 
living. There were, proportionatel}-. fewer " town doctors," and there 
was little matter of distinction between the medical class and any other 
body of citizens, for, as w-e have seen elsewhere, men's wants were fewer 
and simpler in those days and were provided for by each individual 
for himself, cfimmunity work not yet being specialized. Some of these 
" farmer doctors " were college graduates and men of consideral^le at- 
tainments, though necessarily rough in exterior, and, although handi- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 261 

capped for want of appliances, were perhaps as fully competent to com- 
bat the diseases incident to those conditions as our more modern phy- 
sicians are to combat our more modern diseases. For it is a well known 
scientific truth that many of the refinements and advantages of modern 
civilization are really violations of the natural laws, which bring about 
their ov.'n diseases or punishment. 

The diseases of tliose times were principal!}" malaria caused by 
lack of drainage in the county: bronchitis and pneumonia, due to ex- 
posure incident to their mode of life, and diarrhtea and dvsenter\' in- 
duced by their coarse fare. Contagious diseases on account of the 
isolation of the settlers had little opportunity to spread. Heroic treat- 
ment was accorded the patients of old-time doctors. There is an in- 
stance mentioned, not in this county, however, where a patient sufifering 
from a "blocked bowel" was given one hundred grains of calomel at 
a single dose, and. strange to say, there was recover}- from Ixith the 
ailment and the dosage. Dr. A. C. Jackson, of Goshen, who is. in 
point of }ears in continuous practice, the oldest physician in the count}-, 
witnesses to the extensive use of caloniel by regular physicians, and 
also of quinine, which was generally used for the very prevalent attacks 
of fever and ague, and when quinine was not procurable calomel was 
the ready substitute. The custom of bleeding, which originated hun- 
dreds of years ago and for long years was a co-ordinate branch of the 
barber's trade along with shaving and hair-cutting — hence the striped 
barber pole — was not }-et in complete desuetude fifty years ago. Dr. 
Jackson has in his possession the old lance which he used when he 
began the practice of medicine nearly sixty years ago. Blistering was 
a method of treatment considered \-ery efficacious for some cases. In 
cases of childbirth the old women of the community were summoned, 
and physicians were seldom called. 

The earliest ph\'sicians traveled about on horseback. There were 
no telephones by which medical assistance could be summoned to re- 
mote parts of the rural district, and hence, up to recent years, the sight 
of a flying horseman hastening to town was a signal to the neighbors 
that some one was ill in the horseman's family. An hour or so later 
back would come the physician, muffled up beyond recognition during 
the severe winter season or bespattered with mud from hard riding- 
over the miry thoroughfares which then prevailed throughout the county. 
There -vvere no carriages, and if there had beeii thev would have l)een 
useless, because of the rough and mudd}- roads, all of which were 



262 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

scarce!)' more than trails cut through the woods. The distances trav- 
eled in reaching the sufferers was long, because the roads wound about 
so much, and often the delay in getting the doctor was so great that 
the patient was dead before he could arrive. The roads had to be cut 
around ponds and marshes and other obstructions, and Dr. Jackson 
tells of having to go four miles around a swamp in order to pass from 
the home of one fanner to that of another, while straight across the 
distance was only half a mile. Sometimes after heavy rains the streams 
would be swollen and bridges floated away, which necessitated a long 
detour in order to arrive at the destination. But numberless and arduous 
as were the difficulties which beset the pioneer practitioner — and only 
a few of the hardships have been mentioned here, so that the picture 
is quite inadequate to reveal the hard life of our first doctors — it is tO' the 
lasting honor of the rugg^ed character and faithful devotion to duty of 
those men that no call for help, matter not where it was or what its 
answering meant in the wa}' of personal hardship, was refused. 

The pioneer physician of Go.shen was Dr. Johnson Latta, uncle of 
the late Dr. M. M. Latta, who died here in 1899. Dr. Johnson Latta 
is described as being a large, well built, finely proportioned and rather 
handsome man, with a wholesumeness of character and a physical vital- 
ity which made him a welcome visitor at every home in the county. 
After practicing a numhcj- of years and reaching an advanced age, he 
retired from practice and returned to his old home at Hawpatch, La- 
Grange county, where he dieil. His nephew. Dr. M, ]\I. Latta, suc- 
ceeded him, about 1840, and continued uninterruptedly until 1897. He 
was not only a physician but a man of affairs and figured prominently 
in the history of his city and county. 

Contemporaries of Dr. Johnson Latta were Dr. William [Matchette 
and Dr. Joseph Grover, and these three comprised the " regular " jihy- 
sicians of this vicinity for some years. Also there were several quack 
doctors, among whom was a Dr. Parks, who came here from Llawpatch, 
and who afterward took a regular course of medicine. 

Tlie medical profession had no regulations at that time, neither 
imposed by the state nor, to any large degree, inherent in the fraternity. 
The strict code of professional ethics which now go\'erns with greater 
power than any system of law had l>een scarcely formulated at that time. 
The state took nO' cognizance whatever of the profession as such. There 
were no requirements as to length and extent of preparation. Any 
one who had enough faith in his own knowledge and skill could set him- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 2iia 

self lip in practice, and after reading one or two medical books some 
individuals would offer their services toi the healing of mankind. Herbs 
and roots supplied the materia medica which, according to various 
formulas, were decocted by certain persons for the healing of man and 
beast, and several of these so-called " herb doctors " have achieved dis- 
tinction in the county and were relied upon, in the treatment of certain 
cases, with as implicit confidence as ever imposed in the regular prac- 
titioners. 

When traveling about the country on horseback the physicians 
carried their medicine, surgical instruments, etc., in a saddle-bag, which 
was an important part of their ecjuipment. Dr. A. C. Jackson was one 
of these saddle-bag physicians, and, now at the age of eighty odd years 
and still practicing, he forms one of the interesting characters that 
bridge the past with the present. He began practicing in 1847, -^^ 
Galveston, now Clunette, in Kosciusko county, but a year later returned 
to this, his native county. He formed a partnership with Dr. ■\I. ^I. 
Latta, upon the dissolution of which, in 1861, Dr. Jackson practiced 
Avith his brother William until the death of the latter from blood pois- 
oning in July, 1862. Continuing liis practice until 1870, Dr. Jackson 
was then interested in banking for about ten years, since which time 
he has continued his place in the profession. Dr. Jackson obtained his 
professional education at Indianapolis Medical College in the winters 
of 1843-44-45 while his father was a member of the legislature. 

One of the early " farmer doctors," whose professional skill as well 
as his personal character are still well remembered about Goshen, was 
Dr. Jacob Cornell, who Ijegan practice about 1848. He lived five miles 
northeast of Goshen, and his familiar figure, mounted on a good horse, 
was seen almost daily in some part of the large territory covered b}^ 
his practice, and he continued making his professional calls on horse- 
back even in later years. He died at Goshen in 1884. 

The first physician at Elkhart was, of course, the revered Havilah 
Beardsley, the founder of the town. His prominence in industrial and 
civic affairs, and especially his absorbing duties connected with the pro- 
motion of the town at the Forks, gave him little opportunity for active 
practice, so that it is in other departments of this history where his 
name and career are most appropriately considered. The first doctor 
devoting particular attention to the piX)fession was Dr. Kenyon, who 
settled in the A'illage in 1834. 

Another physician whose activity as a citizen and as a man of 



2<.U HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

affairs has left a greater impress upon the history of his county than 
!iis professional career was Dr. E. W. l\. Ellis, the one-time county 
auditor, pmniinent in Elkhart county joiu-nalism and politics. Bom in 
Xew ^'ork state in 1815. the son of a iloctor, educated for the pro- 
fession under e.\:cellent preceptors and schools and receiving his diploma 
at ihe age of nineteen, he came to northern Indiana in 1X36 and in 1838 
arri\ed in Elkhart, where, according to his statement, at that time every 
liouse was a hospital. He had known as many as ele\cn ])ersons to he 
sick in a single room fifteen feet square. Even liefore coming to this 
county lie had ser\ed in pulilic office and had Ijcen c<innected with \-arious 
newspaper enterprises, and his actixity in this county was mainly identi- 
fied with puhlic affairs. He served as county auditor, later was elected 
runlitor of the state, had an interest in one way or another with nearly 
e\-ery paper published at Goshen up to forty years ago. and. taken by 
and large, his is one of the most versatile and interesting careers that 
adorned the early medical, profession in this county. 

Lack of space forbids anything like a complete account of the early 
Ijhysicians of this county and their eventful careers. Most of the old- 
time doctors are dead, or have retired and left the field to a younger 
generation, although their early work and beneficent influence will always 
form au important part of the storv of tlevelopment and progress of 
the county. A contemplation of the li\-es of these noble jiioneers recalls 
these lines from Carleton's "Country Doctor": 

"But ]jerhaps it still is lietter that his bus-\' life is done: 
He has seen old yiews and patients disappearing one bv one." 

One other character we must mention in this connection, as <.)ne 
who has sur\i\-ed the flight of )-ears since jiioneer times, and who, still 
!i\-ing, re])resents in person rm epoch of which the present generation 
can fonu only an inadequate conception. Dr. William W. Wickham, 
though no longer connected with the acti\-e work of his profession and 
spending only a ])art of his lime in this county, began practicing at 
Goshen in 1847. ^^'^ ^^''S born in Xew ^'ork state in 1820 and gained 
his medical education under ]3rivate preceptors while following a me- 
chanical trade for a livelihood. He is one of the best known old citi- 
zens and doctors of Elkhart county. The names of many other earlv 
representatives of the medical profession will be found in the histories 
of the different towns of the county and in various connections, for. as 
has lieen indicated, the early physicians were oftentimes equally promi- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 205 

nent or even more so as citizens ami in other walks of life than in their 
own profession. 

It will niterest the present constituency of Elkhart county medical 
men to know that a flourishing medical society existed here in the 
forties. Of the Union ^ledical Society of Northern Indiana — for such 
was the name of this body — E. \\". H. Ellis was president and AI. M. 
Latta secretary when the third semi-annual meeting was held at the vil- 
lage of Benton in No\emijer. ]847. The principal paper and discus- 
sion concerned the use and abuse of mercury. There was also an 
address on non-paying patrons. At the meeting of the society in June, 
1848, at Goshen, Dr. Chamberlain read a paper on the nature and causes 
of congestion. Dr. Jackson spoke on the influence of cold in producing 
disease, and Dr. Parks read a paper on pneumonia. The ofticers chosen 
for the year were: E. \\'. H. Ellis, president: R. ^^'illard, vice-presi- 
dent; M. M. Latta, recording secretary: P. Henkel, corresponding sec- 
retary: S. B. Kyler. treasurer: and Chamberlain. Jackson. \\'illard. Eow- 
ler, Kyler, censors. 

Nearly sixty years after the meetirigs just recorded we find the 
Elkhart County Medical Society with a splendid membershi)). embrac- 
ing practically all the physicians of the county and through their unity of 
action and counsel maintaining their professional \\'ork abreast of the 
l)henomenal progress which the science is making during these latter 
years. During the regular season of 11)04-05 the society held ten monthly 
meetings, at each of which some iiuportant subject was taken up by 
some member and treated in writing: this followed by the report of a 
case exemplifying the subject matter of the paper : and then a general 
discussion open to all members. The oiificers of the society during the 
past year were: I. W. Short, president; J. A. Cook, vice-president; 
A. C. Yoder, secretarv-treasurer : I. J. Becknell, C. ]\r. Eisenbeiss and 
A. C. Yoder, censors. 

The present membership of the Elkhart County Medical Society, 
including practically a representation cf the personnel of the jDrofession 
in the county at this writing, contains the following names : 

At Goshen: E. E. Ash. I. J. Becknell, J. A. Cook, S. A. Edmands, 
Frances M. Ihrig, A. J. Irwin. H. K. Lemon, D. L. Miller, B. F. Whit- 
mer, G. A. Whippy, W. B. and M. K. Kreider, A. C. Yoder. W. O. 
Vallette, dentist. 

At Elkhart : B. V. Kuhn, J. W. Kistner, R. L. Lockwood, H. A. 
Mumaw. R. M. Murphy. W. A. Neal, I. W. Short, G. AV. Spohn, G. 



2*«6 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

V. Washljurne, J. A. Work, ]". N. Dewey, M. M. Eckleman, F. C. 
Eckleman, .\. L. Fisher, J. C. Fleming, C. \\'. Friiik, C. D. Goodrich, 
R. O. Haggerty, G. B. Hoopingarner, G. W. Hauenstein. William Gabel, 
A\'. H. Thomas: and dentists, S. M. Cummings, Frank Adams, M. 
I'ounder, J. F. Werner, G. E. Zinn. 

Bristol: C. E. Dutrow and H. M. Hall. New Paris: C. M. 
Eisenbeiss, Samuel Eisenbeiss, James Mathews, S. \\'. Walters, G. M. 
Brothers. Nappanee : M. D. Price and W. A. Price. Millersburg: 
^^■. H. Rieman and J. A. Snapp. Wakarusa : A. S. Sensenich, N. C. 
Bauman, S. C. \\^ngner, LaMar Knepple. Middleljury : B. ¥. Teters, 
M. A. Far\-er. 

THE ELKHART COLINTY BAR. 

Tht; Elkhart county bar has never lacked men of distinction by 
reason of sound ability, depth of learning, forensic skill, and active, 
virile character. Such men have honored the profession, have upheld 
the dignity of law and its institutions, and have been the strongest guar- 
antee of healthful progress in all the lines of human activity. So broad 
is the field of modern jurisprudence, so peculiar and vital its expres- 
sion and practice, that its ablest representatives are by no means con- 
bned to one locality, nor any one locality necessarily without several 
leaders in counsel and court practice. It is not to our purpose here to 
state the distinctixe merits of the \arious representatives of the county 
bar both past and present, but rather to mention briefly those who have 
represented their profession, if not in an eminent degree, at least with 
that share of success and honor which has made their names worthy of 
record in the history of the county. 

A new country demands administrati\e and executive ability rather 
than technical legal knowledge and skill, and for this reason regular 
])racticing attorneys play a small part in the bistoiy of the county except 
in connection with such offices as required legal training for the proper 
discharge of their duties, and even there common sense and. impartial 
judgment were more important than a heart-to-heart acquaintance with 
Blackstone. The circuit court which convened for the transaction of 
Vmsiness arising in Elkhart county in November, 1830, was presided 
over by William Latta and Peter Diddy, associate judges. The former, 
who was born in 1801, and died in 1847, came to this county in 1828. 
He was one of the most successful business men in the county, but was 
not trained in the law. The same was no doubt true of many of the 
incumbents of judicial and administrative offices during that early period. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 2t)7 

One of the first acts of Judge Charles H. Test in assuming the office 
of president judge of the sixth judicial circuit in April, 183 1, was to 
admit to practice in his court three members of the Michigan bar. A 
few moriths later the bar of the county was increased by the admission 
of the following: John Sevey, Elisha Egbert, D. H. Colerick. M. Ray, 
William J. Brown and J. S. Newman. Among the early lawyers who 
had their offices at Goshen were Henr}^ Cooper and Joseph L. Jernegan. 
They are the onlv law firm mentioned in the old Goshen Express of 
1837, a notice of dissolution of partnership appearing in one of the issues 
of that year. 

In a paper entitled " (ioshen Sixty Years Ago," read before the 
Historical Society by P. 'Si. Henkel, the following paragraphs give us 
an interesting view of the courts and some members of the bar during 
the forties. 

" The old court house, now a thing of the past," says Mr. Henkel, 
" stood in the middle of the public square, then unfenced. A short 
sketch of this venerable old building may not he uninteresting at this 
time. Jacob Studebaker had the contract for its building. For this pur- 
ix>se he wended his way to Dayton, Ohio, where he took exact meas- 
urement of the Dayton court house and duplicated the same for Elk- 
hart county. 

" The first courts were held semi-annually, spring and fall, and 
were limited to two weeks each term. Samuel Sample of South Bend 
was the presiding officer, with two associates, Joseph Beane and Will- 
iam Latta. The legal fraternity of that day consisted of Eben Cham- 
ix;rlain, Thomas G. Harris and Michael C. Daugherty, while Jonathan 
Liston and Joseph L. Jernegan of South Bend were among the regular 
attendants of the court. A separate court for the transaction of pro- 
bate business was held at regular intervals and presided over by Sam- 
uel P. Beebe of Elkhart. Dr. E. W. H. Ellis was auditor and held his 
office in a small wooden building just north of the public square. El- 
bridge Chamberlain filled the office of recorder and kept his records in 
a small building on the west end of a lot owned by James H. Barnes. 
Thomas Thomas was clerk of the court, and his son William A. per- 
formed the duty of deputy and held the office in the upper part of the 
court house. Elias Carpenter was county treasurer and performed the 
duty of collecting taxes at his residence, as there was no other place 
l^rovided to perform that duty." 

Judge Beebe, mentioned by Mr. Henkel, was the character of Elk- 



268 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

hart during ilie early days; he had been originally a merchant, but was 
then settled to the occupation of farmer, and had been elected to the 
office of probate judge. He was a man of more than ordinary intelli- 
gence, of great good sense and correct habits, and of honorable prin- 
ciples ; but withal a free thinker in religion, and a practical joker. He 
had a nickname for everybody, but a warm hand for his friends. He 
discharged the duties of his office with eminent ability and impartiality, 
but more men feared than loved him. 

Ebenezer M. Chamberlain for many years held a commanding posi- 
tion at the bar of this count}' as well as in public life. Born in Maine in 
1805, he taught school as a means of entrance into the law. was ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1833, and shortly afterward came to Elkhart 
county. A Democrat, he was elected to the legislature in 1835, to the 
state senate in 1839, in 1843 was chosen presiding judge of the ninth 
district, and re-elected in 1851, but resigned in the same year to go to 
congress as the representative of the tenth district. 

Judge Chamberlain was a conspicuous example of the men who 
left their impress on the jurisprudence of the state, and were largely in- 
fluential for good in different phases of the early gi^owth and develop- 
ment of Indiana. Those were the days when the lawyers used to ride 
on horseback from one county to another on tlie circuit, put up at the 
hotel, and attend the session of court. Ihey used tu tell stories and 
have jolly times. Under such circumstances the character of each man 
was very apt to crop out, and every lawyer came to be understood very 
well. None of the legal pioneers remain, for they were as a rule in the 
]irime of life when they came to associate themselves with the legal 
affairs of the county. Even those who were regarded as the principal 
legal factors in the county twenty-five years ago have since suft'ered 
much in the changes incident to death rir age. A quarter of a cen- 
tury ago the bar of the county was represented by such individuals and 
firms as Baker and Mitchell, M. F. Shuey, I. A. Simmons, Vanfleet and 
Bickel, J. W. Irwin. George W. Best, Osborn and Herr. Wilson and 
Davis, A. W. Simmons, Delos N. Weaver, I. N. Hall, Col. Johnson, 
O. H. Main, O. T. Chamberlain, Lewis Wanner. W. L. Stonex, A. H. 
Johnson. H. V. Curtis. I. N. Everett, C. C. Gilmore, M. E. Meader, 
Otis D. Thompson. Livy Chamberlain, E. R. Kerstetter, Zook Broth- 
ers, D. N. Leib, C. F. Shuey, James H. State, M. I. Beck, A. F. Wil- 
den. Milo S. Hascall. H. C. Dodge, Bartholomew, G. T. Barney. 

Reference to the present list of Elkhart county attorneys will show 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 269 

the changes that have occurred in the legal personnel of the county in 
these years. Many new names have come into prominence, of men fitted 
to maintain and advance yet higher the standard of the past, whose 
talents, whose industry, whose devotion to the best ideals of the pro- 
fession are not less worthy of admiration and honor than those same 
qualities in their predecessors. And, happy to say, there are still living 
some of the ixjwerful ciiaracters whose careers attained the zenith of 
usefulness in the years before the present. There is George T. Barney, 
more than fourscore years of age, who has been identified with the. legal 
profession in Elkhart nearly forty years; Judge Baker, of the Federal 
court, now past seventy years, is one of the most eminent of the legal 
profession whether in county, state or nation ; and, for so long a time 
connected with the Elkhart county bar, and at the time of his death its 
oldest living representative, was Judge Henry D. Wilson. Born in 
1829, Judge Wilson came to Goshen in 1864, and was the first mayor 
of the city of Goshen in 1868. Legally trained under the tutelage of 
Judge E. M. Chamberlain, another man of wonderful talent and con- 
spicuous success as a member of the bar of this county, was John W. 
Irwin (see his sketch), who, locating in Goshen in 1849, occupied a 
premier position in legal circles throughout the latter half of the nine- 
teenth century. Other names might be mentioned, hundreds of pages 
might be devoted to the bar alone, but here we must be content tO' men- 
tion a few names rather than afi^ord a complete portrait of each per- 
sonage who has conferred lnjuiu' (in the legal history of this county. 

As affording a ground for comparison between the personnel of 
the bar of the present and that of the past century in our county, it 
would be interesting to note how far the careers of our legal fraternity 
in 1905 bear out the observations of Hon. James Bryce, M. P., con- 
cerning certain tendencies of the profession as differing from what he 
had observed thirty or thirty-five years ago. Says ]\Ir. Bryce : " Law- 
yers now to a greater extent than formerly are Ijusiness men, a part 
of the great organized system of industrial and financial enterprise. 
The}- are less than iormerly the students of a particular kind of learn- 
ing, the practitioners of a particular art. And they do not seem to 
be quite so much of a distinct professional class. Some one sexentv 
years ago called them the aristocracy of the LInited States, meaning 
that they led public opinion in the same way as the aristocracy of Eng- 
land led opinion there. They still comprise a large part of the finest 
intellect of the nation. But one is told they do not take so keen an 



270 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

interest in purely legal and constitutional questicjns as they did in the 
days of Story and Webster." It is certainly true that many of the 
best lawyers of this county take a foremost part in business; that is, 
commerce, industry and finance, but it is hardly possible to state in 
what degree that part is greater than a generation ago. 

The active members of the bar of Elkhart county in 1905 are as 
follows: Ethan L. Arnold, L, L. Burris, Warren Berkey, David M. 
Best, L. H. Beyerle, George T. Barney, Clark Barney, Elisha A. Baker, 
Frank Brown, Livy Chamberlain, Orin M. Conle}', William M. Charn- 
ley, Mitchell Charnley, Milo H. Cripe, Ira H. Church, James S. Drake, 
AVilliam J. Davis, Thomas .\. Davis, William Dalton, Henry C. Dodge, 
James S. Dodge, James S. Dodge, Jr., Ethan A. Dausman, Anthony 
beahl, B. F. Deahl, Otto E. Deal, A. E. Darling, L. A. Dennert, Perry 

A. Early, George W. Fleming, Charles E. Frank, J. B. Gattshall, M. 
M. Gallentine, William B. Hile, Schuyler C. Hubbell, \\'illiam H. Hauen- 
stein, James L. Harman, Samuel C. Harrington. L. D. Hall, George 
R. Harper, F. E. Hughes, A. J. Hoover. M. G. Hoover, Oscar Jay, 
Martin H. Kinney, FI. AA'. Kantz, J. O. Kantz, George D. Lint, Charles 
W. Miller, Elmer E. Mummert, John W. Monschien, J. S. }iIcEntaffer, 
J. D. 0.sborne, Robert E. Proctor, Clyde Raymer. Louis }sl. Simpsim, 
James H. State, Benjamin G. Schaefer, Wilber L. Stonex, Earnest A. 
Skinner, Charles (i. Sims, FI. A. Stauffer, Glen R. Sawyer, George 
E. Shaw, I'erry L. Turner, D. J. Trover, William Theis. Vernon \A'. 
Vanfleet, Lou W. Vail, Louis Vantlerlip. William E. Wider, Delos N. 
Weaver, Charles A. Wehmeyer, L. Burr Whippy, .Varon S. Zook, Edw. 

B. Zigler, Edgar L. Zigler. Law firms : Church and Shaw : Davis 
and Schaefer : Deahl and Deahl ; Hughes and Arnold : Harman and 
Zigler; Hile and Baker; Miller, Drake and Hubbell; Raymer and Proc- 
tor; Skinner and Wider; Vanlleet and Vanfleet ; YM and Wehmeyer; 
Zook and Ja}-. 

The Elkhart County Bar Association has the f(5llo\\ing officers 
for 1905: John M. Vanfleet, president; Aaron S. Zook, vice-presi- 
dent; Martin H. Kinney, secretary; William H. Charnley, treasurer. 
Executive Ct)mmittee; E. A. Dausman, George T. Barney, P. L. Tur- 
ner, V. W. Vanfleet. Grie\-ance Committee : \\' illiam B. Hile, Charles 
A. Wehmeyer. Charles E. Frank, AVarren Berkey, Arthur E. Darling. 
Membership Committee: Lou W. Vail, A. S. Zook. J. B. Gattshall. 
James L. Harman, J. S. Dodge. Jr. Examining Committee : E. A. 
Dausman, B. F. Deahl, Vernon W. Vanfleet. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 271 

The Elkhart Circuit Court, as constituted during 1905. has the 
following officials : Judge, James S. Dodge ; prosecuting attorne}-, Will- 
iam B. Hile; court reporter, L. H. Be3'erle: prohate commissioner. 
Daniel J. Trover; deput\- prosecuting attorney, L. L. Burris ; clerk. 
Martin H. Kinney; dqauty, George W. Fleming; assistant deputv. Ilah 
Davis; sheriff. A. Elmer Manning; deputy, Robert E. Chatten ; court 
and jury bailiff'. James M. Cowing. 



272 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 



CHAPTER XVni. 
EDUCATION. 

Culture's hand 
Has scattered verdure o'er the land. 
And smiles and fragrance rule serene 
Where barren wilds usurped the scene. 
And such is man ; a soil which breeds 
Or sweetest flowers or vilest weeds ; 
Flowers lovely as the morning's light, 
Weeds deadly as the aconite. 
Just as his heart is trained to bear 
The poisonous weed or flow'ret fair. 

— BOWRIXC. 

Ill America the intrcidiiction of schools is not far behind the settle- 
ment lit the country. The first constitution of Indiana, adopted in 1816, 
])rovi(le(l for education. Yet in an early day the cause advanced sloAvly. 
The first constitution made provision for the appointment of superin- 
tendent of school sections to take charge of and lease the school lands in 
the townships. In 1824 the general assembly passed an act to incorporate 
congressional townships and provide for public schools therein. Tlie act 
lirovided for the election in each, congressional township of three persons 
of the to\\nship to act as school trustees, to whom the control of the 
school lands and sciiools g^enerally was given ; and for the building of 
schoolhouses. Every able-bodied person in each school district who was 
liver twenty-line }'ears of age must work one da)' in each week, or else 
pay thirty-seven and one-half cents in lieu of a day's work, until the 
schoolhouse was iauilt. .Vlmost every session of the legislature wit- 
nessed some addition tn or modification of the school law. Provision 
was made for the appointment of school examiners, but the examinations 
might be private, and the examiners were quite irresponsible. Under 
such circumstances it could not be expected that competent teachers be 
employed. Often the most trivial riuestions were asked a teacher, and 
this was called an examination. In many instances there was no exam- 
ination at all — the teacher was simply asked to teach. However, it must 
be said that there was generally an endeavor nn the part of the trustees 
to do the right thing; the fact is that, generally, cmnpetent teachers were 
not to be had. The nriqinal scheme of educatimi embraced the district 




'icfrr 7W. Jhj^yi^. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 273 

schools, the state university, and the county academy as intermediate 
between the two and as a preparatory school to the latter. In some in- 
stances county academies were built and a few Ijecame famous and gave 
to the state some of her strongest men. But those institutions were sold 
and the proceeds added to the permanent school fund of the state. In 
the records of the hoard of justices and commissioners during the early 
years of this county there are frequent references toi the " seminary fund " 
and to the trustees of that fund, but no disposition of these moneys was 
ever made for the purpose originally intended, and they were doubtless 
later turned into the general school fund. 

From the days when schools were dependent upon local taxation to 
the present the Indiana school system presents a stoiy of wonderful prog- 
ress. In 1S40 one-seventh of the adult population of Indiana could not 
read nor write, and many of those whO' could were densely ignorant. In 
education Indiana stood sixteenth among twenty-three states; in 1850 
she was twent3'-third among twenty-six states. Now, though twenty- 
fourth in area, she is first in her invested school fund, fifth in population 
and number of schools, sixth in churches, seventh in wealth, and the most 
typically American state of the Union. Her population and development 
furnish data which form an index to the history which the country has 
already written. Nowhere else in the United States, except in West 
\^irginia and JMissouri, which in other respects are less characteristic of 
the nation, is so large a percentage of the population native born. More 
than ninety per cent of the inhabitants of Indiana are American by birth, 
while in the states north of it more than ten per cent are foreign, and 
in the states to the south the same proportion of the negro race obtains. 

By 1850 union schools had been established in a number of counties; 
that is, several school districts would unite and combine their funds and 
forces and establish a union school at some center convenient to all, this 
type being a forerunner of the present township high school. But just 
alxiut this time a new state constitution was formed, and under it the 
legislature of 1852 enacted a liberal school law which embodied princi- 
ples of practical excellence : and from that time, notwithstanding the 
selfishness of a few retro-actionists, and the stupidity of certain courts, 
the educational affairs of the state have progressed wonderfullv. 

The present generation has no conception of the state of education 
in general and the conditions of schoolhouses and methods of instruction 
which prevailed in the pioneer epoch of this county. It is the boast, 
indeed, of the American people that the church and the school have been 



27i HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

almost coexistent with settlement itself. And yet it seems true that edu- 
cation has not formed a part of the vanguard of our ci\'ilization : its insti- 
tutions have always lagged hehind the general level nf culture and im- 
])rovcment. To illustrate: The schoolhciuses and their general sur- 
rounding, of the present as also in the past, with certain most notable 
exceptions in every count}', have never shown the same evidences of 
taste, refinement and physical ccjmfort that the average nf homes in the 
same community have displayed. The average country schoolhouse of 
to-day is at best a drear and uncmith sort of place, lacking in those ex- 
terior surroundings which elevate the character, and the interior having 
nothing of the homelike charm to which most of the children are accus- 
tomed. Should the child pass five hours of the day, for at least half the 
davs of the year and for a large part of the formative years of his life, 
in an atmosphere less congenial, in surroundings less inviting than his 
or her own home should he? After all, have we so much to boast of in 
our ■■ temples of learning "? But our forefathers, as well as the present 
generation, Iniilt no doubt ,'iccoi'ding to the best wisdom given them, and 
those who would seek flaws in their work should remeiuber that criticism 
is easier than action. 

For the benefit of those who have ahva}-s attended schools conducted 
along comparatively modern lines and equipped with the ordinary com- 
forts and conveniences of the present, this history should afford some 
brief and more or less complete picture of the places of learning such as 
our fathers attended, during what we have so often referred to as the 
pioneer epoch. It is surprising, on studying the records, to find how 
many districts and townships in this county and this part of the state 
built ^choo'houses at almost identicall}- the same time, without anv com- 
munic.'ition with eacli other or purpose of concerted action. There was 
great unanimity of sijirit in this respect. The schoolhouses were rude 
structures. The accommodations were not good. Stoves and such heat- 
ing a|)paratus as are now used were unknown. A mud-and-stick chim- 
nc}- in one end of the building with earthen hearth and fireplace wide 
and, deep tfi receixe a six-foot back log and smaller wood to match, 
served for warming purposes in winter and a sort of conservatory in 
summer. For windows a part of a log was sawed out in two sides of 
the building and the space filled with a light of glass; or, if that was not 
to be had, with greased paper or cloth. If a spelling match or other 
meeting was held in the schoolroom in the evening, the old tallow 
dips were brought into requisition. Everything was rude and plain. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 275 

Yet (lut cif just such schoolhouses came some of the greatest men of 
America and of the world, a long list of whose names might be given. 
The teachers were jiut t<i great inconvenience in "boarding aroimd." 
They had to "bunk with the children": or, where a spare room was 
afforded, the teacher was cheerfully informed how many and what mem- 
bers of the family had " died in that beil " : and when in winter he got 
into a bed that perhaps had not been slept in for six months, he thought, 
as his teeth chattered and his frame shook for a few moments, he was in 
a fair way to add to the number. Yet from just such experiences came 
some of the airiest educators of the state and nation. Environment is 
something-; but if it is true that the individual mind is from the environ- 
ment, it is a larger, stronger and deeper truth that the environment is 
from the collective or social mind, of which the individual forms a part. 
All told, one age is much like another, and it is neither wise nor safe to 
decry the past. 

Among the excellent papers which have been read before the Elk- 
hart Countv Historical Society was one written by Mrs. Chauncey Has- 
call, describing the schools of sixty years ago. 

" In the winters of 1839-40 and 1840-41," in the words of Mrs. 
Hascall, " 1 taught .school in the next district west from Cioshen. I re- 
ceived twelve dollars a month, which was considered at that time a high 
salary for a woman. Of course it was the typical log schoolhouse, which 
the young i>eople of the present day have ' read of,' and the older ones 
hold in affectionate remembrance. The writing desks were shelves at- 
taclied to the logs on the sides of the room, and the seats were long 
benches without backs, with a second row of the same kind, but lower, for 
the smaller scholars. A fire in a big box stove in the center of the room 
was kept in a roaring condition by the boys, who were glad of the op- 
portunity of getting a change oi \vjs\tum and a breatli of fresh air. The 
patrons of the school were mostly Pennsylvania Dutch and spoke their 
own language in home and neigiiborhood intercourses: consecjuently Eng- 
lish was almost a foreign language ^o many of the scholars. 

"The Stouders, Studebakers, Gripes, Ulerys and Mannings I re- 
member most distinctly among the scholars, as I boarded with each of 
their families a month, instead of taking, as was the custom, the rounds 
of the district. It was an experiment having the winter school taught 
by a ' schoolma'am,' and the trustees thought I might have some trouble 
governing it, but I had verx- little. The girls and boys were model chil- 
dren, and must have been well trained at home. Those who are livins' 



276 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

now are gray-l:aired grandparent;^, and nian_\- have passed t(_) the other 
life. 

" John and David Studehaker. Levi Ulery and Jacob CHne were the 
oldest pupils and were nearly grown men. All the older resiilents will 
remember Dave Studebaker, whose residence was in Goshen many years 
and who died here esteemed and regretted. I think there were almost 
thirty scholars in the school, among them the Bartness boys. 

" The small scholars of that day, with their home-made garments, 
home-made from the shearing of the sheep to the last stitch in the 
clothes, made after the same pattern as their fathers' and mothers' ap- 
parel, would make a striking contrast to the little people of to-day, with 
their large collars and knee pants of the toys, and the furbelows and 
fancy dress ' fixings ' of the girls. 

" The three R's were the principal branches taught, in fact the only 
ones. Grammar was an unknown study in the liackwoods. One or two 
little ' Mannings ' may have studied geography. There were different 
classes in reading and spelling, and the monotonous rc:)und was only 
varied by an occasional call to help solve some problem in subtraction 
or long division. In arithmetic each studied by himself and could ' go 
ahead ' as fast as he pleased without being kept back by slower ones in 
the clas=. 

" Of course not one of the scholars could have passed a ' high 
school ' examination, but the young farmers could ' reckon up ' the value 
of their farm produce, read the Bible and weekly newspaper, properly 
sign all legal documents and spell lietter than half the high school gradu- 
ates. 

" There were none of the modern aids to teachers : even blacktoards 
were not in use in the country schools of that day. There were no 
normal schools for instruction in the art of teaching", no county or town- 
ship institutes where teachers could meet and discuss the new ideas ad- 
vanced in educational lines." 

To widen our conception of the contrast between educational opjwr- 
tunities as they were in the pioneer epoch and are now in the year 1905, 
we quote another Elkhart countv educator. Professor E. B. Myers, who, 
in- a paper read before the Historical Society in January, 1900, says : 

" ]\Ty first admission to one of the ' log seminaries ' of Elkhart county 
was in December, 1846. This spacious, well furnished seat of learning 
stood in Y'ork township, alx)ut two miles west of the village of Vistula. 
It was built of logs hewn on both sides, the cracks chinked and daubed 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY -'77 

Avith clay (there was no lime for schoolhouses at that time), a horizontal 
window on each of the four sides and a stove in the center. This was 
an aristocratic schoolhouse; it had a floor made of boards, not your 
rough puncheons so common elsewhere, but nice inch-boards laid loosely 
on the rough-hewn sleepers. The boards were not nailed down, I sup- 
pose for two reasons : lirst, because in those days nails were scarce and 
co.--.t money; second, anything that fell on the floor was pretty apt to go 
through one of the many wide cracks and could be recovered only by 
taking up one or more of the boards. 

" The desks of this schoolhouse were marvels of mechanical skill. 
Two-inch auger holes \\ere bored in the log walls, and large oak or 
hickory pins driven in, and upon these were laid toards. which were 
then called ' writing desks.' The seats were made of slabs, two legs in 
each and one in the middle to keep them from sagging when over- 
crowded. During writing time the pupils all sat with their faces to the 
wall and the teacher marched around looking over their shoulder, criti- 
cising or commanding as the occasion required. There were no shelves 
under these desks for books, liut what few we had were piled up on the 
writing desks and around the corners, wherever convenient. 

" When not writing or ciphering we were expected to sit facing the 
center of the room, and could then rest our weary backs against the edge 
of the board that was called tb.e desk. In front of this and nearer the 
stove on each side of the room was placed a slab seat for the little folks 
who did not write. On these benches the little ones were compelled to 
sit by the hour, swinging their feet and waiting for their turn to lie called 
up by the teacher to ' say their letters ' or spell their ' a, b, ab's.' Books 
or busy work for beginners were not thought of. 

" If a child learned his letters the first term he was supposed to be 
making satisfactory progress. Especially was this true if it was a win- 
ter term when the larger pupils were supposed to lie entitled to the 
greater part of the time and attention of the teacher. The range of 
studies was not ver)- wide. A grammar was not seen in that school till 
some years afterward. ' It wasn't worth nothing but to learn folks to 
talk proper," and so was summarily discarded. A year later I took to 
the school a copy of Olney's g-eography and atlas which my oldest sister 
had used in Chicago. This atlas was very instructive to me in the wav 
of local geography. All that the northern part of the map of Indiana 
contained was the word ' Pottawatamies,' printed in large letters diag- 
onally across the page. The book undoubtedly saw the light long before 



'278 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

1 did. As I was the only pupil in the class I was always at the head. 
The recitations of those days were unique. The first class in the morn- 
ing was the reading, the highest first and so on to the a, b, c's. Then 
followed the writing and the recess. After recess came more work for 
the little folks, the lowest first, and closing the forenoon session with the 
' first class in spelling," which was always an important event in the each 
half-day session. 

" There were no recitati(ins in arithmetic. As the work consisted 
wholly in ' doing sums." and as there was no such thing as conformity 
of text books, especially in arithmetic, each person worked away at his 
own sweet will. Such a thing as an explanation of a subject or prin- 
ciple was not thought of, much less considered necessary. If we couldn"t 
do the sums we asked the teacher to show us how% but the showing 
how answered for that case only and gave us but little or no strength to 
cope with future similar difficulties. 

" In those days blackboards and dictionaries were unknown in the 
ordinary country school. The teacher was supposed to know everything 
and freely gave of his or her knowledge. The teachers of those days 
never hesitated at the pronunciation of a long word, biit spelled it through 
and gave us the pronunciation, which was law and gospel to us." 

Joel P. Hawks thus descrihed some of his early experiences in gain- 
ing ;m education : 

" The first school I attended in Indiana was at W'aterford in the 
winter of 1838. The schoolhouse was a new frame affair and had been 
])ainted a gorgeous red William Baker was the teacher. He was a 
man of .superior education for those days, but lacked the adaptability for 
a teacher. Attention was principally given to the primary classes; to 
spelling and arithmetic, neither grammar nor reading being taught. I 
suggested to the teacher the advisability of a class in reading, but he 
could not see the use of it: then staterl thai if I desired to read he would 
hear me. Accordingh' I stood u]i alone and read from m^■ old English 
reader, while the scholars listened. \t tlie conclusion, the teacher re- 
marked that he did not think he could teach me anything in reading, and 
that was t!ie last that I heard i)f the matter. This cimission was quite 
general in the schools of that day, and it has shown in later years as tire 
scholars of those days are very poor readers, but fine spellers.'" 

Among the early special institutions of learning in the countv was 
one at Middlelxu'y. An advertisement in the Goshen Democrat in No- 
vember, 1847, informs the public that the " Middlebury Seminarv," 



HISTORY OF ETJvHART COUNTY 270 

under tlie direction nf the Misses Casey, would be opened for young 
iadies and gentlemen on- \o\-ember i8. and offered a thorough course 
of English, instruction at reasonable rates. Such private institutions no 
doubt furnished educational opjiortunities to many boys and girls of 
ibis count\ , tioni tliat early day to the present time, and ]Hiblic education, 
which in the last centur\- was so materially supplemented by private enter- 
prise, is not vet so comiilete and comprehensive as to entirely displace 
a school conducted by nidi\iduals or certain societies. 

The school svstem of b'lkhart county has for many years Ijeen under 
the general direction of Superintendent George W. Ellis, who is a prac- 
tical educator of broad exjjerience and has the confidence of the people 
and the teaching force alike. The schools of both town and country 
ha\e been maintained at the high standards e\"erywhere jirevailing in 
Indiana, and, although there is room for unlimited progress in the future, 
the present excellence of b'lkbart county educational facilities must be a 
matter of satisfaction to all her citizens. 

The county superintendent, who is general supervisor of the county 
system of education, is responsible for the condition of the county schools, 
directs their finances, selects sites and superintends construction of build- 
ings, conducts teachers' institutes and the teachers" examinations, and 
issues certificates, and discharges niimerous other functions connected 
with the administration of the county's schools. 

The officer next in importance to the county superintendent is the 
township trustee, whose duties in each township make his power prac- 
tically co-ordinate with the city toards of education. Indeed, the town- 
ship trustee is one of the most important officers in the educational sys- 
tem. His duties and responsibilities ai"e such as to require a man of 
foremost ability and influence, one who is honest, intelligent, well edu- 
cated, possessed of good judgment and broad sympathies, progressive. 
It is the general opinion that, on the whole, men of such prominence and 
wdrth in community affairs have been entrusted with this office in the 
se\eral townships of Elkhart county. 

Uniortunatel}- the statistics of education in this county have not 
been full}' preserved during the past, and certain interesting comparisons 
between different periods cannot, on this account, be made. We reserve 
the account of the schools of Elkhart and Goshen for later consideration, 
and the schools of the smaller centers receive mention in the chapter de- 
voted to that subject, and conclude this general survev bv giving the 



280 PIISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

school enumeration of Elkhart county by townships and towns, as ascer- 
tained in the census taken in the spring of 1905. 

Toi^'iisliips. Males. Females. 

Baugo So 87 

Benton i54 146 

Concord ^i? 231 

Ginton 233 228 

Cleveland 73 63 

Elkhart -'62 264 

Harrison 339 334 

Jackson 225 181 

Tefferson 166 164 

Locke 139 ^73 

Middleburv 183 164 

OHve . . .' 165 162 

Osolo 108 100 

Union 252 239 

Washington 174 141 

^'ork T08 71 

Toii'iis and Cities. 

Middlebury 74 95 

Millersl>urg 31 56 

Nappanee 320 336 

Wakaru'^a 124 129 

Elkhart i()i9 1855 

( ".oshen 1097 1 141 

There are six colored females and one colored male enumerated in 
the citv of Elkhart. These are the only colored pupils in the county. 

Goshen Schools. 

Goshen and Elkhart prairie have been so closely identified through- 
out their history that a description of the life and afifairs of one naturally 
merges into that of the other. The rudiments of education were taught 
on Elkhart prairie almost coincident with the first settlements. The first 
.schoolhoust in the county is said to have stood on Wilkenson's Lane, 
on the prairie, and the school was held by a Mr. Potts. Among! the 
families represented in that school were the Friers, Sparklins, Blairs, 
Thompsons. 'The second schoolhouse was on the school section that 
lies a mile south of Goshen. It was a log house, with greased paper for 
windows, and was heated by a large open fire-place. Captain Beane 
taught in a log schoolhouse on the prairie during the earlv thirties. 




«^ 



GOSHEN'S NEW HIGH-SCHOOL 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 281 

Some of the scholars at that time were John, Robert and Elislia Irwin : 
Wilham and Joseph Weddel ; John and David Weybright ; Daniel, David 
and John Durr; Ira and Amos Jackson; Daniel Steward and others. 
T. G. Harris, a well known pioneer, taught school, in 1836, in a building 
that had neither a nail nor a pane of glass. 

In the years immediately succeeding the platting of the county seat 
at Goshen the children of many of its residents no doubt attended one 
or the other of the schools already established on the prairie, but at a 
very early year school began to be regularly held in Goshen. 

In 1832 Samuel T. Young began teaching the first school in a log 
house at the corner of Washington and Sixth streets, on the site of the 
present First Baptist church. After teaching there for several years he 
left for another log building located on the corner of Fifth and Jefferson 
streets. Here he was followed l>y several men, among whom were John 
Sevey, a Mr. Massey and Thomas G. Harris. In 1834 the first Method- 
ist church was built in Goshen, on a lot adjoining the present Episcopal 
church property. It is still in existence and forms a part of the residence 
occupied by Mrs. T. B. Starr. In 1837 this church was used for school 
purposes, and thereafter during a number of years. Messrs. Green, 
Campbell, Lane and others taught there for longer or shorter periods. 
In 1837 Mr. H. W. Bissell came to Goshen and taught in this same 
church. Mr. Bissell was for twelve years, beginning with 1838. one of 
the school examiners of Elkhart county. In 1840 Nelson Prentiss began 
teaching in a building on Clinton street, opposite court square ; the build- 
ing was afterward moved to Pike street and used for a Mission Sunday 
school. A log house on West Washington street and another on Fifth 
street, where the residence of J. M. Dale now stands, were used by differ- 
ent persons for conducting schools. Among the teachers in those build- 
ings were Mr. Gray, Mr. Weed, Abner Stilson and George Taylor, who 
afterwards was elected to congress from Brooklyn, N. Y. 

The first schoolhouse was l>uilt by subscription in 1841, on lot No. 
54, where the Episcopal rectory now stands. It was a frame structure 
20 X 30 feet, and was used for school purposes until the corporation built 
its first schoolhouse in 1857 on ]Madison street, on what had lieen the 
county fair grounds. This building was sold in 1857 to John S. ]'"ree- 
man, and thereafter resold to the Swedenborgian Society. After use as 
a church for a number of years, it was purchased by the late Jesse Fuson 
and converted into a residence. 

In this first schoolhouse Abram C. Carpenter, .\masa N. Hascall, 



282 HISTORY OF ELKHART COL'XTY 

]\lelvin B. Hascall and others wielded the birch. In writing to the 
IhiHy Times in 1891, Al. B. Hascall said; "In October. 1842, I com- 
menced teaching-, having been called from my home in western New 
\nvk for that ]>urpose. I'^orty ti_) hft}- pupils was abtjut the average 
number enrolled. The books used were not uniform, but every scholar 
brought what he happened to have; if he had none, he came without, but 
\Vel3ster"s Elementary Spelling Book, Daboll's .\rithnietic, English. 
Reader and Kirkham's Grammar were in the lead." 

l^'rom 1841 to 1857 a number of pri\-ate schools were started. The 
general plan was to go from house to house, secure the jiromise of inipils, 
■rhen locate (piarters and begin work. .Vmong them ( ieorge W. Wey- 
burn. who came to Go.shen in 1853 and opened the Empire School in 
the basement of the then First Methodist church, is prominent. He was 
unusually successful and counted among his pupils, during his four vears 
of work in that school, many of the older citizens of (ioshen. He had 
associated with him at different times Miss Martha Stancliff, Miss Valen- 
cia Watrous and others. In March, 185S, the school was closed because 
of the com])letion of the new public school building. 

The real de\'elopment of the schools began with the erection of the 
building above referred to. The lot was ])urchased at a cost of $r,ooo 
of John S. Freeman, who took, as part payment, the school property on 
Si.xtr, street: the building, begun in the fall of 1856, was a four-room 
brick structure and cost without furnishings $11,000. 

The growth of the city from i860 to 1870 necessitated building- 
larger quarters. In 1862 a frame building on ^^'est I'ike street was 
rented for a period of three }ears, and in 1865 was rented for three 
years more. In 1868 the Pike street school was built at a cost of $2,500. 
It was a one-room ]>rick structure 25 x 40 feet, and. after lieing used for 
si.xteen years, w-as replaced by the present building at a cost of $9,000. 
The first building on the X(.irth h'ifth street school site was a four-room 
frame structure erected in 1862. It was replaced In- a brick building in 
1882, which contains si.x rooms. .\n adflitional f(jur-ri lon-i building on 
the same site was built in 1895. 

In (.869 it was found necessary to provide school room in the south 
i)art of town. The board purchased the site and built the main portion 
of the South iMt'tb street building at a cost of $5,000. Alx)ut ten years 
later two additions, containing four rooms, were built, so that the build- 
ing had altogether seven school rooms. In 1905 the entire heating and 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 2S3 

ventilating system of the building- was reconstructed and a fan system of 
ventilation and steam heating installed. 

During the summer of 1874 a four-room addition was made to the 
high school building at a cost of $4,500. On the evening of January 18. 
1875, the entire building" with its contents was burned to the ground. 
Temporary provision was made in churches and halls for the pupils, and 
steps were at once taken for rel)uii(ling. The new building was an eight- 
room structure, containing in addition to the eight school rooms, the 
superintendent's office and two recitation rooms. It was completed and 
occupied in the fall of 1875, .and cost without furnishing $JO,ooo. 

When the limits of the city were extended to incKide wdiat is now 
known as luist (ioshen and West (njshen, the townshiji schools located 
therein Ijecame a jiart of the city school system. The West (ioshen 
building thus received is a neat one-story brick, contains one school room 
and the usual hall and cloak rooms. The old East Goshen building wa.s 
built of wood and was in rather poor condition. In i8g8 the board of 
education erected the present building, and one may safely say that there 
is not a more convenient or Ijetter arranged one-room Iniilding in the 
state of Indiana. Its cost was about $4,000. 

In 1895 the demand for more school room for the grades and better 
cjuarters for the rapidly growing high school became so urgent that plans 
■were laid for the erection of an up-to-date high school building. The 
splendidly e(|uipped building that resulted joins the old high school build- 
ing on the front so that the two buildings are to all intents and purposes 
one. 

Educational progress in Goshen has been rajiid within the ])ast ten 
years. The accommodations which were thought ample at the time the 
remodeled high school w-as completed soon proved inadequate to meet 
the demands. This was mainly due to the phenomenal growth of the 
high school, the enrollment here in 1903 reaching 325. Under the 
remarkable guidance of the principal. Miss Lillian E. Michael, of Ohio 
University, the high school had not only experienced this growth from 
an enrollment of 150, but was recognized by the leading universities of 
the country as tx:ing a model and efficient school. Indeed, so well and 
favorably known had this department become that the school authorities 
were enabled to take a long step in advance and afiford to the youth of 
the city an educational institution which in every way should be a model 
of effectiveness. In the fall of 1902 the movement for a new building 
began, plans were matured and in the following spring building began 



284 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

The formal occupation of the various apartments for school work took 
place in the fall of 1904. The school board having direction of afifairs 
at this lime consisted of Frank Kelly, president; George B. Slate, secre- 
tar}- ; Haines Egbert, treasurer. 

Goshen, in thus furnishing its boys and girls the opportunities of a 
'■ poor man's college," has taken rank among cities as the pioneer in 
furjn'shing this most advanced ground in practical and theoretical educa- 
tion. The Goshen high school is the first embodiment of what is known 
as the " six year high school plan," whereby the pupils, after completing 
the wiirk which has so long constituted the regular high school curricu- 
lum, may, further, without leaving home environments, enjoy training 
of college grade for two years. This extra work does not increase the 
expense to the general public. State Superintendent of Public Instruc- 
tion F. .\. Cotton says in his report for 1904 : " This type of school at 
Goslien, where one of the very best buildings in the state has been con- 
structed and equipped, proxides two years of post-graduate work and 
has arrangements with some of the strongest colleges and universities in 
the country whereby students who have completed the work are given 
junior standing. In addition to the regular high school work the Go- 
shen school is relating itself to community interests through the study of 
science, including biology, chemistry, physics and agriculture. The 
buildings are well equipped with shops where pupils of the seventh and 
eighth grades and high school work with their hands. This school is a 
splendid example of what an industrial school should attempt to accom- 
plish.'" The eyes of educators all over the country are turned to this 
institution begun under such auspicious circumstances and attendefl so 
far -with such success. 

" The six years' work offered is the result of a real demand rather 
than an experiment. During the past years a considerable number of 
students returned, the year following graduation, to do work in the 
undergraduate courses. These pupils felt the need of a more extended 
schooling, but many of them were unalile to meet the expense necessarv 
to a course in college. Also a number of parents kept their children 
at home the year toUowing graduation because they thought them too 
young' to lie sent away from home. During the \-ear out of school the 
Ijoys usually found work whose immediate rewards in dollars and cents 
seemed greater than the remoter rewards of learning: and the girls de- 
veloped other ambitions. The plan of extending the course was projected 




ELKHART CITY SCHOOLS 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 285 

to satisfy the cravings of the first class of boys and girls, and to correct 
the mistaken tendencies of the second. 

'■ The ways and means for meeting the extra expense incurred in 
the addition of two years' work to the curriculum is obtained partly by 
charging an individual tuition fee of $30. This is large enough to 
avoid extra taxes." 

The plans of Superintendent Hedgepeth, covering the fields of 
manual training, domestic science, departmental instruction and co-ordi- 
nate development of the mental, moral and physical sides of the child life, 
have received the commendation not only of the educators of the state, 
county and cit} . but of the practical men of affairs who are most directly 
interested in the city's educational facilities. 

The Goshen school board, in 1905, consists of W. O. Vallette, presi- 
dent; Geo. B. Slate, secretary and Joseph H. Lesh, treasurer. 

The following tables give an interesting comparison between the 
city schools of to-da}- and twenty years ago : 

1905. 

No. Pupils. No: Teachers. 

High school 315 12 

Madison street school 585 14 

North Fifth street school 324 8 

South Fifth street school 199 6 

Pike street school 123 4 

West Side school 40 i 

East Side school 42 i 

Total 1608 45 

Average attendance, 1350. 

There are also three supply teachers, making 48 in all. 
In the high school faculty are graduates from nine colleges and 
universities. 

Statistics for 1885: 

Total enrollment 1025 

Average attendance 811 

Number of teachers 26 

Number enrolled in high school 62 

Average attendance 435 

Elkh.^rt .Schools. 

We come now to the two largest centers, each of whose educational 
data would more than make a chapter. In Elkhart there seems to be 



286 HISTORY OF ELKPIART COUNTY 

no definite and relial)le intorniation as U. wlien the first school was taught, 
or where ur ij}- whom. It has Ijeen stated that E. M. Chamljerlain taught 
the Ih-st school in 1830. This seems hardly credihle when we think that 
the t(nvn had then l;een in existence some five ur six years and that al- 
ready a cDUsideralde aftlnx of settlers IkkI reached the village. Xo (Joubt 
the school children of that intervening period had some amount of in- 
struction at a definite place and with more <ir less regular sessions. At 
the .same time it is true that the great educational progress so marked in 
the city had its practical inception during the later thirties, and at that 
lime the ))ioneer period \vas largely ])assed and those in charge hegan 
laving the foundations of the system which we ma\- \ iew with admira- 
tion at the present. 

Se\er.al \ears ago 'Sir. Y). W. Thomas, now heginning his twen.tieth 
vear ;is superintendent of the l^lkhart schools, wrote for publication in 
the l^lkbart IJaily Truth a com])rebensive article on the history of the 
public scho(jls of his city, and as, coming from such an authority, its 
statements nnist stand as authentic, we herewith quote, with the author's 
jiermis.'^ioii, the jirincipal jiortion of that historical survey as affording 
the best insight into the development of the I*".lkhart cit}- scbo(ils. 

"The first schoolhouse, a one-room, one-stor_\ frame building, was 
erected in i83<S on. the east side of Second street, between Jackson and 
^^'ashington. In 1844 this building burned and a three-story structure 
at the corner of Main and Jefiferson streets — then known as ' Tammany 
Hall.' afterw'ards the ' Beehive,' now demolished — was used for school 
purposes until 1848, when another one-story, frame building was erected 
on the original site on Second street. 

" This building in 185 1 was con\erted into ;i dwelling house, and ^7 
years after\yard was remo\'ed to a part of the city where its en\'ironments 
are more congenial, but it is still used as a home. 

" Among those who, in tliis early day, wieldetl the birchen scepter 
may be named E. Al. Chamberlain, Sabrina Burbank, X. F. Broderick, 
Rolrmd r.)e\or, (iuy Johnson, i\fr. A^'ales, Air. Bearup]i. R. T. Bozgess, 
A. C. Case and R. Mclllrath. It is now im])ossible to determine the 
order or length of time which these persons served as teachers, but it is 
reasonaijfy certain that E. M. Chamlierlain ("afterwards judge and mem- 
lier of congress) taught the first ' pay school ' in what is no\v the city of 
Elkhart, and that X. F. Broderick (a man noted for his goodness of both 
bead and hern-t). taught the first district school in the first schoolhouse, 
in 183S. 



HISTORY ()!• F.LKHART COUNTY . "iSl 

" In 184T. a fdur-riKMii frame Iniilding was erected at the corner of 
Hip,h and Second streets, on the site of the present Central school huild- 
ino-. and this in tnrn was destroyed liy fire in 18(17. 

" Air. Chas. J. Conn, thongh not teaching- continnonsl_\- (hn'ing this 
time, was the leadmg' edncational genius. He was a man of wonderfully 
r|uick perception and magnetic jiower, and his methods of instruction 
were original and ])eculiar. He conducted his school on the ' high- 
pressiu'e sxsteni," taking the pupil in his school who had the greatest 
ability as his standard and judging all others by it. He imitated no one 
and no one could imitate him — methods fairly successful with him, with 
anv one else would have proved a dismal failure — he never got in any 
ruts nor permitted his pupils to do so. He would stop the clock, turn 
it backward or forward, change the order of the program, the time and 
methods of recitation, anything to keep his pupils on the qui vive. 

'■ As an illustration, one of his recitations in grammar which has 
been tlius described may be gi\'en. The pupils in three or four dififerent 
grades are arranged about the rooni. who, facing inward, form a square, 
the teacher in the center. Tlie pupils are divided into sections of nine 
(more or less according to convenience), and each in turn is given some- 
thing to recite, a definition, a rule, the analysis of a sentence, or the pars- 
ing of a word, and so on to the end of the class. At a given signal all 
began. Amid this ' confusion worse confounded ' Mr. Conn stands un- 
moved, making a correction here, a suggestion there, or assigning a new 
part yonder, with a celerity and accuracy that to the uninitiated is trulv 
astonishing. j\Ir. Conn's school lators closed in 1867. 

" In 1855. the Bodley brothers, who then had charge of the schools. 
having found a lady in the person of Mrs. A. E. Babli who could teacli 
algebra, literature and French, threw the town into a state of agitation 
by offering her a position as a teacher at a salary- of $30 per month. The 
idea of giving a woman any kind of a position by which she could make 
Si. 50 a day was a jiiece of extrava,gar,ce scarcely to be tolerated — but 
then it is the unexpected that happens, and the world moves neverthe- 
less. Thus ]i(ipularized. Mrs. Eabb taught with success for a time in 
the public schools, and afterward for several years conducted a ]irivate 
school of her own. 

" Mrs. Margaret Stevens, one of the four who composed the corps 
of teachers in i86t, taught in tlie first primary department of the public 
schools from that date until 1884. exce])t the four vears from 1876 to 
t88o. .Mthough for the most part she was required to make ' brick 



288 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

without ?lraw," and althougli her room was always crowded, sometimes 
mimhering- 1J5 pupils, she filled this important and arduous position 
faithfully au'l well. Perhaps no one has ever taught in Elkhart who is 
remcnliered more kindly than she. ?ilany of her pupils, now grown to 
manhciod an<l womanhiKid. and who yet hear the impress of her kind 
heart and gentle manners, say, ' Well done, gcod and faithful teacher.' 

" After the destruction of the old schoolhouse in 1867, it was deter- 
mined to erect a huilding worthy of the name and commensurate with 
the needs of the enterprising little town. Accordingly in 1868 was com- 
pleted a four-story brick huilding at a cost of $45,000. School opened 
in this building September 5. with the following corps of instructors: 
Valois Butler, Miss Nellie Smith, Mrs. A. M. Clark, Miss M. A. Bonnell, 
Miss Rainy, Miss Ostrander and Miss Mary Hawley. Of these. Miss 
Bonnell began teaching under Mr. Conn in 1866 and taught consecutively 
for 16 years. Miss Hawdey commenced teaching in 1868 and is now 
( iQOO) completing her thirl\-seci:ind ye:\v id" continuous service in the 
school rc;iom. 

■■ The people were justl\- proud of their ne\\' building, hut scjme be- 
wailed such extravagance and claimed ^\■ith much assurance that the time 
would ne\'er come wlien there \\ould he children enough in Elkhart to 
fill the rooms thus provided. However, in 1873, only five years later, it 
was found necessar\- to pro\ide more room, and a four-room, two-story 
brick building was erected in the fourth ward at a cost of $10,000. In 
1875 '^ similar structure was erected in the fifth ward. In 1877 John 
Weston deeded to the city eight lots in northwest Elkhart, with the pro- 
viso that a certain described schoolhouse should be erected thereon within 
;i year. In compliance with this agreement a two-story brick (known 
as the Weston building), containing two school rooms and a recitation 
room, v\as erected in 1878 ;it a cost of $5,000. In the following year 
( 1879 ) a sinu'lar huilding (the Beardsley) was constructed in northeast 
Fdkhart. In 1875 lots were purchased and a one-story frame was put 
U)) in Iiast I'^lkhart, but the accommodations were soon found to be in- 
adequate and in 1883 a two-story brick building was erected at a cost of 
$5,500, the two lower rooms only being completed. In the same vear 
the Christian church on Middlebur}- street Avas bought for $1,400 and a 
school opened. 

"With all these additions there was a demand for more room and 
better accommodations, especially for the high school. To meet this 
need, in 1884 the school board erected an eight-room high school building 



HISTORY Ol' ELKHART COUNTY 289 

on High street, adjoining the Central hnilchng on the west ; and then the 
fourth story, in the now old building which included the high school 
room, was abandoned. In the then new building the high school and 
recitation rooms were on the first floor, the upper grammar grades on 
the second, and the library, museum and superintendent's office in the 
room connecting the old and the new building. The entire cost of this 
structure, including the furniture and the steam-heating apparatus for 
both buildings, amounted to about $25,000. 

" In the years 1886 and 1887 two rooms were added to the fourth 
ward buikling and two to the fifth ward. Two rooms in East Elkhart 
were finished and furnished and the Middlebury street schoolhouse re- 
modeled and oue room added, the aggregate cost of these improvements 
being about $12,000. From a sanitary point of view the improvements 
in 1887 and 1888 are of the greatest importance. 

" It having come to the knowledge of the school authorities that 
there was an abundance of pure, fresh air and sunshine going to waste 
in Elkhart, it was determined to utilize a portion of it for the benefit of 
the school children. Accordingly arrangements were made and carried 
into effect for the proper heating, lighting and ventilating of the ward 
buildings. In the accomplishment of this object, the rooms were re- 
seated, new heaters purchased, direct radiation from stoves cut off, and 
fresh and foul air flues ]:)rovided ; the blackboards were repaired and 
new ones made where needed, the schools were furnished with number- 
tables, form-models and beads, reading charts, maps and globes, supple- 
mentary readers, dictionaries and other books for teachers' desks ; some 
chemical and physical apparatus, quite a number of specimens for the 
museum, about $500 worth of books for the library, and a very fine tele- 
scope purchased from Prof. H. L. Smith, of Hobart College, Geneva, 
Xew York, were added. The cost of these much needed improvements 
and supplies for the time indicated aggregated about $3,000. 

" In 1890 tw^o rooms were added to the Beardsley building, at a 
cost of $3,500, and in 1891 a two-room building was erected at the corner 
of Cleveland avenue and South Seventh street, at a cost of $5,000. 

■' Tiic dark and poorly ventilated rooms in the Central school build- 
ing, the crowded condition of all the rooms and especially that of the 
high school, rendered it imperative that more and better facilities be sup- 
plied. To meet this deiiiand, in January, 1893, the new high school 
building was completed at a cost of' $36,000. This is a two-story stone 
structure, located at the corner of Pigeon and Vistula streets. The high 



290 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

school assemlily room, \vitli a seating capacity of 200, and four commo- 
dious recitation rooms, furnished with single desks, occupy the second 
floor. On the first floor are four recitation rooms, the superintendent's 
office and a hl^-arv room, ccintaining more than 5,000 vohimes, selected 
with especial reference to the needs of students in the high school and 
the grammar grades. 

■' Besides, a chemical laljnratnr\ and hiological and physical science 
rooms liave been fitted up \\ith all the modern improvements and the 
necessary appliances for the teaching of chemistry, physics, physiology, 
zoology and botany, according tn the latest and most appro\-ed methods 
of teaching these subjects. 

■' Du.ring i8q-| four rooms were added to the Weston building, and 
the nthers ihonjughly reno\-ated, thus making a good six-room building, 
practically new. It is supplied with water, wire hat-racks, llush closets, 
and the Hess system of heating and ventilating, the whole constituting 
t'lir the money expended the nmst ciin\enient and the best arranged school 
building in the city. It cost, completed and furnished, $10,000. Five 
\ears later the over-crowded condition of the schools rendered it impera- 
tive that more room should be pro\-ided. Accordingly at the recpiest of 
the school board and b}- the unanimous vote of the city council bonds 
were issued and extensive additions tn the fourth and fifth ward buildings 
were made, and improvements in way of closets, heating and ventilating 
apparatus in the other Iniildings anmuntiug in the aggregate to more than 
$20,000." 

The nmst recent atlditinn to the school architecture of Elkhart is 
the new .Middleliur}- schiidl, replacing the old frame building shown in 
the illusti'atiiin. This school, which was to be ready for occupancy by 
the o])cning of the fall term of 1905, contains four rooms, is built of 
brick at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars, and in equijiment rmd general 
]dan is the most perfect of the graded schools of the city. 

.Some statistics cjuoted liy Professor Thomas indicate graphically 
the grijwth and progress of the schools: 

1886. ]8txj. 

School enumeration 2,650 3.669 

School enrollment 1,982 2,669 

Average number belonging ^■Sog 2,371 

• Per cent of attendance 94.3 96 

Number of pupils belonging at close of year. . 1,428 2,254 

Number of school rooms 31 63 

Number of teachers 35 65 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 291 

Number of school teachers in high scliool. ... 4 8 

Number of pupils in high school 96 299 

Number in grackiating class 11 },•/ 

The condition of the schools in 1905 is a matter for congratulation 
on the part of all concerned. \\'hile the only important change made in 
recent years in the school curriculum has been the addition of a commer- 
cial course to the high .school, every department of the educational work 
has felt the stimulus of present-day progress, and in the personnel of 
instructors, in the character of work accomplished, and the general at- 
mospliere of intelligence, there has Ijeen constant improvement. The 
high school, with its four years' course, its faculty of ten reg'ular in- 
structors, under Principal S. B. McCracken, is doing work of such 
character as to obtain affiliation with the University of Chicago, the 
University of [Michigan and Northwestern University. 

The tot;d \alue of the school property of Elkhart in 1904 is placed 
at $204,000. and the amount devoted to education is: from tuition, 
$39,613.41 : from special school re\-enue, $25,892.24, making a total of 
$65,505.65. The a\-erage cost upon the city to furnish a pupil the bene- 
fits of the high school course is $31.14. 

The folloAving table shows the names of the city schools and the 
enrollment of pupils in each for the year ending in 1905 : 

A'ainc of Sclmo!. Eurolhiicnt. 

High school 285 

Central school 805 

Fourth Ward school 368 

Fifth Ward school 379 

Weston school 300 

South Side school 2/S 

Beardsley school • 1 78 

East Elkhart school 117 



Middlebur\- scliool 



-/ 



lotal enrollment 2,837 

A\er;)ge attendance ---^3 

Number teachers, 68. and one supply and one music teacher. 

A (io<hen cducation.al institution v.liose order of merit is high and 
whose intlucnce has liccn directed not alone tO' training the mind but also 
to fitting men and women for the higher ideals of life is Goshen College, 
which is situated in a very desirable neighborhood in the southern part 
of the citv. The college is the outgrowth of the Elkhart Institute. The 



29!i HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

latter, founded in 1895, was opened in the G. A. R. liall in the city o£ 
Elkhart. Before the end of the first year the Elkhart Institute Associa- 
tion was organized and at once began to solicit funds to erect a suitable 
building on Prairie street, Elkhart. The building was completed and 
formally dedicated in February, 1895. In 1898 the Association was in- 
corporated under the laws of the state of Indiana. At that time the man- 
agement was under the control of a board of nine directors. As the 
school grew and its interests expanded it was found that a wider repre- 
sentation was needed, and accordingly, at the annual meeting in 1901, 
the constitution was amended and the number of members on the board 
of directors increased to twenty-fi\e. At this annual meeting a commit- 
tee was appointed to receive propositions from different localities to pro- 
vide larger grounds and more buildings, as it was evident that the growth 
of the school would soon make it necessary to increase the accommoda- 
tions. It was the aim of this committee to decide on such a location as 
would not only supply present needs, but which would provide for the 
future growth of the institution. 

Such a location was found just south of the city limits ui the city of 
Goshen, Indiana. Suitable grounds were purchased and a college build- 
ing and a ladies' dormitory were erected. The school was opened in the 
rooms of the dormitory Septemlier 29, 1903. The college building was 
dedicated January 8, 1904. 

The campus of Goshen College consists of ten acres lieauti fully lo- 
cated in Parkside. 

The main building is a commodious four-story structure, built of 
brick, at a cost of $25,000. It contains modern recitation rooms, a chapel 
hall with a seating capacity of seven hundred, gymnasium, bath room, 
dressing rooms, laboratories, offices, library, reading room, commercial 
room.s and model school. All rooms are well lighted and supplied with 
modern conveniences. 

The ladies" dormitory is a three-story building with kitchen, dining 
hall and laundry on the first floor; matron's room, music room and stu- 
dents' rooms on the second floor, and students' rooms on the third floor. 
It provides a home for the girls where they find comfortable rooms and 
quiet surroundings. Both buildings are heated with steam from one 
plant and lighted with gas. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 293 



CHAPTER XIX. 
LIBRARIES, LITERARY AND OTHER ASSOCIATIONS. 

They are the books, the arts, the academies, that show, contain and nourish all the 
world. — Shakespe.\re. 

Goshen's Carnegie Library. 

The liistoiy of this institution, which was dedicated and opened 
to pubHc use on January 15, 1903, and which, in its educational value 
to the people, not to mention its contribution in architectural beauty, is 
one of the most elevating influences in the community life of the city, 
had its beginnings in enthusiastic ixading clubs, which broadened their 
scope and activity until the volume of their efforts concentrated and 
culminated in the beautiful library. These excellent reading clubs of 
Goshen, vitalized and maintained through the energies of its intelligent 
and public-spirited ladies, formed the nucleus from which the public 
library emanated. Early in January, 1897, a small coterie of them 
met to discuss the necessity of a public library, and soon after an or- 
ganization was formed known as the Goshen Public Library Board, 
with the late Mrs. Rogers as president. Without a dollar in material 
assets, the}- were rich in determination and enthusiasm. The first of 
two arm loads of books which came into the possession of this new 
board was as a donation from two of the reading clubs. Then fol- 
lowed a series of entertainments, the proceeds of which went toward the 
purchase of more books, until the board was possessed of about one 
thousand volumes of well selected literature. 

At this point they were confronted by two difficulties — first to 
make the library free to all the people when its sole basis of maintenance 
was the fund derived from the sale of membership tickets; and second, 
the library had grown much faster than had been anticipated and per- 
manent and suitable quarters must be provided for it or the objects 
for which they had sO' strenuously labored could not be attained. 

x\t this point the attention of the board was directed to the phil- 
anthropic gifts of Andrew Carnegie for the founding of libraries, and 
a committee accordingly waited upon the great iron master, who gave 
his assurance that upon certain conditions, which were easy to comply 



294 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

with, lie wuiild donate fifteen thousand dollars toward the construction 
of a building. Goshen was the first city of its size in the United States 
to secure a similar donation and the tirst city in Indiana of any size. 
The donation, nevertheless, seeming inadecjuate for carrying" out the 
purposes of the board, the gift was subsequently increased b}- 'Mv. 
Carnegie to twenty-five thousand dollars. 

The site for the library building was procured through p(_)pular 
subscription, nearly f[\e thousand dollars being subscribed within a 
week's time under the direction of Hon. C. ^^^ Miller, who was chair- 
man of the finance committee. The corner-stone was laid in Januav}-, 
1902. the work progressed uniler most favorable auspices, and on Janu- 
ary 15, i<;o3, the library was dedicated ior the use and enjo}'ment of 
the public through all time. 

The ]iLirar\' building is of French style of architecture, with French 
Renaissance entrance. Through the marlile decorated corridcir une 
comes directlv into the rotunda. This, the central feature of the bniild- 
ing. is tile-floored, finished in mahogany, with imitation ony.\ columns. 
Overhead an art-glass dome is, as it were, an .architectural climax, and 
around its base appear the names of many famous in literature. The 
color scheme of decorations is yellow or soft wood color and green. 

Behind the librarian's de>^k is the stack rdom, to the left of the 
entrance is the general reading room, at the opp(jsite end of the building 
the chikh'en's reading room, and north of the l)()ok stacks is a reference 
room. An auditorium or assembly room. occu]\ving the principal part 
of the basement, and seating two or three hundred persnns, is used for 
small gatherings whose meetings pertain to literature, music, art and 
education. 

The officers and members of the Goshen I-^ublic Library Board at 
the time the building was so auspicious]}' dedicated were as follows: 
L O. Wood, president; Mrs. J. A. Mitchell, vice-president; George B. 
Slate, secretary: D. A. Sanders. H. H. Gortner, Mrs. F. P. Abbott and 
Mrs. J. yi. Bowser. The building committee was comjiosed of Joseph 
Smith, the local superintendent, D. W. Neidig. IT. H. Gortner. The 
librarian. INIrs. Ella R. Heatwole: the assistant lilirarian, ]\Iiss Elizabeth 
Rockwell, and the janitor. Ch;irles R. Barry, have retained the same 
ofiices to this writing. The numVier of vulumes in the librar\' at the 
time of its opening was about three thousand, and subsequent liberal 
accessions have Ijrought the number to 5.800. The iiresent librarv 
board is as follows: I. O. Wood, president; D. A. Sanders. Joseph H. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY . 295 

Lesh, R. A. Dausman, Mrs. J. A. S. :>[itchell. Airs. Frank .\bbott. :Miss 
Emma Butler. 

The re[);)rt of tlie state librarian on Indiana lil)raries for 1904 
contains the following concerning the Goshen library : 

" The present organization ni the Goshen Public Lilirary dates 
from March, 1901, when it took advantage of the Alummert law of that 
year and succeeded a small public library which was maintained by the 
various ladies' literary societies of the city, which societies are there- 
fore responsible for the inception of the library work in this city. The 
numbers of volumes at present, 1904, are five thousand two hundred 
and eighty-six, between eig'ht hundred and nine hundred being added 
annually. Forty-four current magazines are taken, which are liound 
and placed in the reference rooms as fast as the \-olumes are comjileted. 
The total annual expenditure is one thousand nine liundred ami seventy- 
five dollars, which is raised by a six mill tax, levied under the iMummert 
law. under which the library was organized. 

" The total circulation since the opening" of the present library, 
Januarv 15. 1903. to December i, 1903, was twenty-fovu" thousand one 
hundred and four, making a total daily average of ninety. There are 
two thousand and fifty-one borrowers' cards on file, this being from a 
total population of nine thousand two hundred and fifty, and but four 
of these are country borrowers, who pay an annual fee of one dollar. 
The library is open from 9 a. m. to 12 m. and from 2 to S p. m. for 
the changing of books. The general reading rooms remain open until 
9 p. m. on week days only. During the summer months the sched- 
ules of \\ork of the various literary clubs are obtained and sjiecial prep- 
aration made to assist them in reference work' during the ensuing 
winter."' 

In connection with the librar}- movement at Goshen, whicli finally 
culminated in the fine institution just described, it will be of interest 
to know that the county seat boasted of a library almost in the earliest 
years of its history. This is evident from a notice published in the 
Goshen Donocrat in 1842. in which the request is made that all per- 
sons having books in their possession belonging to the " Elkhart County 
Library " should return them to the librarian, E. ^^^ H. Ellis. 

Elkhart's C.\rnegie Lidrakv. 

Tlie Elkhart Carnegie Library, which was o]iened to the pulilic 
in October, 1903, is one link in the chain of libraries established in the 



296 • HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

middle west b\' the gifts of Andrew Carnegie. Ever mindful of Elk- 
hart's needs, ]Mr. A. H. Beardsley and Mr. George B. Pratt voluntarily 
and unassisted secured from the dom.ir a promise of thirty thousand 
dollars if the city would raise three thousand five hundred dollars by 
taxation. The first gift was afterward increased to thirty-five thousand 
dollars, and with the surety of this help the preliminaries of law were 
entered uiK.ni, the required official IxkIv appointed and the work begun. 

The structure is of Indiana dressed stone and designed by Indiana 
architects. It is sufficiently impressive for the surroundings, and of 
ample dimensions for the posterity likely to need it. It is located near 
both the geographical center and the center of the population of the 
city, being particularly fortunate in this resjiiect. The state law regu- 
lating lil'raries was followed in the appointment of the board, the city 
council nominating two members, the school Iward nominating two and 
the court of the thirty-fifth judicial district appointing them, as well as 
three others of its own choosing. The Library Board was created by 
the appointment by the circuit court of Mr. A. H. Beardsley. Mr. G. B. 
Pratt and Mrs. O. C. Hill. The court also formally appointed Mrs. 
E. A. Carpenter and Dr. J. F. Werner, who had been selected by the 
council, and Dr. C. C. Bower and Mrs. William C. Hackman, who 
had been named by the school board as its choice. The board organized 
by electing A. H. Beardsley president : Dr. \\'erner, vice-president : 
Mrs. E. A. Carpenter, secretary; and G. B. Pratt, treasurer. As the 
members were all reappointed under the law the personnel has not been 
changed. 

The designs submitted by Messrs. Wing and [Nlahurin of Fort 
Wayne were accepted, and the contract let to Mr. \\'. H. Maxwell of 
Angola, Indiana, who began work in September, 1901. The archi- 
tecture of the building is best described as classic. On the front looking 
toward the west is a pediment with molded ornament, supported at the 
two ends by square pillars and in the center bj^ two Ionic columns ; the 
panels at the side of the portals are ornamented also with Greek mold- 
ings, and the recess from the columns to the main entrance gives to 
the front that shade of perspective which adds to the beauty and in- 
creases the impression of massiveness. The side walls are of plain 
stone, but varied with panel projections which give it a massive appear- 
ance and at the same time relieve it from the charge of plainness. The 
walls are of Indiana dressed stone of gray tint, soft and pleasing to 
the eye. The approach is of heavy granite curving to the street in 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 297 

widening path, and the street entrance guarded by two large and orna- 
mental electric lamps. 

riie impression of the exterior is perhaps more massive than the 
length of line and height of building would naturally give, and to the 
eve the effect is most pleasing. From the architectural standpoint the 
exterior could hardly be improved upon, and the building as it stands 
is in e\-er}- way appropriate to its surr()undings Iji ith near and adjacent, 
and it is in all respects iitting for the purposes for which it is intended. 
The setting of green, the handsome lawn which surrounds it, the trees 
at the side and frcjnt. and, in fact, all clijse surroundings add to the 
attracti\'eness and beauty df the whole. 

When, however, one enters the swinging doors and stands within 
the rotunda the scene is unexpectedly beautiful. The tesselated floors, 
the Italian marble columns supporting the dome, other columns sup- 
porting the ceilings of the alcoves and adjoining rooms, the pilasters 
which stand at the ends of the heavy beams holding the roof, give one 
the impression of standing within the walls of some ancient classic 
structure, made motlern by newly adapted laws of art and of archi- 
tecture. Comi'.ig from above in the daytime the bright light of the 
sun is softened by delicately colored artist glass, which gi\-es to the 
tinted walls a soft, warm and in\'iting appearance. The walls are of 
sage green, with chocolate friezes, shading into cream at the ceiling, 
and with here and there touches of bronze. Lighted In- electricity at 
night the rays from the white globes of the ceiling and bracket lamps 
fall with equally soft impression upon a scheme of color .and decoration 
which is artistic, delicate, harmonious and beautiful, 'idie visitor sees 
fourteen of the Italian veneer marble columns in front and at the right 
and left. The vista in all directions is pleasing and imposing, and art 
glass in the dome, brackets and standard lamps of brass finished in imi- 
tation of old metal, settees and tables of beautiful wood, beautifully 
IJolished, all add to the general attractiveness of the scene. 

After passing through the \cstibule into the rotunda the separation 
from the alcoves on the iiDrtb and south is made hv heavv and elegant 
settees standing between the pillars, these in reality marking the only 
floor division between the rotunda and the rooms on the side. In front 
is the circling counter, behind which are the book stacks. At the left 
of the main book room is the reference library, with its elegant table 
and comfortable reading chairs where the reference books, many of 
them ponderous tomes, can be used. These books are not to be taken 



298 HISTORY OF ELKHART COL'XTY 

from the lil)iarv under any cunditinn. On the right of the main book 
room is the Hliranan s i:>fhce, with the conveniences which are attached 
to such a place. At the side of tiie vestil)ule leading from the rotunda 
are ste])s leading to tiie basement, where is a small lecture room or 
auditorium fur the women's clubs and similar organizations to meet; 
also the furnace room and fuel room and nther necessities of the building. 

The report of the state librarian of 1904 gives these additional facts 
concerning the Elkhart Library : 

"The library (in 1904) contains about seven thousand xulumes, 
including public documents, and numbers one hundred and tweKc cur- 
rent magazines. There was a l>asis of three thousand volumes to build 
upon, and fifteen hundred volumes more were added by the difYerent 
literarv clubs of the city. There is an annual appropriation by the city 
of three thousand five hundred dollars fur the )'early exiienditures. raised 
by a tax levy of five-tenths mill per cent. This sum purchases books 
and covers the salaries of the librarian, librarian's assistant, janitor, 
etc. The hours are from 9 a. m. to 9 p. m. for the senior reading room. 
The lo;'n department, children's room and reference department are 
o])en from 9 a. m. to 8 p. m. The number of borrowers is three thou- 
sand t went y-se\'en, and the a\-erage circulation per day is about one 
hundred and eighty-three." The present librar}- Ixiard and officers are 
named in the chapter on Elkhart city. 

TiiF. Ei,Kii.\RT Lkcture Associatiox has fur something like 
thirty years exerted a strong intellectual influence in that city, bringing 
the citizens into contact with the brightest minds of the age and opening 
to diem new vistas of lilieralizing thought, art and science. The real 
foundation of this enterprise dates back to 1875, when E. C. Bickel, as 
secretary of the Elkhart Lecture Union, succeeded in securing a strong 
lecture course for the winter, and that gentleman has been identified 
with the lectiu'e moA-ement in this city since that time. The Elkhart 
Lecture Association was organized in 1S79, after the first moxement 
had been allowed to lapse for several years. But the association was 
organized on a permanent and substantial liasis in the fall of 1879, and 
each year since has brought a fine array of talent to the city. The 
committee for the first year was as follows: S. Maxon, president; 
E. C. Bickel, secretary ;md treasiuxr: Rev. ^f. A\'. Darling, J- S. Rice, 
D, H. Christophel and E. H. Jenkins. Dr. \\\ H. Thomas has been 
president of the association since 1886, and Mr. Bickel has given his 
influence and effort to the organization from first to last. The associa- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 20'J 

tion lias been well managed both from a financial point of view and 
with regard to its fundamental purposes in affording to the people the 
highest class of lectures, music and dramatic and artistic efforts. 

The St. Joseph Valley Chautaucpia was organized in 1905 by the 
citizens of Elkhart working in connection with the Slayton Lyceum 
Bureau of Chicago. The directors and officers are : W. V. Stanton, 
president; Marion Foster Washburn, vice-president; E. C. Bickel, sec- 
retary; I3an C. Thomas, treasurer; Charles L. U'agner, stiperintendent. 
D. \\'. Thomas, Mrs. O. C. Hill. Mrs. I. M. Clark. Mrs. F. K. Thompson. 

The Chautauqua program was carried out in Highland Park, on 
the St. Joseph river, from August 24 to September 4, and some of the 
eminent lecturers and entertainers of the country were procured to 
furnish- the literary and other features of the program. 

Elkhart Couxtv Historical Society. 

At Elkhart county's second annual farmers" institute, held in 
Goshen in January, 1893, the late Joseph Rippey read a paper on the 
subject of Pioneer Farming. For three years following the subject was 
discussed at the institutes, the second paper being presented by Thomas 
Miller, the third b}- John 11. Violett and the fourth by Dr. M. M. Latta. 
These papers brought out a great deal of the pioneer history of Elkhart 
county which would otherwise have been lost. 

The idea l^egan to suggest itself that steps ought to be taken to 
collect and preserve as much as possible of the local history, traditions 
and records relating to this county before all of the earlier settlers here 
should pass away. How to accomplish this was a problem which was 
wrestled with for several years. Finally the conclusion was reached 
that there ought to be an organization which should devote itself to 
this work. After the project had taken definite form in the minds of 
those whose interests had been enlisted, it required a year or more of 
discussion and agitation Ijefore an organization could he effected. Fin- 
ally, on Januar^• 4, 1896. the Elkhart County Historical .Society was 
formalh- organized with a incmhership oi twenty-six people. 

The purposes of the organization are declared by its constitution 
to be; '■ To secure and preserve historical data, reminiscences, records, 
relics and whatever else may be of value or interest in connection with 
the history of Elkhart county or its inhabitants." From the date of its 
inception the society has labored faithfully for the accomplishment of 
these purposes. It has collected many articles of exceptional value, a 



300 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

number of which it would be impossible to duplicate. It has also many 
rare old documents and papers bearing upon the earl\' history of the 
county and describing the life of the pioneers. 

Public meetings have been held from time to time, at which ad- 
dresses have been delivered and papers read, touching upon some phase 
or other of our local history. Interest in the society has been steadily 
growing from year to year and there are at present a greater number of 
people concerned in its welfare than ever before since it was organized. 
While it has not accomplished all that was expected or desired, its work 
has been very satisfactory and its future outlook is encouraging. 

Following are the names of the officers of the society, past and 
present; Presidents, Hon. John E. Thompson, 1896; Daniel J. Troyer, 
1897; Wilber L. Stonex, 1898, 1899; Dr. W. H. Thomas, 1900, 1901 ; 
Wilber L. Stonex, January, 1902, to October, 1904; H. S. K. Bartholo- 
mew, October, 1904. Vice-presidents, Aaron Work, 1896; B. F. Deahl, 
1897, 1898; Dr. W. H. Thomas, 1899; Wilber L. Stonex, 1900, 1901 : 
Dr. W. H. Thomas. 1902. Secretaries, H. S. K. Bartholomew, 1896- 
1900; A. C. Mehl, 1900 — . 

The active existence of the Goshen Lyceum is indicated in the 
following notice published in the Northern Indimiian December 26, 1840 : 
" The memlDers of the Goshen Lyceum are requested to meet this evening 
at Hinton's Hotel at early candle light. The citizens generally are in- 
vited to attend. Question : Resolved that it would be expedient for 
the legislature of the state of Indiana to authorize the issue of bills of a 
less denomination than five dollars, by the State Bank." Then follow 
the names of the committee — A. Stilson. T. H. Bassett, D. Parret — and 
Al. H. Rollin, president, and W. A. Thomas, secretary. 

Another institution of the past, mentioned elsewhere, was the Pio- 
neers' Association, which has not met for some years. It was once a 
flourishing organization, its meetings aroused much enthusiasm not only 
among members, but the entire populace, and were eagerly looked for- 
ward to as one of the annual events of the county's social life. The 
first annual meeting of the association was held at the court house on 
May II, 1858, with James H. Barns as chairman and E. W. H. Ellis 
secretary. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 301 



CHAPTER XX. 
SOCIAL AND FRATERNAL HISTORY. 

Man in society is like a flower 
Blown in its native bed ; 'tis there alone 
His faculties, expanded in full bloom, 
Shine out ; there only reach their proper use. 



-COWPER. 



Joseph Noffsinger. the hermit squatter and border man, who is 
elsewhere mentioned as having settled at the confluence of the Qiristiana 
and St. Joseph streams, away from civiHzed people because he hated the 
society of white men, little realized the impossibility of complete isola- 
tion. His course was like a soldier trying to live by himself during the 
Civil war. .\s there were ties which drew the soldiers together, ties 
which exist even to-day, so there were ties which drew the early settlers 
together. They had common interests, had a common work to do, and 
were threatened by common dangers. Their very circumstances made 
it necessary that they stand together, minister to each other in sickness, 
and weep with those who wept; and this made them rejoice with those 
who rejoiced. There are bonds in the Grand Army of the Republic 
which do not exist in any other society of men. And so it is with the 
early settlers of this county. We see this when they get together. They 
have no grips nor secret words, and yet one who is not an early settler 
is as effectually debarred from entering into their experiences as though 
he were on the outside of lodge-room doors. 

It is sometimes said that the social ties were stronger in pioneer 
days than now, that there was more real sympathy, more dependence 
of neighbor -.ipon neighbor, more mutual assistance then than now. It 
is said that ihe division of society 'uto classes and of religious people 
into sects has interfered with free intercourse; fashionable afternoon 
calls ha\c taken the place of family visiting; clubs and societies demand 
so mucli lime, wealth and circumstances are sO' unequal among the dif- 
ferent classes of people, there are so many circles into which some can 
never enter, that the whole coinmunity is thrown into- dissatisfaction and 
unrest, and social ties are not so sympathetic, so close, so fraternal nor 
so enduring as formerlv. 



302 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 

But is this true? May it not be tliat the loss of s_vmi)athy in society 
is only apparent. When there is progression in all other respects, is 
there deterioration here? Is not humanity more refined, civilization 
more complicated, and the community more highly organized now than 
in pioneer times? And if more highly organized must not the bonds 
Avhich l;ind it together be stronger? Is it not better able to resist op- 
posing forces? There is a stronger and more genuine s}-mpathy to-day 
than formerly, only it lies deeper; there are not so many things to call 
it forth in a special manner. Let anything occur in the community to 
call forthi sympathy, such as a death, a fire, or some other severe misfor- 
tune, and there are not wanting ministrations of sympathy of the deep- 
est kind. That charities are now organized, that relief comes through 
life, accident and fire insurance companies and through fraternal asso- 
ciations, that incendiary or accidental flames are extinguished liy the 
city fire department instead of by the bucket brigade as formerly — all 
this does not argue less human sympathy but more; for he who sustains 
all these institutions as he should is ministering to his neighbor more 
effectually than in the desultory way of pioneer times. What is needed 
is not a return to former days, but to have men realize that he who does 
his duty to organized society is serving" his neighbor, and that it is better 
to do this from i)rinciple, through the organized chamiels, than through 
impulse. 

^^'ith this understanding" of the difference and the degree of devel- 
opment between the social institutions of former times and those of the 
present, we may enter into some detailed account of the various organi- 
zations, of social or fraternal nature, which ha\"e lieen and are a neces- 
sary and essential part of the life of the inhabitants of Elkhart c(iunty. 

The pleasurable occasions of the early days were in the main r|uite 
different from those of the present. The social centers were not so 
numerous and, as mentioned above, not so well organized. Of out-of- 
door enjoyments there was an abundance. The old settlers could tell 
of bee hunts or of the n:ore exciting wolf hunt, for which tlie entire 
community would take a da}" oft' and starting from the circumference 
of a large circle would dri\"e in the game toward the center, where the 
designated marksmen would be stationed to shoot down the game thus 
rounded up. Skating and sleighing, then as now, held a prominent 
place in the winter amusements. The social center was often the school- 
house, and how many tales might be told of the sociables, the " liter- 
aries." the s])elling matches and other occasir}ns which were the magnet 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 303 

to draw vdung and nld. TTdw iiian>- a liny, whose suhsequcnt iiositinn 
in the world entitles him to distinction, obtained liis inspiration and hh 
ease of manner and training- in debate in those old schoolhonse affairs. 
One of the dearest memories nf the American people is of the " old red 
schoolhonse," althongh ton often it was not red nor of any other definite 
color; it was sufficient, irrespective of color, exterior and interior rough- 
ness, and its influence npnn the generatinns past, present and to come 
can never he lightly estimated. 

Then there Mere outdoor meetings in the summer, on political, holi- 
day and other occasions, and all these picnics and festival days relieved 
the monotony of pioneer life. But these phases of Elkhart county his- 
tory are described in another chapter, and we must hasten to speak of 
the regularly constituted liodies, whose social and fraternal purposes are 
along definite lines. 

The first to claim our attention shall he the Pioneers" Association, 
that elite ho(h- of men and women whose ranks, like those of the drand 
Armv. cannot he renewed, hut whose members pass away with the 
breath of the vears. Therefore, all the mm-e reasou why we should 
fondlv record the existence of the association. At a very early ])eriod 
in the historv of the county efforts were made to organize an association 
in which all the pioneers would be embraced. For various reasons the 
progress made was very slow, and it was only after the iien]ile had 
emerged frnm the epnch of labor and c;u-eful guard and bad s(.ime leisure 
to think of their connection with the iiast and future and with each other 
that thev turned their attention to this good work. The leaders in 
the movement finally effected their purpose and the first annual meeting 
of the association was held at Goshen May ii. 1857. It will be of in- 
terest to give the names of those -who took chief part in the organization : 
J. H. Barnes presided over the meeting, and E. W. H. Ellis was secre- 
tary, and the following jjermanent officers were elected: President, 
Matthew Rippe_\' : \-ice-presidents, C'ol. John Jackson, George Nicholson 
and \\'illiam W'augh : secretarw K. W. H. Ellis; treasurer, Milton 
Mercer; executive committee. J. 1\. McL'ord, of Elkhart township: Rob- 
ert A. Thomas, of Clinton; John D. Elsea, of Benton; ]\Iark P. Tlmmi)- 
son, of Jackson; John Peppinger, of Union: Daniel }iIcC<\\-, of Locke: 
Noah Anderson, of Harrison: John Davenport, of Concord; James Peck, 
of Baugo: C. Terwilliger, of Olive: J. D. Carleton. of Cleveland; Na- 
thaniel Xewell, of Osolo ; Owen Coffin, of \\'ashington ; Charles L. 



304 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Murray, of Jefferson; Lewis F. Case, of Middlebury, and A. B. Arnolil, 
of York. 

The organization, thus so well completed, had a prosperous career. 
Each year the reunion of old settlers was looked forward to with increas- 
ing interest. And as time passed there were an increasing number of 
vacancies and the roll call became shorter and shorter. 

Among the prominent old settlers whose faces appear in the group 
photographed at the meeting of the Pioneers' Association in 1895 are 
the following : Benjamin Crar\-, John W. Irwin, William Hawks, 
Abner Blue, A. Defrees and J. P. Hawks, all of whom are dead; and 
Edward Stevens, O. W. Cunningham, ?tIilton fiercer, Dr. Wickham, 
A. F. Wilden, John Thompson and Albert Yates, who are still spared. 

In its large number of fraternal orders and social and industrial 
organizations is another evidence that Elkhart county stands among the 
most progressive counties of the state. The countless orders and unions 
in existence in this country are a striking" proof that this is an age of 
specialization. The social organism is too vast, too inert, too com- 
posite for facility of action as a whole ; its work must be divided and 
subdivided among numerous branches, each of which must i^erform its 
duties with reference not only to its own welfare but to the general 
progress and well-being of the whole of which it is a part. Thus are 
the unions and the many societies the very essence of organized civili- 
zation; for as long as the individual remained an infinitesimal part 
of the sluggish and ponderous mass of humanity his usefulness and 
activity were limited to his own genius or ambition, but with the par- 
celing out of men into their smaller and proper spheres of activity, not 
onl)^ the worth of the individual is increased, Init the power of societv 
for definite action is raised many degrees. For this and the many other 
reasons justifying their existence, the various orders and societies haxe 
obtained a useful and certain place in the world, and the history of Elk- 
hart county could not omit some mention of their influence and extent. 
In the history of the smaller centers we have in each instance referred 
to the fraternal and social organizations of that place, and reserve for 
the concluding pages of this chapter the principal (jrganizations in the 
large cities. 

Goshen. 

Goshen has a full quota of fraternal and other associations. The 
time-honored order of the Masons was the first to Ije establislunl. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 305 

Goshen Lodge No. 12, F. & A. M., was organized under dispensation 
September 14, 1844, with nine members, was granted a charter in May, 
1845, and organized in accordance therewith in the following June. 
Goshen Chapter No. 45, of the Royal Arch Masons, was organized in 
February, i860, with twelve members. Dispensation for Bashor Coun- 
cil No. 15. R. & S. M., was granted March 12, i860. The Mystic 
Shrine is represented by the El Cill Shrine Oub, A. A. O. of N. M. S. 

The Lidependent Order of Odd Fellows was the next great order 
to gain a i>lace in Goshen. Elkhart County Lodge No. 34, L O. O. F., 
was instituted May 20, 1846, in the jury room of the old court house. 
On July 30, 1866, a dispensation was granted to Goshen Encampment 
No. 79, and organization was effected August 7 of the same year. The 
ladies' auxiliary, the Daughters of Rebekah, Rebekah Lodge No. 356, 
was instituted in Goshen April 15. 1891. And there is also Canton 
Goshen No. i, P. M. 

The Knights oi Pythias have had a prosperous career in Goshen. 
Calanthe Lodge No. 41, K. of P., was instituted November 5, 1873, 
and its membership is now alx)nt two hundred. Company No. 11, 
L^niform Rank of the Knights of Pythias, was organized June i, 1883, 
and Goshen Temple No. 329, Rathbone Sisters, has been existence since 
July 19, 1900. 

Another prosperous order in Goshen is the Knights and Ladies of 
the Maccabees. March 11, 1886. Goshen Tent No. 4. K. O. T. M., was 
installed with a charter membership of sixteen, and on June 25. 1895. 
Goshen Hive No. ^y, L. O. T. M., was organized. 

One of the flourishing fraternal insurance organizations of the 

city is Heatwole Camp No. 4075. Modern Woodmen of America, which 

came into existence with twenty-two charter members on July 22, 1896. 

Goshen Congress No. 3, Modern Samaritans of the World, was 

instituted July 20, 1898. 

Tonawanda Tribe No. 130. Improved Order of Red Men, has I)een 
a factor in the fraternal circles of Goshen since January 27. 1892. 

Goshen Lodge No. 798, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, 
was instituted several years ago. 

The Woodmen of the World is represented by Victor Camp No. 
7,2. which was organized June 29, 1893. 

Goshen Council No. 1186, of the Royal Arcanum, was installed 
September 9. 1889. 



306 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

(_i(jshen Cuuncil Xn. 14, Kniglits and Ladies of Columljia, was 
organized April 15. i^'jJ- 

Lodge Xo. 150 I'f the Xational Union has heen in existence twenty 
Aears. having heen instituted ]\lay 25, 1885. 

Roval League Xo. J04 was cirganized Septemher 14, igoo. 

The (ira.nd Arniv nf the ]vepul)hc has maintained a flourishing 
post in this c\\.\ since August 16, i88j. when Howell Post No. 90, G. A. 
I'i., was mustered in. and its roll call still continues quite long despite 
the ravages of years. The auxiliaiy, Howell Relief Corps No. 32, had 
seventeen charter members w'hen it was organized on March 19. i88f). 

One of the purely local organizations which deserves attention is 
the Ladies" Cemetery Association, whose ohject is the beautifying of 
Oak Ridge Cemeter\-. 

The American Federation of Lalior has a branch in this city, formed 
cm Januar}- 7. 1901. 

Coshen Association Xo. 18, X'ational Association of Stationary 
Engineers, was organized July 22,, 189J. 

Other unicns are the Clerks" Union and the Carpenters" Uni(_)n. 

El.KUART. 

in hdkhart also the ALasons were early in the fraternal field. Kane 
Lodge Xo. 183, I'". & A. Al., was granted a dispensation in Alarch, 1855, 
and the charter on Jane i. 1855. Concord Chapter No. loi, R. A. M., 
worked under dispensation from May 20 to November 17, 1886, when 
it received a charter. The Knights Templar are represented by Elkhart 
Conimandery Xo. 31, which was opened February 2, 1884. Starlight 
Chapter X'o. 18 1, Order of the Eastern Star, was fornietl June 4, 1893.^ 

Elkhart Camp of the Woodmen of the \Vorld was organized May 
II, 1893, and Cedar Grove X"o. 8, Woodmen Circle, received its charter 
January 17, 1899. 

The Modern Samaritans of the ^^'orld have made great progress 
in Elkliart. Elkhart Congress Xo. i was instituted at Elkhart March 
2;^, 1898, with one hundred and six members, and now has nearly a 
thousand members. A ladies" auxiliary w^as formed X^oveml^er 2, 1899, 
and is in a flourishing condition. 

The Knights of the Maccabees. The charter of b^lkhart Tent X^'o. 
3. K. O. T. M.. is dated February 26. 1886. Progressive Hive No. 3. 
L. O. T. M., was instituted December 22. 1892. Indiana Hive X^o. 22. 
L. O. T. M., was organized February 19. 1895. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 307 

The Grand .Vrmy of the RepubHc has five liranches in Elkhart. 
Elmer Post Xu. 37, (1. A. R.. was mustered in on NoA-ember 8, 1881. 
The Elmer Woman's Relief Corps Xo. 15 was instituted May 14, 1885, 
with twenty-three charter members. Within two years after the forma- 
tion of the first post Sliiloh Eield Post X^o. 198 was instituted, on June 
26, 1883. The Shiloh Field Relief Corps Xo. 5 was instituted .\pril 
8, 1884. Frank Baldwin Circle Xo. 14, 'Ladies of the C. A. R.. came 
into being August 12, iS()(>, with twenty-one charter members. 

The Knights of J'ythias. Elkhart Lodge Ni.x j^ was instituted 
October 29, 1877. and later Elkhart Company No. 18. Uniform Rank 
K. of P., was organized. T'^lkhart Temple No. 14, Rathbone Sisters, 
the woman's auxiliary of the order, was formed May 12, 1890. 

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is represented by 
Elkhart Lodge No. 425, which was organized March 30, 1898. 

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was the first established 
order in this city, and among the first in the county. Pulaski Lodge 
No. 60 was granted its charter Jul}- 13, 1848, and its subsecpient career 
has I)een most gratifying. A charter was granted Elkhart Encampment, 
I. O. O. F., May 18, 1870, and Naomi Lodge No. 67, Daughters of Re- 
bekah. has Ijeen in existence since May i". 1871. 

Court F.lkhart Xo. 5, Indqiendent Order Foresters <.)f America, 
was instituted December 4, 1893. 

The Modern W'oodmen of America has a large membership in 
Camp X'o. 3320. and its auxiliary, the Royal X'eighbors of .\merica, also 
has a branch in the city. 

Elkhart Lodge No. 23, Ancient Order of United \\'orkmen, was 
formed April 30, 1888. 

Modoc Tril)e No. iii. Tmpro^•ed Order of Red Men. has been in 
existence since December, i8go. 

Elkhart Council No. 150, X'ational Union, was organized May 7, 
1885. 

Elkhart Temple No. 7, Patriarchal Circle, was organized June 15, 
1882. Elkhart Council No. 9, Knights and Ladies of Columbia, was 
formed January 12, 1897. 

Elkhart, owing to its large industrial interests, has a number of 
trades and labor unions, and the most important are given as follows : 

Order of Railwa}- Conductors, Division 19, was instituted in 
March, 1881, with seventeen charter members. 

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. The John Hill Division 



308 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

No. 248 was organized April 27, 1884. Cora Smith Division No. 143, 
G. I. A. to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, was organized 
July 7, 1892. 

Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, Prospect Lodge No. 162, was 
instituted June 3, 1883. Heljimate Lodge No. 10, the ladies' auxiliary, 
was organized December, 1891-. 

The Central Labor Union of Elkhart was organized February 10, 
1900, under the charter of the American Federation of Labor. Three 
unions were represented in the Central Union at the time of organiza- 
tion, and since then others have joined and there is a large membership. 

Elkhart Typographical Union No. 266 was formed in the fall of 
1890. Becoming discouraged the local union surrendered its charter 
in September, 189 1, but in the following spring a reorganization was 
effected. 

Cigar Makers' Union. Local Union No. 415 was organized Octo- 
ber 31, 1898. 

Metal Polishers and Brass Workers' Union. Local Union No. 142 
was formed in December, 1899. 

Retail Clerks' Protective Association, Local No. 293, was organized 
August 20, 1899, with twenty-two charter members, and now has a 
large enrollment of members. 

Journeyman Tailors' Union, No. 296, was installed April i, 1890. 

The Society of German Workingmen was organized at Elkhart 
May 10, 1873. 

Elkhart has especial reason to be proud of her Century Club. This, 
one of the most modern and handsome of exclusive club buildings, 
stands on Main street just north of Jackson. It was erected in 1898 
for the club by H. E. Bucklen, at a cost of twenty thousand dollars, 
including the furnishings. The Century Club was organized for purel}- 
business and social purposes in 1892, and, to quote from its own souvenir 
booklet, " while at all times the club may not have shown that enter- 
prise and energy which some of the most exacting and unreasonable 
outsiders thought it should exiu'bit, it has always been alive to the best 
interests of the city, and has quietly fostered and furthered many an 
enterprise which to-day is the pride and honor of Elkhart." The club 
building has a very striking architectural design, being one of the ornate 
structures of the city. An excellent scheme of arrangement has been 
carried out in the interior, where the principal divisions are lounging 




CENTURY CLUB 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 309 

room, card room, billiard room, gentlemen's parlor and directors' room, 
and a beautiful and capacious auditorium. 

The Marquette Club, composed of progressive Elkhart young men 
banded together for healthful recreation and pleasure, was organized 
on December 7, 1897. 

Elkhart has possessed an active branch of the Young Men's Chris- 
tian Association for many years. The organization was effected Feb- 
ruary 3, 1882, but its work was not efifective until 1884, when it was 
reorganized as a railroad association. In August, 1885, the erection of 
a special Y. M. C. A. building was begun, and the structure was opened 
to the public in the following spring. It is located on Tyler avenue, 
covers a ground space of 75 by 30 feet, and all its equipments and 
furnishings are admirably suited for its broadly beneficent work. 



510 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 



CHAPTER XXT. 

HISTORY OF CLUB MOVEAFl'-XT IX ELKHART COUNTY. 

By AIrs. E. E. MrM.MERT. 

President of Indiana State l'"ederation of \\'omen's CluJis. 

The woman's clnlj came almost simnltaneoiisly with the woman's 
college. In the days when might made right, there was very little out- 
side " the four walls " which women could d<j ; hut as times changed and 
the race hegan to understand that there was a more just and satisfactory 
way of settling differences than hy fighting, when people really began 
to believe in the fatherhood of (iod and the brotherhood of luan ; when 
the conference began to be thought of as a substitute for the quarrel, 
and the idea of arbitration took root, there was work for women to do, 
and all unconsciously the woman's college and the woman's club came 
to give them the necessary training to take their part in the world: thus 
fitting women to stand side by side with men and together work for the 
.social, civic, nmral and intellectual uplift nf humanity. Tn help solve 
world problem'^ re(faircs dee]i thinking and broad training, hence the 
growth of the woman's club, that this training might be obtained. 

Xaturallv. the historv of the club mo\-ement throughout the United 
States co\-ers the history in our own state and county, and a brief state- 
ment (;f what has been and is being accomplishe<l at large may tend 
1 letter to show what women are doing in Elkhart county. 

It is generallv supposed that the " Sorosis " of Xew Yurk was 
the first woman's club ever organized in this C'-Umtry, Init upon careful 
investigation this honor is mnv claimed by our own Indiana, and that 
the first woman's club in the United States was organized by Mrs. Con- 
stance FauntLeRoy Runcie in 1S59. at New Harmony, Indiana, and 
known as the " Minerva Cluli," thus antedating the " Sorosis " by nine 
years. Mrs. Runcie is at present a resident of St. Joseph, Missouri, 
and sa) s she al'^o fciunded her second club in 1867 at ^ladison, Indiana, 
thus .gi\'ing Indiana the distinction of having two woman's clubs before 
the Boston or X^ew York clubs. 

Since woman has put herself in touch with the work of the club 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 311 

she has advaiu'ed and accimjihshed nnich. and a part of the work dime 
is iiKhcated only hrieHy as follows: 

First. — She has gained admission, to com]3lete rights of citizenship 
in many states. 

Second. — She has gained fully recognized admission to all occu- 
IKitions. and instead of seven occupations being open to woman, as in 
1840, she may now ha\-e choice of upwards of three hundred distinct 
trades and professions : business, factory and professional. 

Third. — She .has accomplished the removal of the education of 
women from the field of the "namby-pamby" and the ornamental to that 
of the useful, beginning with household economics and extending into 
the highest branches of science and literature, and co-educational ad- 
vantages being also secured. 

Foiirfli. — She has inctilcated the acceptance of motherhood as a pro- 
fession, reiiuiring thorotigh recognition of the fact that it brings 
W(-.man's highest reward. 

f if til. — She has lirought about the contrilnition of an immense 
amount of careful thinking, placed in book fr>rm, regarding household 
duties, household management, the care of the body and methods of 
correct living. 

.Si.vlli. — She lias secured the indention of a great number of house- 
hold con\'eniences, calculated to save the labor of the housewife and to 
make work, as it shotild be, interesting, inviting and agreeable. 

The foremost work of the club movement has always been educa- 
tion. Of its educational work, ])erba])s the establishment of pulilic and 
traveling libraries has been and is one of its most effecti\e acti\ities. 
Through the fostering care and influence exerted by club women, the 
libraries are multiplying in ntimber, and in number of books, readers 
and consequent g'ood to present and future generations. 

The Federation club women are pledged to work for a common 
cause, the cause of womanhood throughout the land. The}" belie\-e that 
the impro\-ement of our schools will ne\-er lie satisfactory until the (jues- 
tion of politics is completely di\-<irced from education and school man- 
agement. They believe if our boys and girls can he taught that to li\-e 
for one's country in the best and truest sense is as glorious as to die for 
it. and [jrotecting its rights and maintaining its laws and institutions is 
as much a jiart of patriotism as defending it from invasion : we niav 
rest assured that the future of our nation is safe. 

Club life teaches women the necessity of putting aside all person- 
ality, of judging all persons and questions on their merits, and of sink- 
ing the individual preferences in that wdiich will be for the highest good 
of all. Thus it is that club women are being trained to broader and 



312 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

liigher thinking, to Ije more perfectly educated; to have not only the 
knowledge gained from books, but the ability to utilize all knowledge 
which can be gained from any source. 

In this great aggressive and progressive club movement now mani- 
festing such patent influence in our land, Elkhart county has had and 
is now taking a prominent part. It is known that during the period of 
the Civil war, when men were enlisting to defend our country's lionor 
and the principle of personal liberty, a society was formed in Goshen, 
the county seat, for reading and debate, dealing largely with the cjues- 
tions of the times, which were on the hearts of all. This debating 
society flourished for }xars, and may be said to have been the beginning 
of similar work, and club work in the county. Many such societies, 
later on, were organized in the rural districts of the county, until almost 
every schoolhouse was the center of this kind of intellectual training 
and drill, w^hich should be revived and encouraged and maintained as 
one of the best means of drill for the young, to enable them to better 
grapple with the problems that are sure to confront them as time goes on. 

For quality of work and real interest exhibited, those societies 
rivaled the up-to-date club of to-day. Here the school " ma'am " and 
the school master received the inspiration for future careers in pedagogy. 
Here many a campaign orator was developed, getting his inspiration 
and early training from the old, now obsolete, country schoolhouse de- 
I'ating societies. 

With the problems of the twentieth century we need something 
more of these debates, where intellect is pitted against intellect in splen- 
did effort. But as time went on the debating and literary society was 
superseded by the Reading Circle and Oub. 

In the inception of the modern woman's club idea we must not 
forget the influence nf tlie Chautaii(|ua niovement, to which much (if 
our present club work can be traced. As early as 1878 in the cit}- of 
(ioshen. Miss Mable Hawks, still a resident, began reading the Chau- 
tauqua course and continued her reading for two years alone, when twf) 
others joined in the reading. From the fall of 1881 to and including 
1883, there were fi\e in the circle. These met once and sometimes 
twice a week to compare notes and ascertain what information was 
found outside the -subject matter of their reading. There was no or- 
ganization, hence no officers. In the fall of 1884 a large C. L. S. C. 
(Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Course) was organized, with Mr. 
James Mayfield, of Goshen, now deceased, as its first president. With 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 313 

some change in membership the circle continued its work until 1890, 
some few continuing a year or more afterward. There are nearly a 
score or more of C. L. S. C. graduates in Goshen, many having com- 
pleted several courses of study and thereby added one or more seals to 
tiieir diplomas. 

Following this first club movement, we now have nine regularly 
organized women's clubs in Goshen, namely : The Philomathean, a 
direct outgrowth of the Chautauqua, studying literature and art chiefly. 
The Bay View Circle, a Chautauqua course, as the name implies. Li- 
brary Club, devoted chiefly to the study of travel and history. Winona, 
a Chautauqua circle, and the Chautaucpia Club, as the name indicates, 
another Chautauqua circle. The History Club, making a specialty of 
the study of American history. The Progress Club, an art class, and 
the " Beacon Lights,'' students of history and literature and the most 
pi'ogressive club in the city, as it is the only club afliliated with the State 
and General Federations, one of whose members is now president of 
the State Federation of Women's Clubs and another a member of the 
educational committee of the General Federation. 

Through the combined efforts of some of the above named cluljs 
popular lecture courses. uni\-ersity extension lectures and series of lec- 
tures on special themes which were the subjects of study in the clubs, 
have been promoted and maintained. 

Goshen also deserves to be proud of its Woman's Musical Club, 
which is entering upon its seventh year with a membership of nearly 
three hundred. This club, with its strong and commendable features 
in " Artists " recitals, has brought superior musical attractions of a 
high order to the city, thus raising the standard of music. It has also 
supported choruses under efficient directors, rendering oratorios and 
cantatas. This club has much good musical talent in voice, on organ, 
piano and stringed iristruments, having several memljers whose training 
has been completed under the Ijest masters abroad. 

But woman's club work must nut be understood as being confined 
to literature, history, travel, art, music and the like, for the work of 
women's clubs is far from that reported by a delegate from Pennsvl- 
vania, reporting a club devoted to study of literature, to the General 
Federation, uttered the following: "Our club does purely literary 
work, ^\'e study our lessons and recite them, but we never do any- 
thing for anybody, and may God have mercy on our poor selfish souls." 
On the contrarj', many clubs, especially those affiliated with the General 



314 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 

Federation, have committees for tlie following work: Education. Art, 
Ck'ics. Cm! Service Reform. Household Economics and Pure Food. 
Forestry. Industrial. Child Labor, Legislative, Reciprocity, and man_\- 
otlier lines of work, that the changing conditions of the times may seem 
to require. 

Elkhart, the largest city in the county, has ten acti\'e women's cluhs, 
six of which helong to the State F'ederatinn of Women's Clubs. The.se 
are: Current: iMfteen Circle Association: Thursday Cluh: Twentieth 
Centurv: Woman's Clul). and Women's Art Cluh. The first organized 
cluh w;is the '" F'ifteen Circle Association." in i8S(), incorporated in 
1894, its aim lieing literar^•. ])hilanthroi)ic and social iniproxement. The 
last A-erir's course of stud_\- was " The Drama," one of great interest. 
In i8(J4 Mrs. A. E. Baljh endowed the 1^'ifteen Circle Association with 
a library of several hundred volumes. This collection, with other hooks 
that from time to time had l)een purchased hy the club, numbering one 
thousand volumes, was in the year 1903 i^resented to the new Carnegie 
librar_\- of tlie cit_\' of I^lkhart. 

The Woman's Art Club was organized about twelve years ago, 
and, as its name imjilies, studies art in all its branches ; last year's study 
being (le\dted to ])oetic art in operas, and Browning, being considered 
the banner vear as to interest and qualitv of work. The plan is to study 
Browning and Tennvs(jn the coming year. 

The Twentieth Centur\- ^^'oman's Clul) is liter.ary and social, hav- 
ing advanced ideas and aims. This club, together with the Fifteen 
Circle ;ind .\rt Club ha\e combined and engaged a prominent lecturer 
from Boston to deli\er a course of four lectures on subjects relating to 
the studies pursued. 

The ^^^)man's Club, organized in 1902, is the only department clul) 
in the county, and is doing most excellent work. Thursday Club is de- 
voted niostl}- to the study of the history of countries and current topics. 
Current Cluh is what the name signifies, a club for the study of current 
history. Of the ten clubs, there are foiu' unfederated, viz.: Progress 
Clul), a literary club: the Loyal Club, composed of ladies of the 
" \\'()man's Relief Corjis," who have read " Stoddard's Lectures " and 
recently ])ursued the course as presented in the Ba)- \'iew Magazine: 
Riverside Reading Cluh, a literary club: and Ba\- \"ie\v, students of 
" The Bay \"iew Ch.autauqua Course." Elkhart is the onl\- city in the 
northern part of the state having a City Federation of Women's Clubs, 
which has iieen organized .and doing effective work for some time. The 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 315 

object of the City Federation lieint;- to study civic conditions and assist 
in bringing about many much needed reforms in the civic hfe of the 
city, and otherwise plan for l)eautifying it. 

Through tlie efforts of some of the chibs the city council was in- 
dticed to pass an ordinance providing that sidewalks lie kept clean and 
the comfort of the citizens is thus grcath' enhanced. Through the in- 
fluence of these same club women, Elkhart citizens ha\e had the prixa- 
lege of hearing many of the best university extension lecturers and 
others of national reputation. 'Idie present season, 1905, the first Chau- 
tauqua Assemijlv was held, giving a ten days' session, and so successfttl 
as to encourage the management to arrange for a permanent Chautauqua 
assembly. 

Xappanee, the third largest town, and a most thriving manufac- 
turing place, has maintained a club at sliort intervals for years. A 
Chautauqua Circle being the first, studied and read for two years and 
then abandoned the work. A Ladies' Literary Cluli, organized and met 
for one vear. and was superseded liy a Bay View Circle for another 
vear: but there is no club at this time. Nappanee has some enthusiastic 
clul) women, needing only a leader to organize the work, 

Wakarusa has the Search Light Club, devoted to literary and other 
woik. ^liddleliurv has had the distinguished literary societies in the 
early days, but no club at present. In 1895 there was a reading circle' 
composed of men and women who did much reading and afterward 
engaged in the discussion of leading questicms in deflate. About 1900 
a Shakespeare Club was held for the winter season only. Two years 
later the voung ladies formed a circle for the reading and study of 
English authors. 

Millersburg has- no literary club, but does much musically, su])- 
porting a chorus with a paid director some portion of the year. The 
other towns in the county make no effort to support and encourage club 
work among women so far as has been learned. 

The trul}- modern clul> is not a club for self-improvement only', 
but is prompted with altruistic and philanthropic motives; is an organ- 
ized body of women filled with a desire to serve others, doing most ex- 
cellent vv'ork in its community in providing better school facilities, better 
teachers, creating purer politics, more wholesome civic conditions ; is 
largely instrumental in improving the conditions in jails, prisons, asvlums 
and retreats for the unfortunate, in fact to impro\e, ujilift and benefit 
humanity and conditions in a multiplicit}' of ways. 



316 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 



CHAPTER XXn. 

PATRIOTISM. 

In peace there's nothing so becomes a man 

As modest stillness and humility : 

But when the blast of war blows in our ears, 

Then imitate the action of the tiger: 

Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood. 

— Shakespeare. 

From a very early time Elkhart county has resounded to the tramp 
of armed men. Long before history began to be recorded here the 
Indian Vvarrior bands hurried across the lands of northern Indiana on 
the warpath. This region was probably passed over by British and 
American soldiers in the campaigns of George Rogers Clark during the 
stirring times of the Revolution, and it is certain, as has been stated 
elsewhere, that a detachment of General Harrison's army was near the 
site of the village of Benton during the war of 1812. While the county, 
during its organized existence, has never been the scene of war, many 
of its patriotic citizens have furnished the sinews of war and have held 
themselves ready or actually gone forth to figlit the battles of our re- 
public. 

Of the several Revolutionary heroes who Vned at least a part of 
their closing years in this county, one of the most noteworthy was 
William Tufifts, who died at Middlebury September 5, 1847, ^&ed 
ninety-two. He had assisted in throwing over the tea from the ships 
in Boston harbor and subsequently served through most of the years of 
the Revolution. 

The most prominent military figure in the countj^ during the early 
days was Colonel John Jackson. It is said that he was commander of 
the first military battalion organized within the county, and that as early 
as 183 1. It will be remembered that he was the moving spirit in pre- 
paring the county for defense during the Indian scare of 1832. This 
organization became known as the Goshen Guards, and its roster in- 
cluded the names of nearly all the business men. They were splendidly 
imiformed and were armed with the old-time muskets. E. M. Cham- 



HISTORY OK ELKHART COUNTY 317 

berlain was captain. Dr. E. W. H. Ellis lirst lieutenant. Dr. AL .M. Latta 
second lieutenant. 

No requisition for actual service was made upon the citizens of 
the county until the Mexican war. The Cioshen Guards at that time 
was not a full and efficient compau}', and was not prepared to enter the 
service at the first call. This war excited very little enthusiasm in this 
portion of the state as far as enlistment was concerned, and in fact 
there seemed little need for a large force in the field, since the armies 
already there were completely victorious on every occasion. Therefore 
the Goshen Guards never took the field, and in 1848 the organization 
was disbanded. It is stated that not more than half a dozen men from 
Elkhart county enlisted in the five regiments furnished by Indiana for 
the war with Mexico. 

The prospects of a railroad and general and local politics more 
than outw'eighed the war with Mexico in the thoughts and interests of 
the people, as is evident from reference to the papers of that period. 
The Democrat of August 11, 1847, contains the following interesting- 
paragraph concerning "a returned volunteer:" "Jonas Myers, son of 
Joseph Myers, of this town, a vohniteer in one of the Illinois regiments, 
has just returned from Mexico to this place, where he formerly resided. 
and was welcomed by a few rounds from Aunt Olive ( wliich was 
the town artillery). A number of our citizens assembled at the court 
house and listened to an interesting account of his adventures and an 
entertaining description of the country. Young Myers was wounded 
at Cerro-Gordo by a grapeshot, but not severely." And a few days 
later, in the same paper, we see this item: '" INIr. (ieorge Cart, a noble- 
souled old Democrat of Union township, called on us the other day. 
requesting us to write a letter to his son. who is a volunteer in the 
Mexican war. ' Tell him," said the old man, ' to be a good soldier and 
obey his officers ; tell him to remember that his grandfather served five 
years in the Revolution, and that his father served through the last war. 
It will do him good," he added, ' to think of these things when he comes 
into battle.' " 

There was a magnificent manifestation of patriotism in J^lkhart 
county on the receipt of the news concerning the fall of Fort Sumter in 
April, 1861, and from that date until the close of the long Civil war the 
steadfast loyalty of the citizens and the heroic devotion of life and their 
all to the cause never wavered. While the strong men marched awav 
for the actual strife in the field, those who remained behind displayed 



318 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

equal {crtitude and self-sacrifice in their effnrts to aid the cause, and 
the noble women of the county were hy no means the least factors in 
winning the battles of the republic. 

It would be indeed a grateful task to record at length the dis- 
tinguished history of Elkhart county"s soldiers in the rebellion, but for 
this jjurpose an entire volume of this size would barely suffice. Yet, 
notwithstanding that the limits of our space may lie overfilled thereby, 
it seems right and fitting that those who left the county for patriot 
ser\ice, aciuated ]i\ the sentiment, '" Sweet and noble it is to die for 
CTJuntry." should have their names, if not their deeds, inscribed on the 
pages of that county's history. Therefore from the sources that are 
a\-ailable wc give as completely as possible the quota furnished l>y this 
count\- to the Union armies in its \-arious branches of service. 

In April. 1861. immediately after the presidential call for volun- 
teers, a full militar}- company of ninety-three men was organized at 
Goshen, known as the Goshen G.uards. This com]);uiy left en refute to 
Indianapolis on Monda_\', .\iM-il jg. under command of Alilo S. Hascall, 
and comprised in its rank and file : Lieutenants E. R. Kerstetter, F. B. 
Rossehvyn. James ]\I. Barns; Privates H. 1''. Agard. E. C. Albright, 
C. W. Allen, E. C. Adams, Gus Barns, W. A. Bates, William Balch, 
F. H. Backus. A. D. Blanchard, C. T. Banford, P. Barnhart. William 
Burns, D. M. Bowser, E. Carpenter, G. W. Carpenter, R. \\'. Cook, 
E. S. Corp A. Cornish, C. C. Crummel, D. Chamberlain, John Crummel, 
A. B. Clark, J. Conner, H. G. Davis, S. Dougherty, William Dodge, Jr., 

A. W. Fenton, James Ferguson, H. Ferris. .\mos Fuller. John Graham, 
Geary, Samuel Harris, C. B. Harris, William Harris, J. K. Har- 
ris. G. Hattel, J. E. Howell, B. L. Harkins. Levi Hass. H. Hutchison, 

E. T. Hubbell, Solomon Ivens, E. Jacobs, D. James. George Jackson, 
Peter Kerstetter, William Knight, Henry Lorton, John JMacomber, M. 
McConneli, \\'illiam McCord, William McDowell, George McKain, J. 
S. Miller. \\'illiam Minnegar. ^^'illiam Metzgar. Samuel Mott. D. E. 
Manning, Barney O'Hara, F. Pierce, (i. A. Porter. Benjamin Powell, 
W. H. Peck, F. Ruddy, C. Reynolds. J. Reynolds. W. S. Smur, J. Smith, 

B. W. Smith, S. W^ Snyder, W. D. St.ner. E. H. Stevens, C. Schull- 
myer, J. Shinebarger, P. Slough. W. ^\'. Tillotson. B. V. Thomas. John 
H. Violett, G. Wilton. J. Wickam, Thomas \\'illiams, M, K. Wilson, 
J. H. Wilson. Albert \\'inchell, A. Yates. J. ^■ants. S. Yankel and Fred 

F. Yeoman. 

The state had alreaily acted well its part. The six regiments called 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 319 

for in the president's proclamation were complete, and the i.mly alterna- 
tive open to the men of this company was to retnrn to their homes and 
await at Indianapolis the second call to arms. In the meantime Captain 
Hascall was assigned a position on the staff of General Morris, again 
appointed to the colonelcy of the Seventeenth Regiment and subsequently 
promoted to the rank of brigadier general. His service extended over 
a period of three years and six months. Lieutenants Kerstetter and 
Rossehvyn, who, with Captain Hascall. were among the officers of the 
unrequisitioned company, attached themselves to the Seventeenth and 
Seventy-fourth Regiments, respectively. 

The draft of 1862 was carried out under Commissioner Dr. E. \V. 
H. Elli.-,. Alarshal W. A. Woods and Surgeon M. M. Latta, anti their 
towaiship marshals, with the following result : Harrison, forty-seven : 
Jackson, twentv-eight ; Union, twenty-four; Clinton, twelve: Benton, 
six; Baugo. six; anil Locke, five, all forming a company of one hundred 
and twenf>--eight men. who proceeded to Camp Morton under Dr. Ellis 
and were formally assigned to the command of Captain Edwin Billings. 
The five su]>sequent drafts were carried out in an equally satisfactory 
manner under Enrolling CommissiiMier Ellis. 

COMI'.VNV R0.STERS. 

Coiiil^aiiy C. Xiiith Rci^iiiifiit. — This company was organized with- 
in Elkhart cnunty and mustered intc service .\pril 24. i8(ii, for a three 
months' term, under Captain Theodore h". Mann, Charles H. Kirkendall, 
first lieutenant, and James D. Braden, second lieutenant. The non-com- 
missioned officers and men comprised first sergeant, .Albert Heath : ser- 
geants : D. C Ri.sley, Xelson Mansfield, \Y H. Crampton : corporals: 
J. A. Gambee, Anthony S. Davenport, Daniel C. Gore, Orville E. Harris; 
nuisicians : James O'Brien and William H. Morgan : pri\'ates : Ru- 
dolph Ashey. A. Bellonger. J. Benner, .\lfred Billows. A. G. Bierce, 
George Bickle. A. Brower. D. Burrus. J. S. Brul. Frank Carlton. J. 
H. Chance. P. Christman. George H. Clarke, C. Coellars. H. Cornish, 
A. Daver, T. J. Davis, S. A. Diehl. Charles Dyer, Peter Dyer. Jacob 
Ehret, N. H. Earr, V. Finch. :\I. H. (earner. \Y Helm, R. Hilton, J. 
Hine, Peter Harney, C. W. Huston. V. Jordan. (J. L. Kibbinger, E. M. 
Kreigbaum, \\'. Locke. E. F. Manning-, ;M. B. ^Miller, S. Millspaugh, 
Stephen Morris, LaFayette Murray. C. L. Murray. S. B. ^IcGuire. 
James McKenzie, L. D. Nickerson. C. Norman. T. M. Patten. J. C. Pat- 
terson. J. G. Perry. ^^•. Punchus. H. H. Pullman. C. C. Redding, J. W. 



320 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Kicli. (;. W, Russell. A. W. Shelly. L. C Shippard. W. Smith. JJ. 
Sweet, J. Swartz, O. E. Thompson. A\'. H. Todd, liiram Upham. Na- 
poleon B. Upson, P. K. Upson, Ezra AX'illard, W. H. W'ilsey. Pierson 
T. Wines. 

The Xinth Rcg'unciit. — (Three years' volunteers) was musteretl in 
at Lafayette September 5. 1861. having been organized at LaPorte, and 
was augmented in 1864 by S. A. A1>bot. R. G. Brown, C. Brown, C. 
Bayne. D. Beniont. all of Elkhart county, who responded to the draft 
of that vear and attached themseh-es to Company Pi. Company C was 
entirely composed of Elkhart men. under Captain 1). (i. Risly. wlio was 
succeeded bv First Lieutenant J. D. Braden. and on his promotion to 
the rank of major h\ A. J. ]\lartin. Simon Barringer and I'lzra ^^'illard 
were lieutenants. This company was mustered into service in Septem- 
laer, 1861, with A. J. ALirtin as first sergeant: Ambrose G. Bierce, W. J. 
Chapman, S. Garringer and Lafayette Murray, sergeants; T. j\L Patton, 
S. Baringer, J. Stewart. J. D. Smith. M. P. Ormsby. H. P. Clanson, 
J. L. Knap, M. L. Delamater, corporals ; Charles Peasly and James 
O'Brien, musicians; G. P. Bellows, wagoner; and privates, J. A. Ab- 
bott, G. J\L Allen, Jacoli Berlin, M. Bowers, B. T. Brown, D. Burket, 
S. Butts. S. C. Carter. J. Cathcart. S. A. Cheever, N. D. Cline, G. G. 
Congdon, S. C. Congdon. A. Conroy. ^^'. R. Conroy, V. Craft. G. W. 
Crampton. A. Crandal. John Daly. A. Dills, Jr., J. B. Drake, J. Earle, J. 
C. Fox. F. J. Grub1>. J." Grulier. H. Hall. E. Horn. P. S. Hare. A. A. 
Holdeman, T. L. Holdeman. John Hoke. G. \\". Huyler. W. Kelly. S. 
Kessler. W. Keyes, C. Koeliler, Y. ]\L Kreighbaum, D. Leader, A. G. 
Manning. J. B. Mayer, J. D. Mead. H. N. Metcalf, N. L. Metcalf, O. P. 
Merchant. M. L. ^Miller. F. Molebash. S. J. Morris. C. W. Munson. T. J. 
Naylor, W. H. Nimrick, L. North. S. L. Nye, H. Olmstead, D. Peasly. 
W. Rosen, A. Salisbury, E. Sanders. A. Saylors, W. J. D. Saver. J. Shutt, 
J. H. Shaver. W. F. Shaver. E. W. Shrock, J. Shuppert. C. h" Smith, 
W. Smith, W. Speese. A. Stutsman. S. Swineheart. S. I\I. Thaxton, J. 
Wallis, J. Weaver, E. Werts, J. Werts, W". Wilson, C. Wheeler, j. 
Wheeler, T. Whitaker, S. Whittig, J. Wolf; John Wolf, C. Zoellars. 

The company was strengthened by the addition oi the following re- 
cruits from December, 1861, to February, 1865. The greater number 
entered on ser\'ice in 1864. and with three exceptions were furnished 
by Elkhart county: Phil. Abel. L. Briggs, T. L. Barnhouse. N. Bird. 
G. Bickle, A. B. Chapman. A. A. Cleveland, O. G. Carleton. J. L. Cong- 
don, T- Clanson. A. P. Culbertson. J. Driscoll. B. A. Dunne. E. L. Eos- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 321 

ter, W. Funk, H. V. Fields, E. M. Hyde, George Hertzell, B. F. Het- 
rick, A. E. Houghland, W. Jeffries, W. King, G. L. Kirk, E. Klinger- 
nian, A. J. Longley, Edgar Merchant, John Nolan, James Powers, N. 
B. Richards. J. A. Salisbury, J. H. Stanley, R. Stutsman, D. R. Stuts- 
man, H. J. Smith, Henry Smit'i, J. Smith, H. L. Shupert, M. K. 
Thomas, H. G. Van Alstine, S. W^ird, T. V. Wheeler, C. ^L Wheeler. 

The list of casualties of this company from Greenl^rier in October, 
1861, to the pursuit of General Hood, 1864-5, forms in itself a record of 
duty valiantly done. In Company D, of the same regiment, were J. D. 
Keely, J. J. Stawers. F. Dunbar, J. Hurley, W. Keely. J. M. McGinnis, 
\\'. F. Shekels, V. Swartz, S. Stowers and R. Whitmire, of this county. 
In Company E were Curtis Chapman, A. J. Conner, E. Hammond, R. 
Hubbell, G. C. King, Murry McConnell, J. W. Moorehouse, R. M. 
]\Ioran, M. McKeloy, J. Openchain, T. Prickett, C. Rodgers, E. Schel- 
linger, J. Simons, W. H. PI. Stuart, A. Swartswatter, S. Story, J. 
Troyer, J. H. Violett. Z. Walker, G. S. Weathers. J. PI. Wickham. A. 
B. Winfield, L. D. Nickcrson, W. J. Norris, A. Nye. 

In Company F were Edward Dokey, Emery Dokey, I. H. Hulder- 
man, Ralph Johnson, I. Kopplin. C. Krug^her, L. Laddaner, F. Ludwig. 
Patrick McCIune. I. W. ]\IcLane. C. C. Redding, A. J. Bunn. 

-Company G comprised the following members from Elkhart 
county: J. J. Almon, W. D. Brown, F. G. Graham. Joseph Scott, of 
Bristol; J. E. Plunt and Henry Haskins. of Goshen: and J. M. Hettrick,' 
of Elkhart. 

Company H comprised W^. H. Knowles, W. Paul. I. Lundy, \\'. 
W. Manning, W. A. Markel, V. L. Ward, D. Proctor, D. H. Smith 
and S. \\'. Stroup. Company K registered H. Cornish, PI. Clay. J. 
Dullingcr, ^^^ H. Cathcart, J. Morris, Jerome Martin, Squire ^Martin. 
Silas Roose, A. Strinback, W. Speese, A. C. Van Alst and Levi Wilt- 
mere. 

Tlic Thirteenth Regiment comprised Lieutenant Michael Ganser. H. 
Goss, Francis Blendit, R. Kayler, M. Ellar, J. B. Ayers, S. Caughey and 
S. H. Weaver, of Elkhart county. 

The Scz'cntccnth Rcgimciit was organized at Camp Morton during 
May, 1861, under Colonel Milo S. Hascall, of Goshen, Avho, for the dis- 
tinguished part taken by him at Greenbrier and in the operations of 
General Reynold's corps, was promoted to the rank of brigadier general 
March 25, 1862, when the colonelcy devolved upon his lieutenant a)l- 
onel, John J. Wilder, of Greensburg. Lieutenant Colonel Wilder con- 



322 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

linued in command until his resignation was accepted October 5, 1864, 
when Jacob J. Vail was appointed. W. H. Carroll, S. F. Rigby and J. 
Y. Hitt, of Greensburg, served with this regiment, but in the roster of 
enlisted men there are not any names from Elkhart county appearing". 

In the ranks of the 19th Regiment were Captains John R. Clark, 
J. W. Shafer, Julius ^[. Waldschmidt, who from time to time held the 
captaincy of Co. G. When mustered, in 1861. the following was the 
roster of non-commissioned officers and men : Sergeants, J. Wald- 
schmidt, I. L. Keller, S. L. Starner and S. S. Bonar; corporals, J. W. 
Evans, F. Wise, F. Myers. L H. Criswell. G. B. Campbell, O. C. Bates, 
Z. B. Irnhoff and G. H. Kulp : musicians, Charles Billings and G. W. 
Kre:ghboum; Wagoner. C. F. Bugbee; privates, J. Adams, J. P. Alt- 
man, S. Altman, H. E. Altenburg, J. Andrews, Carson Andrews, C. J. 
Bartlett, W. L. Balch. W. Busesel, W. E. Bethel, Peter Bowman, J. 
Bum, FI. L. Busz, F. j. Campbell, J. V. Carter, J. Camp, D. Chilcoat, 
I. Cleland, R. Coats, E. Cravens, A. R. Crabtree. G. A. Critchett, 
C. Da\is, S. AL Denman, Geo. Dennis, A. Defrance, IJ. Divelbess, J. 
Downhig, L. Eller, H. C. Elliot, W. G. Fisher, W. Fl. Fry, J. Frey, 
F. D. Gaylord, Milo George, T. Grey, L Grey, J. Hague, A. G. Haskins, 
Milton Hadley, D. Hagle, Chnton Hague, P. Humphreys, M. Ingraham, 
J. W. Jeseles, Adam Juday, T. S. Kelley, James Knight, Dan Kulp, 
j. W. F Lent, J. W. Lloyd. W. H. Marks, Conn. McGuire, C. W\ Mc- 
Means, A. Moose, D. Nepper, E. T. Neal, J. Rigby, G. H. Rodarmer, Per- 
ry Rowe, F. M. Sams, J. W. Shafer, J. M. Shirts, F Silkworth, E. Smith, 
H. Smith, W. B. Smith, Jas. Snyder, J. F. M. Spitler, Eli Starnes, 
E. A. Stone, H. Swift. ( i. \\'. Thompson, B. Turner, S. S. L^pham, 
C. C. Walter, Geo. ^\■arner, D. A'. Ward. W. W. Whitney. Christian 
Wolfli, Clouse Young. The soldiers whose names have been given 
won an en\-iable reputation for Company G and took a most important 
part in rendering the name of the lyth Regiment so distinguished. 

The \olunteers from Elkhart county who belonged to- the 21st 
Infantry, were Lieutenants A. A\'. Simmons and E. F. Hubbell ; ser- 
geants, L F. Carmien, S. Aingken, T. H. Bachus. H. J. Bachelor, F 
Barr, Henry Breslin, W. Breslin, E. Carroll, D. S. Chamberlain, C. W. 
Coats, S. Dogherty, Denis Driscol, Patrick Driscol, James Ferguson, W. 
L. Hamlet. J. H. Hayes. A. W. Kelley, A\'m. AlcCord, G. W. Modie, 
:\Iichael ^^b.oney. J. Alorris. J. S. Miller, 1. W. :\lyers, David Pep- 
penger. Daniel Peppenger, Eli Pittman, 11. ;\1. Pnwell, ( i. \\'. Self, S. 
Shemberger, F \A'. Snyder, A. B. Tintsman, I. J. ^^'(Jodworth. G. E. Zinn. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 323 

Henrv Bryan, John Keiiing, Joseph Kennedy, I. E. Morten, P. Mine- 
hart, H. W. Newman, Jos. OHver, D. Ritter, W. Ritter, I. A. Simmons, 
M. \\\ Self, Jos. Tantsnian, .V. H. \\'ayburn and O. M. \\'aylnn-n. 
These vokmleers were mustered in July 24, 1861, and throughout the 
war sustained a very favorable name won early in the campaign. 

In the 1st Cavalr\- or the 28th Regiment, are found the names of 
R. A. Brown. M. C. :\Iiller, E. Miller and Levi Llays of Millersburg. 

The representation of Elkhart county in the rank and file of the 
29th Regiment was large in number and imix)rtant in those moral 
and physical qualities which combine in the true soldier. Among the 
officers are the names of Major H. G. Davis, H. G. P. Oblinger, Levi 
M. Hess. R. McCumsey. I. Humes. J. Miller, I. M. Barnes, E. A. 
McComber: sergeants. (',. W. ^IcKain, A. B. Butler. .\. \\'. Fenton : 
corporals. S. Deardoff, \\'. Ivins, J. F. Youts. S. Knight, D. B. Hutch- 
ison, C. Hughes and A. R. ]\Iills; musicians. G. Ream and S. Seymour; 
wagoner, Geo. Jackson.; ijrivales. (i. P. Amidon. I. T. Aldrich. \\'. 
Bums. C. ?vl. Boyd. I. M. Boyd, J. R. Buchanan, M. Buchanan. T. 
Buchanan. A. Camp. ^^^ Chasey. H. C. Clifford. Z. A. Clifford. L. 
Coleman. R. \V. Cook. I. B. Crawsnn. W. Criss, S. Davis, S. P. De- 
Wolf, R. S. Dickson, R. Fehliman. A. P. Fox, N. E. Gibson. W. Ganser, 

C. Groesbeck, I. Groesbeck, J. Gushwa, S. Haynes, I. K. Harris. J. R. 
Hoyt, J. Honck. O. D. Ivens, D. James, S. Key, S. W. Keesey, E. Knight, 
^^'. Knight, B. :\IcCumsey, B. McCreasy, C. Marshall, I. Miller, L. 
^lills. ^1. :^lills, Geo. Minager, Geo, Moore, A. Mott. S. iNIott. Beth 
Myeis, \Y P. Needham. J. O'Dell, J. Osborn. U. Osborn, AV. F. Paxson, 

D. Roger. J. J. Reem. J. Reed, Isaac Reed, S. Riefsnyder. A. Row, 
P. Row. S. Saylor. H. L. Seaman. FT. Seliring. J. Showalter, .\. Smith, 
L. Smith, W. H. H. Smith. Lafayerte Staufer. V. M. Stewart. I. M. 
Stoufcln-e.-iker. \\'. Stover. Ira Stetter. (iei). Temiile. S. Trego. J. I. 
L'Irich. ]. Wear. Geo. AVeipert. W, A. Werley. A. A. Whitehead. E. 
AVright. C. Wyland. I. Wyland. Tlmmas \Mlliams. The above named 
volunteers were mustered into tlic service in August and September, 
t86i, and formed Company P. of the 2(;th Infantry. From 1862 until 
the close of 1864 the company \\'as constantly recei\'ing recruits to fill 
the places of those who fell in battle or liv disease. Bv a reference to 
the sketch of the 20tli Regiment, as gi\en in the first page of this 
work, the reader may be able t(i conceive the brillianc^• of its career, 
whether under Rosseau. Buell or Rosencrans. 

The 30th Regiment and its Residuary Battalion comprised Cap- 



324 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

tains Kauffman Funk, ;\L A. Hawks. S. B. Mc(7iuire, J- E. Tliompson ; 
Lieutenants ]. H. Chance, D. B. Davis, W. N. Cnlbertson, oi Goshen; 
Sergeants J. Brown and J, C. Miller; Corporals J. P. Hockert, A. 
Chance, J. W. Cope, D. D. Coppie.s, C. C. Carmien, J, Venamon, 

A. D. Miller, X. N. Shriver; musicians, V. W, Wolf and Martin 
Molony ; wagoner, George Miller, The privates forming Company K 
included M. B. Agard, H. F. Agard, J. E, Adams, W, H. Allen, A. 
H. Beck, Theodore Bloss, R. G. Bloomfield, Isaac Broombaugh, D. 
Christner, S. P. Carbaugh, J. Cleiipinger, J. Davis, J. \V. Davis, Ira 
England. George Epart, J. Elliot, S. Ever, F. Friedman, Kauffman 
Funk, G. W. Eager, J. Feltmar, S. Girten, L. B. Grove, B. Hall, F. 
Hall, W. H. Hatfield, J. Hoover, Nelson Hapner, Franklin Hapner, 
Thomas Hunt, J. Holtzinger, J. H. Holderman, J. D. Inks, T. Inks, E. 
Jacobs, B. F. Julian, C. Klingerman, J, G. Kay, J. W. Leavely, J. W. 
Liveninghouse. L Lehman, D. Lampa, S. P. Miller. L. H. Miller. 
S. Miller, J. W. Mitchell, J. W. Mease, J. J^Iillenbarger, J, 
Mikel, A. J. Morer. E. M. Myers, J. Newell. W. H. Newell, J. 
Nicurst, N. B. Orsborn, P. E. Pusch, G. A. Potter, A. Protzman, 
S. M, Riggle, J. .V. Roach, James Roach, J. R. Roxborough, H. A. 
Slabaugh, T. Smith, J. Shriver. DeWalt Shuster, D. G. Swank, J. 
Thomas, A. Jones. J. E. A'alentine, H. Weed. A. Weaver, W'. H. 
White, ]\I. Lafayette WiVion. J. H. Wilson, A. Wiley, H. B. Wilkin- 
son, F. F. Yeoman. D. .Zigler. A\'. Zehner. These \'oIunteers were all 
children of Elkhart county, and won a name, both for themselves and 
their regiment, upon every battlefield from Shiloh to Nashville. It 
will be seen in this connection that A. D. Miller. J. E. Thompson, W. 
N. Culbertson and T. H. Chance were promoted from the ranks to the 
respective positions of adjutant, captain and lieutenant. 

The 2d Cavalry or 41st Regiment comprised the Elkhart Com- 
pany K. Hiram F. Kidder, of Goshen, was adjutant; \\'. C. Mc- 
Gonigal. A. S. Blake. J. A. S. ^Mitchell. W. C. Blaine, D. A. Gilmore 
were among the 'ifficers. and among the enlisted men were; O. M. 
Sergeant, B. C. Dodge. Sergeants A\'. D. Stover. D. A. Gilmore. J. 

B. Cobb and ]\I. \\'eybright; Corporals W. Dodge, E. C. Adams. P. 
Kisner. A. B. Clark. W. Thompson. E. J. Hamilton, J. W. Guy and 
David R. Smidi ; buglers. H. F. Kidder and L. Witmer ; farrier and 
blacksmith. J. E. Gambee and Daniel Yantz : saddler. C, \A'. Worts- 
teugh; wagoner. \A'illiani Orbett; pri\-ates. J. F. Alford, A. Bissel, 
D. M. Bowser. J. H. Boakin. A. Bryant. J. L. Burke, C. Giipman. J- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 325 

Clark, E. C. Clifford, K. Compton, B. Cox, W. Cox, G. J. Creigh, J. Cra- 
ton, Joim Curry, Herman Davis, D. P. Deardoff, W. Doolittle, T. H. 
Donalson, O. A. Drown, Peter Eddler. H. W. Gallentine, J. Gallentine, 

E. Grisson, T. Griswold, W. Goodwin, J. Harlan, T. H. Harlan, W. 
Hatfield, J. Hatfield, J. Harris, A. Howard, H. Howard, R. Huff, E. 
Illich, E. Irwin, J. P. Jennings, VV. P. Kelly, J. N. Lash, John 
La- Cass, J. R- Leak>-, D. E. Manning, J. Martin, W. McCabe, C. P. 
Miller, George Newell, S. Nuwander, Bernard O'Hara, Jolm Porter, 
Cyrus Pearl, R. Edward, W. Rice. A. Robinson, O. H. Rosenbury, 
Allis Sminch, C. G, Smith, J. W. Spry, W. A. Stamits^ H. J- Stamits, 
J. Stooky, A. Stooky, A. Swineheart, A. J. Thomas, George Thomp- 
son, H. ^^'iley, J. O. Watson. Levi ^^'ea^■er. Solomon \\'eitzell. C. G, 
Williams, J. ^^'inchell. Cierald \\'yncoop and ^^'illiam \'esey. Many 
of the recruits, who in 1862 and 1864 joined this compau)-. were Elk- 
hart men. but ui the regimental roster their residences are not given 
and therefore the difficulty of collecting their names fifteen years after 
the peace, is almost an insurmountable obstacle to the completion of this 
roll. However, the county may rest assured that the names given have 
brought it sufficient honor, with all their distinguished military services. 

Tire 44th Regiment included among its officers : Colonel, J. F. Curtis; 
lieutenant-colonel. J. C. Hodges ; adjutant, S. E. Smith ; captains, A. 
Heath. D. S. Belnap and O. D. Scovel ; lieutenants, W. H. Houghland, 

F. Baldwin. C. M. Hinman. C. ^^^ Green and Piatt Houghland, and 
the following non-commissioned ofllcers and ]M'ivates, — all representa- 
tives of the military element of Elkhart county : Sergeant major, N. 
Mansfield ; sergeants, R. M. Wilmore, F. Launers. L. C. Vinson ; cor- 
porals, A. C. Lamb. I. B. Stanley. C. L. Fish. C. M. Hunnan. A. S. 
Davis, W. Layton and J. Bender; musicians, G. W. Keller, \\'. Free: 
wagoner, S. F. Miller; privates, P. Anderler. O. Artel. I. Benedict. 
Hugh Boyle. C. Boss, D. Brooks. J. Bolander, D. Benton. D. Burton, 
J. Bruse. E. M. Carpenter. J. Clarke, W. Clark, L. Clark. J. Clark. 
C. Clapp, S. Cordie. J. Cordie, M. C. Danner, D. S. Anthony. T- R- 
Diltz. J. Diclute. Giles Drake, S. Gruker. Piatt Hoaghland. W. H. 
Hoaghland, Peter Harney, M. G. Kurd, ^^"enthworth Irwin. F. John- 
son, M. Kyle, G. W. Keely. A. Knee. N. Krieble, J. Layton. B. F. 
Layton, G. Maybie, I. Marshall, M. McNivey, H. Missler, Patrick Murt, 
L. A. Money, John Martin, C. MillsiX)ugh, L. Nolan, G. Pringle. Irwin 
Robinson, .\dam Shaum. William Sleagle, J. A. Smith, W. Smith, 
James Smith, C. ^^'. Smidi. S. E. Smith. Franklin Stone. Benjamin 



326 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Stroup. F. Stroup, Geo. Stevens, D. R. Spencer, S. J. True, F. Trav- 
ener, J. Travener. I. K. \\'hite, John I). Wrig-ht and Oscar Wood- 
worth. This company, hke Company K of the 2d Cavah-y, received 
many recruits during the years of 1864 and 1865. The regiment, of 
which the company formed a part, distinguished itself on every lield from 
Fort Donelson to Chickamauga, and showed a mortal list of 408 men 
after its term of service expired in 1865. 

The 48th Regiment was principally composed <if men from Elk- 
hart and St. Joseph counties. Companies A. H. ij. 1 were recruited in 
Elkhart and mustered at Camp Ellis. Companies B, E, F in St. Jo- 
seph. Company K. in Jasper, and Companies C and D, composed of 
men from various counties in the state. The officers of the regiment 
furnished by Elkhart, comprised the following ; Colonels, Xorman 
Eddv, Edward J. ^^'ood ; lieutenant-colonel. J. W. Leitch ; majors. B. 

D. Townsend. O. C. Charles. L. Murray; chaplain, J. W. Smith: sur- 
geon, F. T. Br\-son ; captains. Alfred Billows. W. P. Allen. H. E. 
Robbins: lieutenants. A. B. Crampton. E. J. King. I. J. I'armeter. 
These names include the officers of Company A after their ascent in 
the scale of military lionors. The non-commissioned officers and priv- 
ates of this company were : Sergeants, C. W. Huston, Lewis C. Haney 
and D. A. Hewitt : corpcrals, G. X. Hicks, H. H. Williams, J. R. 
Shaffer, W. L. Bodle, O. Hun.sberger, L. Brownwell, S. Stuart, H. 
Gord : musicians. Jdhn Parmeter, E. \\'ashburn : wagoner, H. Troxel ; 
privates. R. .\she. S. Arisman. B. F. Ayres. W. P)ell. G. Bloomer. L 
Brinckman, Gen. Byrkett. B. D. Chase. Seth Clarke, G. H. Clarke. 
A. M. Clark, ¥. Coleman. C. P. Crouch, Chancy Curtis, J. IM. Davis, 
A. W. Dunljar. D. ^^'. Dumond. L. A. Elliot. \\'. Felters, S. Felters, 
F'. Frank, 1. H. Gilman, P. Goeter, Geo. Gongler. O. F. Harris. I. Hager- 
man, W. A. Hitchcock, H. .\. Hustinger, C. L Flurlbut, J. Irwin. Isaiah 
Irwin. S. J. Jones. John Jones. S. Kageries, W. Kellw L. Kelly. J. Kip- 
linger, I. W. Leitch. J. Le_\-da, D. Londenstager. 1). L'. Larne, J. Alarx. G. 
:\lcllvane. Chancey Morgan, B. Y. Peg, L. J. Perkins. S. \\'. Pitts, 
A. J. Powers, Jacob Raefsnyder, A. C. Rodemocker. G. W. Ritten- 
house, H. Rosen. S. Rogers. H. E. Robins, f. \\'. Sackett. A. Sher- 
man, G. W. Shultz. C. \\ Slate. Wm. Shick. D. Shick. J. Shriner, 
F. M. Silver. S. E. Sneir. J. Spohn, J. St. John. 1. B. Steink, B. Sweet, 
A. Stutzman, G. L. Thrope. J. Thomas, C. Thompson, X. B. Upson. 
L. Upson, J. C. Upson. P. K. Upson, M. S, Washburn, H. Wilden, 

E. L. \\'iggins. R. H. Wilson. ^^''. Wineland, A. Zellars. This com- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 327 

pany was augmented from 1862 to 1865 by the addition of lifty-seven 
recrtiits. 

Company G mav l>e said to be recruited from the manhoml of Alid- 
dlebury. It wa-^ mustered into service January 16, i86j, with the follow- 
ing men of Elkhart in its capital roster: Captains R. F. Mann and J. H. 
Lieb; lieutenants, G. W. Thayer and Henry Kubyshek; sergeant-major, 
F. Black; sergeants, J. I\I. Carpenter, M. Kershner, H. K. Blough; cor- 
porals, W. H. Pease, J. C. WTight. James Gerathy ; musicians. Wilson 
Droy, D. G. Smith; wagoner, \\\ L. \'an Tassel. The roll of the 
honest foldiers who carried the knapsack comprised .the names i>f G. 
Brown. J. Buckmaster, L. Buckmaster, J. Brady. J. A. Brady. J. S. 
Buckley, N. W. Brickford. S. Bouman. Geo. Buchfink. Z. Clark, J. 
W. Clark. E. D. Congdon. S. Davis. S. Frederick. D. Frederick. J. 
Frederick. J. D. Gillespie. L. ^f. Hatck. F. Hass. C. Hochsteler. J. 
Juday. F. King. J. Klingman. J. H. Lieb. E. Larkins. F. La])onet. L. 
Madlem. F. McWilliams, Geo. Ott. Alfred Ott. C. J. Plank. M. Rent- 
frow. Oliver Remington, Peter Van Xorman. J. Yonkers, b"orty-nine re- 
cruits were added to this comijany from time tn time during the war. 
consisting of men from Elkhart and bordering counties. 

Company H, or the German Company of the 48th was. w hen mus- 
tered in. December 2/. 1861, composed mainly of Elkhart C(iunty (ier- 
mans under Captain Gustavus Paulus. \vh(T retired in July f(_)lli_nving. 
when the position devolved on Gotlieb Schauble. and ultimately on J. 
C. McBride. During the progress of the war J. Rohrig was pro- 
moted to a 1st lieutenancy, and Geo. \\'. Hollingshed pronrnted _'d 
lieutenant. Sergeants H. Landgraff. F. Held and Philip Kurtz with 
Corporals P. Behler. P. Dutch. Charles Maywald. P. \\'alter. J. Kempf, 
J. Koehler. H. Heimrich and J. Kurat formed the non-commissioned 
roll: while the musicians and wagoners were H. Sommer, F. Faver and 
J. Ries. The roster of privates contained the names of F. Abrecht, 

F. ^^^ Alle. H. Amdt, C. Anderson. H. Bowman, J. Brandel. J. Burk- 
ell, H. Carfock, L. Connanz, R. Crone, J. Cushman, J. Eisenle. C. Ells, 

G. Ernst, M. Englehardt. H. Fisher. J. Flore, J. Fossljerg. Geo. Gilli- 
hofer. F. Gluck. J. Garrow, J. Gutfried. B. Hagle. A. Hausler. F. Har- 
der. G. Haglemaier. J. Heckmann. T. J- Hildebrand. J. Hohenberger. 
W. Howell. H. Keil. G. Kalns. C. Klein. S. Kocher, C. Kruse. F. 
Luchner. T. ^laize. C. Alalaca. J. Mishler, A. JNIichel. A. :Mutz. P. 
Oberle. H. Peters. J. W. Phillips. G. Rapp, C. Rinkenberger. Geo. Rid- 
acker. John Ross. J. Ruff. G. Siebold, P. Schmitt. J. Smith. J. Strauss, 



328 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

y. Stewart, A. Withiiey, C. Zumbach. From January to September, 
1864, this force was supplemented by the addition of iifty-one recruits 
of various nati'inalities, wlio continued service in its ranks until July. 
1865. 

Company I was mustered in January 2, 1862, under Captain E. J. 
Wood, who, on being promoted to the rank of major, was succeeded 
by Geo. \\'. Gibbon, whose term expired January, 1865. The lieuten- 
ancy was generally occupied by Goshen men, viz. : A. S. Fisher, E. 
S. Foljambe. \\'. R. Ellis, each of whom merited and received promo- 
tion. 

The non-commissioned officers and privates included Samuel Cou- 
ncil. E. S. Xewton. J. R. AIcAllister. J. W. Carr. A. J. Richmond. Jas. 
Att. C. H. Mellis, \V. Cany, H. Gates, A. B. Miller, G. W. Gibson, S. 
A. Raymer, A. Boucher and Patrick Cass, with privates, I. Alexander, 
M. Ainsworth, M. Barnhardt, F. Beanblossom, J. D. Black, M. Black- 
man, H. Bloomfield, J. Bloomfield, John Bloomfield, L. Bolenbaugh, C. 
Bass, G. W. Brown, H. Bassett, D. E. Carpenter, A. P. Carr, Cyrus Carr, 
M. Cavenaugh, J. Cook, H. J. Corns, J. M. Crabhill. J. L. Dawson, P. 
Delsavour, J. Duniphan. W. Dye, A. Ferguson, C. Tyke, S. Fisher, A. 
Fribley, A. I'unk, H. Funk, J. Garner, J. W. Griffith. C. Hallet, G. W. 
Hetfner, J. R. Heffner, D. S. Herst, W. K. Hufford. M. Jacobs, .\. Jen- 
nings, N. J. Kennison, D. Kitchen, L Lantz, E. \\'. Lincoln. F. Longer, J. 
H. Lord, H. Lung, Patrick Malley, J. M. Miltenberger. D. Minear, W. 
Munroe, Geo. Morehouse, M. Muckler, B. Myres. A. J. :\IcClure, N. H. 
Xeff, Thomas O'Neil, D. Paughf, A. Philbrook, J. Ramsby, J. Ream, G. 
Reynolds, L. Robinson, L. Rowan, J. E. Sacket, A. Saxton, J. C. Stiles, J. 
Strait, J. Stump. B. Swaney. D. Swartz, C. Taylor, S. J. Taylor, G. 
L. Thomas. T. Thompson, J. Walker. J. West. T. West, A. Winchell. 
Henry Wooster, Albert Wright. R. Zunclell. with seventy-one recruits who 
joined the company in 1864 and 1865. The 48th Infantry lost 213 
men in liattle from the siege of Corinth to its memorable march from 
Raleigh to Petersburg. 

Edwin L. Billings held the captaincy of Company K. 57th In- 
fantry, for a short period. From the militai-y reports of the regiment 
't appears that he was the only representative of Goshen in its capital 
ranks, although many drafted men from Elkhart county belonged to 
it, and participated in the regimental honors which .'iccrued during its 
term of creditable ser\-ice. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 329 

In the 6th Cavah'y of 71st Regiment were Scott Brown. J. O. A. 
luison, J. Early, with a few recruits from this county. 

Tlie 74th Infantry held a full military representation of Elkhart 
county in Companies E, G. I and a partial representation in Company 
D with which was John Christner, of Goshen. The regimental staff 
was composed with others, of Col. Myron Baker, Lieut. -Col. C. B. 
Mann. Major ^^'. B. Jacobs, Adjutant J. H. Schutt. 0.-:M. John Stet- 
ler, Asst. Surgeon J. O. A. Bassett and H. C. Dodge. 

Company E was mustered in July 25. 1862. under Captain Al. 
Baker, whose promotion caused the captaincy to devolve on W. B. 
Jacobs, who, on l>eing pronnjted to the rank of major, was succeeded 
by D. r. Deardoff, :May i, 1865. 1'. B. Rosselwyn, D. H. White and 
E. A. ['latter reached the rank of lieutenants, promoted from ser- 
geancy and corporalcy respectively. G. W. Albright, A. G. Patterson 
and H. W. Sarbaugh served as sergeants. Jacob Hattel, J. L. Mac- 
omber, J. Horn, J. S. Hare. J. W. Lear. S. Trusedale and G. Barns, 
as corporals; J. D. Pierson and A. F. Raynier as musicians, and J. 
Strayer as w agoner. Tlie privates were : W. F. Albright, H. O. 
Alsbach. J. Aby, H. Brockerman, J. J. Burns. J. V. Banta. J. H. Ban- 
ning, G. W. Barnhart. S. Barnhart. F. M. Beckner, S. Bottenfelt, J. 
S. Bertch, A. Bechtel. J. W. Beckner, R. Bozarth, \V. P. Christman. 
Eli Coy. J. Conklin, G. L. Coates, T. L. Cross, J. W. Crocker, Josiah 
Crocker, Patt Crownover, Nath. Deitz, S. Elser, J. G. Gillson, R. L. 
Hess, Isaiah Hess, Eli Holderman, J. R. Heltzel, J. Horn, J. H. Hofif. 
Frank Johnson, Andrew Jones. Abram Jacobs, Daniel Jacote, J. Kanga, 
Patrick King, J. S. Kryder, J. L. Lacy, J. C. Lehman, D. Landan, FI. 
Lorton. J. R. McDowell. H. ]\Iikesell, Hiram Moorehouse, W. F. 
Metzgar. Jos. ^liltenberger, Ed Minnegar, L. Myres, H. Myres. J. M. 
Nash. G. F. Peoples, J. J. Plough, G. W. Price, R. Potter, j. N. 
Rimer, G. \\'. Shue. S. B. Slender. Benjamin Violett, Geo. Willis. 
D. S. Witmer. J. J. Witmer, J. D. ^Vagner, J. Wittemeyer, M. Wires. 
J. M. Wean, M. Wean. M. V. Yoder. The foregoing formed the orig- 
inal roster of the company ; but in August, 1862, and January, 1864. 
its thinned ranks were strengthened by the addition of the following- 
named recruits : U. Anderson, S. Bechtel, J. R. Brockman, J. Back. 
J. Bottenfelt, Samuel E. Cripe, N. Fox, D. Ganger, J. Carvarick, M. 
W. Miller, Geo. Rutt. \N^ Shulemire. Joshua Shriver and William 
^\"ires. 

Company G was mustered in August, 1862, under Captain P. F. 



330 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

l)a\is. who (lied in February following. C. B. Mann succeeded to the 
captaincy, and (in his promotion Capt. Orville T. Chamberlin received 
the a])pi liniment, and continued in the position till the regiment was 
mustered out. Jackson W'oherton, Bierce M(julton and Jacol) Eyer 
were lieutenants in succession. J. H. Benner, W. H. Durham, H. H. 
Ken\cn arid 1). P. W'ymari. sergeants. W. E. Broombaugh. F. M. Moe- 
bash, \\ . IT (jalloway. G. R. (iroNe. J. H. Schutt, F. Sheldon, corporals; 
and \\'. .\. .\lbrighl, C. Shaw and B. Hughes, musicians and wagoner, re- 
spectively. In the ranks were J- Alexander, H. Allen, A. Airsman. J. 
Angelsmyers. \V. Butts, G. Brooks, J. AY Billows, H. H. Brown, H. M. 
Bedford, F. Carlton, E. Clay. S. B. Cullar. J. J. Chance. T. Chance, 
H. C. Dodge. J. F. Dygert, Jer. Eyer, J. Ehert, W. Fliger, C. M. Hency, 
J. Hill. C. Haines. D. Havourel, S. \Y. Holderman, S. Haines, J. 
Hart. I). Hutsinger. L. Holderman (Jacob Holderman. Xiles), D. 
Herrington. E. Hull. AY INI. Jordan, F. Leader, Michael Long, A. Lech- 
letner. J. Layton. X. I^andes. J. Luckey, R. Lutz. C. E. Lanclen. S. 
]^Iulls])augh. AI. Mitchel. J. Markley. W. Meader, John Mitchell. J. 
P. }klitcbell. J. Alorris. M. Mellinger, C. M. Needsbaum, J. Palmer. J. 
Peasey. M. L. Parritt. L. Philson, J. Pontius, M. Parritt CMich.). W. 
Pitts. W. J. Redding, C. A. Randall, Squire Robinson. J. W. Rich, L. 
Reynolds. T. F. Root, D. Ramer, \Y. F. Shaw, Charles Schraeder, John 
Schutt. A. L. Stocking. D. Swartz. H. Shutterly. F. Stiener, H. Twi- 
fnrd. A. 'I'reys. D. Upling. B. Y'. Valentine. L. Wan Altstine. J. C. 
AA'oolan. 1). 1^. Zimmerman, John Zimmerman. 

Com])any I may I'e said to be furnished by (loshen. and was or- 
ganized in .August, 1862. under Captain D. Howell, transferred to i42d 
Regiment: E. F. Abbott succeeded in the command, but lieing killed at 
Jonesboro, Cia.. in 1S64, the position was offered to and accepted by 
Chris. C. Beane, .after its brief occupancy by C. E. Thompson. These 
gentlemen, with Edwin L. Barh^w . were tA^rmerly lieutenants in the 
company, so that after their jiromotion the last named, with C. E. 
Thompson, held the ist and 2d lieutenancy. The sergeants were J. 
H. Miller. A. Baer. I. AA". Stetler: corporals. O. C. Hutchi,son, L. H. 
Randal. D. Kyler. I. L. AVork, John Kiblinger, J. Clivington. M. B. 
Thompson. .John Foster : musicians, and wagoner, D. C. Fisk, I. N. 
Girten and Hamilton Price: ])rivates. D. H. Armsden. L. Butt. J. 
Bauman. A. Blough, J. Boner. B. Blue. Isaac Callison (AA^ Callison, 
T. D. Callison. AA'arsaw). I. R. Davis, J. Davis (A. Davis, Ligonier), 
S. Dclcom. J. AA'. Dalrymple. H. Dillingham. C. Evans. D. Epart, 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTV 331 

R. H. Elsea, J. H. Freeland, Nelson Fiero, P. Fink. A. Fuller, D. 
(iirten, J. Uondemian, S. Guisinger, S. F. Griner, C. S. Girten, J. C. 
fjrimes. J. S. Griffith, D. Hire, P. S. Hare, C. M. Honsour, Peter 
Honsour. Thomas Imel. A. Kitson. J. Long. A. Lombard, J. Luckey, 
E. J. }iIcBride, A. [Miller, J. :\Iinor, J. D. Myres, J. McCnmsey, J. S. 
Mussleman, J. ^^■. .McCoy, W. Pucker, J. Pritchard, A. Rink, J. Rey- 
nolds. H. H. Rodibaug-li. J. A. Rippey (John Rippey, Leesburg), S. 
H. Snyder. J. S. Shanks. W. Selburn. D. Snyder. G. Stull. J. Shelline. 
E. Starks, J- Sloan, ( ;. Simpson. J. Turex ( R. H. Tremaine, Lees- 
burg), J. Unrue, G. W. Unrue. G. F. Wehrly, J. ^^^ Wark, with the 
following recruits of i8()4: D. J. ]\Iiller and 1\ L. Roach. Of the 
above named soldiers, all were from Goshen, with the exceptions noted, 
and seven others from Millersburg, Benton and Elkhart. A reference 
to the review of this regiment given in the state history may convey a 
fair idea of the gallant course pursued by the 74tli from its first serv- 
ice with the arnn- of the Ohio, through the Atlanta campaign where- 
in Col. Baker was killed, to its last encounter with Wheeler's Cavalry 
at Rocky Creek Church. 

The 88th Regiment comprised Company L furnished by the towns 
of Bristol and Middlebury in Elkhart county. It was mustered into 
service in August. i8r)2. under Captain Herman C. Fassett. who, on 
resigning in February. 1863, left the command to devolve upon Will- 
iam Powers, and he resigning in October of that year, W. D. Wild- 
man, of Lagrange, was appointed to the position. J. D. Kimbal, W. 
C. Hess. A. D. Gould. J. O. Banks and J. Williamson occupied the 
lieutenancy. Durris Woodworth, H. F. Fassett. C. C. Gilmore were 
sergeants, while the position of corporal fell to the lot of C. W. Wright, 
M. W. Criss. R. Powers. ^^'. X. Hively. \\'. Hutchinson. A. D. Cong- 
don. C. W. Evans and C. \\'. Walker. Musician and wagoner were 
respecti\'ely represented by O. B. Foster and Sylvester Mott. The 
privates, whose names appear on the roster, were : T. Adams. C. N. 
Allen. ^^^ R. Baker. S. Barclay, S. R. Birch, W. Brown. C. M. Camp, 
J. L. Cathcart, M. Cathcart. G. S. Clark. J. B. Clifford. C. E. Cum- 
mins. M. A. Cordrey, T. F. Corp. A. S. Corp, Thomas Darrah, J. F. 
Depew, R. E. Eastland, D. Evans, George Fowler, W. J- Franklin. 
N. Frakes. M Frakes. J. B. Habey. J. W. Handson. W. C.Hess. L. E. 
Hamsher. J. \\'. Hazell. G. W. Harris. John Hughes, G. Hughes, J. 
Hughes. A. T\ins. G. Inman. D. H. Johnson. H. C. Johnson, J. Kellett, J. 
M. Kidder, :\I. Kubitcheck. J. Klingaman. J. B. Krug. D. E. Long. D. E. 



332 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Martin, J. Middleton, A. S. Prescott, H. Pfirfer, L. B. Reed, J. Reed, J. 

B. Reed, H. Rhoads, A. Roads, J- Raifsnyder (H. L. Schraeder, L. S. 
Staunton, Ligonier), N. Selder. J. B. Selder, S. Sanders, A. Sanders, W. 
Swab, AV. H. Thorn, G. M. Trusdall, D. Van Frank, Oscar Warren, H. 

C. Walker. L. AA'alker, F. S. Wilson. A. F. Wheeler. H. H. Watson, J. 
Williamson, F. G. Walker. 

Company D of tlie looth Regiment was recruited in Elkhart 
county, organized in August, i86j. and mustered in September fol- 
lowing'. The superior officers of this regiment belonging to Elkhart 
were: Colonels, A. Fleath, Ruel M. Johnson; major, A\\ H. Venamon : 
O. C, A. M. Tuckener: surgeon. W. C. Matchett ; captain, J. W. Greis- 
inger; lieutenants. Asa A. Xorton, W. J- ^I>ers and J. L. Winans; 
L. L. Sawyer, Eml. Firestine were sergeants; \\'. C. Reed. C. S. Ter- 
williger, W. B. Jones. H. C. Blaine, J. F. Grubb. S. R. Compton, J. 
Spiker and H. ]\Iishler were coi'porals ; and G. Arney, Xingu Parks 
and J. Swartz, musicians and wagoner, respectively. The names of the 
soldiers who were mustered into the service are as follows : J. Alvine, J. 
Bowers. J. H. Broderick. A. Brubaker. F. J. Blaine. T. Bickle, U. 
Bender, J. Brondage. J. Black, C. Coleman, J. CruU. L. Carr, W. A, 
Coni)jton, L. J. Carr. T. Clay. P. Chivington, W. Every. J. Eyer, S. 
P. Eversole. E. S. Finch. J. Firestine. C. IT. Gore. W. Gift. L. Hall. 
J. Harring. S. Johnson, F. W. Johnson, J. L. Ke},-port, C. R. Kingsley, 
J. C. Ivine, R. Keller, E. Lusher, H. Longsdorff, J. Leedy, A. Myres, 
J. Mishler, J. Mills, G. W. Mott. S. Mott. Alonzo Miller, Isaac Myers, 
W. McDowell. J. Morningstar. C. Mann. J. Neigle, D. E. Newman. J. 
W. Niekart, J." Overhalt. J. W. Oaks, A. Ott, L. Ott, J. Fletcher. 
N. E. Palmer. T. Price, D. Pippenger. G. W. Peoples, N. Prickett. W. 
G. Rapp, S. Rodspaugh, W. W. Rowell. S. N. Russel, A. Rookstool, 
Joseph Rookstool, John Rookstool, S. Reinbuld, J. Ruple, Isaiah Shultz, 
F. Streeley. H. E. Stebbens. FT. H. Sheldon. Wm. Stadler. A. Skinner. 
Flenry Swartz, A. J. Tallerday, W'ni. Twiford, W. H. Trump, J. P. 
True, Isaac Voorhees, AV'm. Vallance, G. W. Vannotte, M. AA'ilson, E. S. 
Williams. H. W. Watters. with the recruits of 1863-64. D. Andrews, S. 
Geisinger, J. (jephart and J. Spade. 

Wakarusa, Oceola, Middlebun,-, Elkhart, Bristol, Benton and Go- 
shen have had the honor of furnishing this omjiany to the ranks of 
the Union's defenders. From the siege of Vicksburg in June, 1863, 
under General Grant, to Bentonville in 1865, this company shared in the 
honors of victory won by the regiment; and in the roll of honor, con- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 333 

taining the names of 464 fallen soldiers, Company D holds a first 
place. In Company K. of the looth, were J. O. A. Sherman and Frank 
Tupper, of Goshen. 

The Twelfth Ca^•alry, or One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Regi- 
ment, comprised among its officers, major, J. B. Cobb; captains, 
J. H. Pinney and B. F. Curtis : lieutenants, C. Fish, A. C. Nye, E. 
Hubbell and J. C. Hoops. W^ith a few exceptions the entire Company 
D was recruited within Elkhart county. The names of the troopers, 
as given in the general roster, are : A. Buckers, H. Bennett, Garrett 
Bloomingdale, S. Beard, P. Broders, J. M. Carpenter, E. G. Carpen- 
ter, D. E. Carpenter, W. Crawford. H. Clayton, F. Cherry, A. Coyle, 
W. Decker, Eugene Devine, G. ^^^ Dumond, J. Dallas, L. England. 
J. :\r. Elder, J. G. Fideka, M. Frank, J. Fr>-, J. Graham, W. H. Get- 
ting, M. Grimes, J- Garraghty, W. Huff, C. A. Harper, G. P. Huckett, 
P. Hurt. E. Hubbell. J. C. Hoops. H. Hovey. D. Higby, J. Huffman. 
H. Haskins, F. M. Johns, W. Kelly, A. J. Kitson, C. R. Kidder, C. E. 
Livingood, H. C. Leedy, N. Lavar. B. Lockard, W. N. Lamb, A. Misner. 
L. Alediam. J. Maguire, M. McKurnsky, J. IMaxwell, D. Markell, H. D. 
Markell, J. INIyers, J. L. ]\[artin, J. Misner, J. E. Alerritt, W. Nailor, A. 
Neiswander, A. C. Nye. A. Peflly. C. Parker, N. E. Palmer, Elisha 
Pegg. A. Pennypacker, J. L. D. Pearson, G. Rodes, B. F. Radabaugh, 
H. Rol>inson. P. Robinson, J. ^\^ Rifile. S. Reprogle, J. D. Settle, A. 
Stewart. H. Shinebarger. J. Searfoss, J. A. Salisbury, H. C. Stephen- 
son, J. Spai'ks, E. D. Salisbury, F. M. Stewart, C. Schaffer, N. Smalley, 
N. Trusdall, J. Trainer. C. Tollerton. George Temple. M. LTrich, C. 
Wertsbaugh, ^^^ O. \Miite. M. O. Waste, J. Wisong, P. Walsh, D. E. 
Warren, P. T. AN'ines, I. Wisong. F. Willabarger. P. Yoder, DaNad 
Yoder, L. James, A. J. Lonycor, II. S. Larkin, E. Larkin, J. M. Miller, 
J. Nelson. P. Nelson. \"al. Nie. L. \l. Shaw and T. Twiford belonged to 
Company I. 

Company E of the r29th Regiment was recruited within Elk- 
hart ciiunty in 1863-64. and \\as mustered into ser\-ice with the regi- 
ment. March, 1864. The officers belonging' to this company were 
Captain S. AIcGuire. promoted major and subsequently lieutenant-col- 
onel. He was succeeded in the captaincy by E. W^ Metcalf. The lieu- 
tenancy was successively filled by Henry Clay. N. \\'. Sherwin. Mar- 
tin L. Duck and W. Kelly. The non-commissioned officers and men 
comprised : Josiah Kronk. L. B. Grove, J. Clay, F. Molebush. R. W. 
Thomas. S. Tripp. J. Smith. H. B. Scolf, E. Leutz. J. W. Jamison. O. 



334 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

H. Probst, J. H. Miller. J. Janes, D. K. Apple, W. Boyd, J. Burrows, 
A. Clay, l'. Comes, J. S. Eyer, J. j\l. Eldridge, J. Freed, A. Fi"aine, 
P. Fox, D. Gloose, A. J. Carver," B. Ginter, W. Gunton, B. Hall, W. 
Heatoii, H. Hineliangh, H. Haines, D. Hodge. S. Hartzog, J. Hine, 
E. Jukes, F. Johnson, M. B. Kul]j, Isaac Kelmer, W. Kelly, J. Kelly, 
M. Krise, B. Lutz. S. Loux. T. Leipler, C. Morris, Cornelius Morris, 

C. Myers, J. Misner, W. Molebush, George Miller. M. D. McMaster, 
P. Market. L. McCumsey, G. Mock, C. Martin, J. Mobley, D. Ort, 
VV. Overly, W. Potts, A. Parks, J. Ricliison. X. Rainer. S. \V. Reist, 

D. Rosenberger, J. B. Rowley, \Y 1\ R(i\vley. ( i. Robinson. A. J. 
Raught, Ross Reed, W. H. Reynolds, J. Stewart, Jacob Swrutz, Anms 
Swartz, W. Smith, U. Shirk, D. Smeltzer, P. Seltzer, N. W. Sherwin, 
Michael Touliey, C. Teet, D. Trussle. W. Thuxton, \\'. TuUy, W. \Veed, 
C. Woodworth, H. \\'atson, wi.th Jacob McMullen as the only recruit. 

The 136 Regiment comprised Company K, furnished by Elkhart 
count}-. This company was organized May 21. 1864. for 100 days' 
service, under Captain Myron A. Hawks. Lieutenants George W. llest 
and .Mbert Vates. In the ranks were: J. E. Andrews. R. Alford, 
C. A. Allen. C. B. Broderick. H. Bechtel, U. A. Beardsley. H. Bar- 
ber. J. F. Bemberger. D. W. Bonnell. S. Banninger. ¥. Burns. Tully 
Chamlierlain, C. A. Crocker. B. F. Clay. J. A. Carmien, I\ Culp, E. L. 
Cross. W. Carter. H. Druckamiller, E. J. Davis. Frank B. Defrees, 
M. L. Forbes, H. W. b'arver. \\'. J. Fowler. B. S. I'razier, S. 11. (irinies. 

C. E. Gardner, .\. \'. (ioodspeed. E. H. Huggins. M. Hueston. ^I. C. 
Haney, G. Hapner, E. Hildebiddle, J. H. Huff. ^^■. M. Hovey, J. Honk, 
T. S. Johnson, (j. W. Kennison. G. Knox, J. C. Kittle. J. A. Lambs, 
W. H. Livering, W. H. Miller. A. J. Miller. D. C. Miller. W. Meader, 
T. D. Morse. E. W. McAllister. Z. A. McComber. G. E. McDaniels. 
G. W. Mount. J. McKinley. A. Xee, W. M. Olivme, H. G. P. Oblinger, 

D. Ott. J. W'.Ott. L. A. Powers. L. H. Phelps. J. O. Pond. J. H. 
Rosswell. J. A. Roach. George Reynolds. L. S. Richardson, F. Rudy. 
J. K. Smock. E. O. Shaw. C. Shaw, F. E. Shaw. L. A. Schofield, A. J. 
Sherlock. J. F. Simpson. C. D. Sherwin. E. P. Shelt. J. B. Syphart. 
G. L. Thorpe. C. J. Thom]«on. Mahlon Thompson. G. W. Fiedemann. 
Ral. Tripp, H. Versalus, S. Van Tassel. E. W'alburn, J. J. ^^'hite. J. 
M. Woomer, E. F. Yeoman and G. Zimmer. 

Company D of ihe i4Jd Regiment was organized in Elkhart 
county in September and October. 1864, for one year's service, and 
Thomas H. Chance was commissioned captain. The tjther (jflicers from 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY ?>.^5 

the county were: Lieutenants. David Frankfuder and A\'illiam Hol- 
land, promoted fmm 2fl lieutenant and lirst sergeant respectively. The 
roster of enlisted men contained the following names: B. H. Cin-tis. 
D. R. Longiiecker. C. R. Frishy. J- Holland, sergeants: A\'. J. Wolf. 
R. (i. Bailey. J. Lechlitner, P. AVeekes. D. H. Winbrener. J. Scott, f. 
Willis. H. W. Gnre. cor{)orals ; A. B. A\'alvcrton and James Shewy. 
musicians: with jiri'/ates. F. \'. Adkins, S. Allen. A. Arnspacker. J. 
Bailey. A. Bell. J. W. Bowman, I'. Blyly. J. Brambaugh. J. Balenline. 
J. H. Bryan. W. J. Blair, H. Bel:ie. J- Clark. D. Culp. A. D. Carry. 
F. O. Carry. J. C. Cunningham. J. Delielbus. J. AA'. Deming. J- Dun- 
nivan. 1'". Dusheet. S. Ever. \\'. Fletters, .\. L. Frakes. D. Inise. P.. J. 
Funk. J. Gn.ve. Sol. Gruher, H. Guipc, Jos. Hughes. ]\f. AY Henry. 
W. R. Lindsley. P. B. Lowcks. Wm. Matthews, F. Morris, J. B. Yol- 
an, M. Rone, W. She^\y. Ir\-in St. John. J. Wittmyer. C. H. \\'h}te, 
C. I*". \Adiitsi)u and Wm. A\'ittnner. Among the great majority of Elk- 
hart men in this cumpany were a few from the surrounding counties, 
and nine fn)m neighlioring states. Its ]M'incipal dutv was performed 
before Nashville. 

The i^2(\ Regiment held a f;iir representatidu of the military ele- 
ment of Elkhart county in many of its companies. In the roll ni offi- 
cers the following names appear: Major Waldschmidt. Captains H. 
W. Smith. J. W. Liveringhouse : Lieutenants E. Liebole. J. Scheckles, 
J. F. Carmien and C. M. Boyd. The roster of enlisted men contained the 
folloAving names: First sergeant, J. S. Chase: sergeants. E. F. ?ilan- 
ning, H. J. Corns, M. Hurd. C. Onderkirk; corporals, J. Zoover, .\. Kline- 
felter, W. Bowld. S. Davis, M. Hartzog, \A'. Dagget, \\'. J. Smith. C. 
Barnhart: musicians. G. A\'. Keller and H. A. Rudy: pri\-ates. J. C. 
Allen. AW Blake. P. Cul]). J. Confer. (;. Comptnn. T. \Y Corns. A. 
M. Cassida, J. Campbell, C. Confer. O. R. Everett, J. B. Fckhart. S. 
Ernsperger, H. Far\-er, \\'. H. Foster. H. Gu\'. H. Grissom. J. Garl. 
Wm. Hovey, J. R. Hawkins. R. Hilton. P. Heller. E. Flildebiddle. C. 
Hope. Eli Jenkins, A. Knee. D. L. Keggeriss. Wm. Kissinger. T. Long- 
aker. G. P. Morse. J. Miller. C. Miller. Stephen Monries. J. P. Prick- 
ett. T. Pendland. B. Proljst. S. D. Plumbley. C. Ramer. C. Renninger, 
C. C. Ralnns. \\'. Rosbrugh. 1. F. Simpson, F. Strayer, I. Sheline. B. 
Stone. G. Stanger. S. Shively. D. Stewart. D. A. Shiner. A. Scott, 
W. B. Ta\'lor, J. R. Tlmmas. F. Yesselius. C. T. Williams, and recruit 
Henr\- Vesselins. 



336 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

In Company B were : J. H. Baker, J. Jarret, N. O. Kersey, J. B. 
Mock, A. Rhinehart, P. Slater and M. Thompson. 

Company E was mainly composed of Elkhart men : D. M. Fravel, 
C. Klein, L C. Fox, ^\^ S. Pearman, J. Allison, J. Baumback, C. Went- 
worth, L. Beckner, S. Tefft. L. Zumbrun, J. H. Huff, J. M. Selders, 
M. H. Phelps. F. Abrecht, R. Alford, C. E. Brown. Felix Burns, G. 

A. Blood. N. Berkey. E. Berkey, W. L. Burroughs, J. Berger, J. D. 
Boyd. R. Brown, J. A. Carmien, C. Chivingtim, L. Croop. J. J. Cripe, 
E. D. Case. A. E. Doty. E. Davis. Sam Erb, J. Favinger, J. C. Grimes. 

B. Grant. J. Griswold.' E. Hildreth. H. Helwes, J. \\'. Handson, C. F. 
Haskins, A. C. Jennings. T. Knight. G. Kreuger. D. Landaw, Lewis 
Liveringhouse, G. A. Losee. F. Lanther. A. Mayfield, H. Medland, H. 
Miller, A. J. Miller, L. \\'. Neusliaum. J. Ximrick. D. C. Newell, J. H. 
Newell, W. Overshott, V. Nay, J. Obrccht, L. H. Phelps, D. Pborbaugh. 
L. W. Peppley. S. Prough. A. Prough, G. M. Reger, E. Rehr, U. 
Snowberger. J- Spahr. W. Smith. W. Sparks. P. A. Slote. F. A. Stroup. 
S. A. Scalf, T. D. Thomas, L. Walter, F. Walter and W. F. Walker. 

The 2 1 St Battery, Light Artillery, comprised W. Harper, W. A. 
Miller, E. W. Cooper, J. W. Cornell, ^^'^ L. Cornell, E. Cole, J. Ct)pe- 
land. S. H. Eldridge. H. W. Hickson. W. J. Smith. B. L. Slight, G. 
A. White, D. Houser, W. Haggerty, H. H. Loomis, of Middlebury ; 

C. L. Brant, J. A. Ashbaugh, G. Barnhouse. L. Coffin and W. Cornell, 
of Elkhart: W. Marker. E. L. ^Montgomery, and G. U. Miller, of 
Bristol; C. J- Werntz and E. M. Hubbell. of Goshen. 

Of the entire number of men comprised in these regiments over 
three thousand volunteers, \-olunteer recruits and drafted men were from 
Elkhart count)-. 

While the history of Elkhart county thus opens freely her pages 
to the names of her veterans, it should be remembered that there were 
as true patriots at home as there were in the field, and, too, their ser\'- 
ices were just as vitall}- necessary to the success of the cause. And, 
furthermore, impartial history must recijrd that there were troubles 
and obstacles to Ije overcome here in this northern Indiana county. 
The righteiDUsness of the war, although at this late date cnnceded by 
all without proof, was not recognized by all. at least not in the same 
degree; then, as now. there were men of conservative temper who. 
following the dictates of judgment or conscience, withheld their sup- 
port, and some who even sympathized with the " lost cause." Tlien, 
too, when the draft became a military necessity, there was dissatisfac- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 337 

tion in same (|uarters. Hut rill these instances are of minor considera- 
tion and, in the grand sweep of events toward the g'oal, hardly to be 
noticed more than the pehljles that ineffectively oppose the rush of mighty 
Axaves from the deep. 

Not tlie least factor in the sum of loyalty was the work of the 
ladies. Tlie Ijoxes and hales of necessities and delicacies which they 
sent to the soldiers were simph- amazing. Their busy fingers were 
always at work for their relief societies. Immediately succeeding the 
commencement of hostilities the women of Elkhart county resolved 
themselves into the " Soldiers' Aid Society." who met in ^October, 1861, 
adopted by-laws and organized for effective work in the field and at 
liome. Among those prominent in tliis work may \ye mentioned Mrs. 
H. W. Bissell and Misses Reynolds, Abbott, Beardsley, Hudson, Mc- 
Cord, Martin, Miller, Powell, Stauffer, and many others. The pulpits 
spoke out, entertainments for the Ijeneht of the soldiers were given by 
the different social, fraternal, literary, military and religious organiza- 
tions, private mdixiduals ga\c liberally of their means, and jirofes- 
sional men ga\c not onl}- of their means Init their time and efforts, 
many of them gomg south to nurse the sick and wounded, and our 
unenlisted surgeons lent a free hand in army hospitals. Many thou- 
sands of dollars were dispensed among the families of soldiers, and 
those who g^ave in this manner are hardly less worthy of recognition 
than those who marched away in the ranks. 

Coming to the Spanish-American war of 1898, we find that the 
patriotism and military spirit of Elkhart count^• had suffered nn diminu- 
tion through thirty years of peace. And though the ccim])anics organ- 
ized within llie county never realized their aml^ition to taste the real 
glory of war, they are none the less deserving because of the efficienc\' 
and alacritv which characterized their performance of dut)' from time 
of recruiting to the muster out. At the call of President McKinley the 
Thiril Indiana National Guards immediately started for the state capi- 
tal, and was there reorganized as the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh 
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, The regimental officers were Col. George 
M. Studebaker, Lieutenant Colonel W. T. May, and Majors G. W. 
Eraser, E. H. Fitzgerald (Goshen) and A. L. Coleman. Charles F. 
Cline, of Goshen, was sergeant major, and Joseph P. Hawks, of Goshen, 
was commissary sergeant, and on October 12, 1898, promoted to quar- 
termaster sergeant. 

The Elkhart conntv enlistments were divided almost entireh- be- 



336 HISTORY OV ELKHART COUNTY 

Iween conipaiiies C and T", which were recruited. resi)ectivel_v. at (ioshen 
and Elkhart, while nther conipaiiies of the regiment received scattered 
members from the county. Compaii_\- C, which was mustered into serv- 
ice April 26. 1898, liad the following otticers : Captain, Elias D. Salis- 
l3ur\- : first lieutenant. Charles Slade ; second lieutenant, Josqjh A. Col- 
lins ; first sergeant. E. V. Gordeau ; quartermaster sergeant, O. W. Bale. 
Lieutenant Slade died July 20. 1898, and Joseph A. Collins was then 
jiromoted to first lieutenant, and .Sergeant Thomas H. ^lew to second 
lieutenant. 

Company E. of Elkhart, was officered as follows : Joseph E. Graves, 
captain; Norman K. Beall, first lieutenant; August (iroll, second lieu- 
tenant; \\'. H. Hopkins, orderly sergeant; E. A. Lefeljre. commissary 
sergeant. 

The regiment left IndianaiK.ilis on I\la\" loth. was encamped sev- 
eral weeks at Cam]) Tliomas, Chattanooga, and on the ist of June set 
out, under sealed orders, for Tan':pa, Florida. 'l"he eagerness and agil- 
ity which the boys of this regiment displayed when breaking camp and 
loading their ecpiipments on trains earned for them the title of " Indiana 
Tigers,"' which remained with them throughout their service. At Tampa 
the horses, ammunition and rations for the One Hundred and Fifty- 
seventh had been loaded on a transport and all was in readiness to start 
for the hostile shores of Cuba wdien a collision so damaged the trans- 
port that it could not accompany the fleet. This was the exasperating 
mischance which ])revented the lioys of Elkhart county from participat- 
ing in the lirief campaign wdiich swept the tyranny of Spain out of 
the Greater Antilles. The regiment remained at Tampa till the last of 
July, was then stationed at b'ernand.ina a month, and on September i 
started for Indianapolis, where it arrived the next day. A month's fur- 
lough was granted on September 10, and, reassembling at Camp Mount 
on October 10, thev were mustered out on November i. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 339 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

TUE CHURCHES. 

Religion crowns the statesman and the man, 
Sole source of public and of private peace. 

— Young. 

Tlie pioneers of Elkhart county did not leave their religion behind 
when they settled here but brought it with them. In the first settle- 
ments which were formed there were not a sufificient number of any 
one sect to form a church by themselves, and so they worshiped to- 
gether. The points of doctrine or practice which divided them were 
held in abe}ance, persons of each sect yielded a little for the good of 
the whole, and in a spirit of union and Christian toleration they came 
together and each one tried to derive all the good he could from the 
meetings, exercises and discourses. For a time there were no church 
buildings, but schoolhouses were soon erected, rude log structures, and 
there in the winter, or in the open air in summer, the people asseinbled. 
^^'e have elsewhere mentioned how some of the people at the mouth 
of the Elkhart came together in the home of Mrs. Beebe and there 
held prayer meetings. As yet there were no churches organized 
and no settled pastors, but ministers passing through were asked to 
preach and did so. An appointment was made at some dwelling house 
or schoolhouse, and at the time appointed a true pioneer community 
gathered. Some came on foot, some on horseback, and some with ox 
teams. If in the summer time, not only the children but some of 
the men came barefooted, bringing their dogs with them; and all, even 
some of the dogs, gave earnest attention to the services. There were 
no organ and no choir, but some one would lead in the singing, ^nd as 
hymn books were scarce the reader would give out two lines of a stinza 
and the people would sing them, then another two, and so on. This 
was called "' lining ofif " the hymn, and a variety of ■voices would inui 
in the singing. There was not as much harmony and beautiful melo "•• 
as now. but there may have been as much devotion. Some amono- tb^ 
pioneers were accomplished singers, and when these met there ws ri^'i 
music. The court house was the place selected for manv early reI'"i^'-<; 



340 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

meetings, as such a notice as follows, extracted from the old Goshen 
Express of March 26, 1837, will show: "Rev. G. R. Brown will 
preach at the court house in this place on next Sabbath at 10 o'clock 
A. M., and at the schoolhouse in Benton, same day. 3 r. m.," and 
two weeks later it was announced that Rev. Adam Miller, " of the Bap- 
tist persuasion." would preach at the Cdurt hnuse. 

As we have made clear in an earlier chapter, the first Christian 
influences to penetrate the wilderness of northern Indiana was that 
emanating from the devoted jjriests who of their own initiative or close 
in the train of those who conipiered the land for the King of France 
sought to win to their religion the souls of the heathen red men. Of 
course the names of the early fathers who may have passed over this 
country are not accessible, and the zeal with which they undertook their 
cause is the best monument of fame which they have left. Rev. James 
Marest is one who is known to have been in this county after \' incennes 
was established. Then there was Rev. I'rancis Cointet. who may be 
termed the first pastor of the Catholics of Elkhart county. This I'"rencb 
priest no doubt nnnistered to the ])toi)le of his own race, who had a 
small settlement in the county at the time the English settlers began 
])ouring in. The successor of Re\-. Cointet was Rev. Dr. E. B. Kilroy, 
wdio took charge of tlie mission of b:ikhart county in 1855. At that 
time there were four Catholic families in F.lkhart and about ten in Goshen. 
In speaking of his missionary labors he says. " during my travels I 
was often forced to sleep in nature's bedroom, the beautiful forests of 
northern Indiana. The roads were horrible then ; but for the two years 
which I gave to constant travel over them the fatigues of those journeys 
were fully compensated by the genial welcome of my co-religionists, 
and people and ministers of other forms of Christianity. Indeed, many 
men who did not thoroughly acquiesce in the teachings of the church 
attended mv Sunday mass, and the court houses of Goshen, riymoutb 
and Valparaiso were always crowded when I preached." 

The first great Protestant denomination to take up active work in 
Elkhart county was no doubt the Methodists. Of course it is difficult 
to determine when and wdiere and of what religious sect, if any. were 
the first religious services in the county, but the Methodists seem to have 
been the first to spread their organization over this part of the state. 
The Carev Mission, at Niles, was conducted under Baptist auspices, and 
perhaps some of their ministers held services in this count}- during the 
pioneer days. 




METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH BUILDING 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 341 

The first missionary of the Methodist church, who came here at 
the instance of the Ohio conference, was named Felkner, who is prob- 
ably the circuit rider mentioned as having held a meeting in a cabin 
on Elkhart prairie m 183 1, Aza Sparklin being the class leader and 
local preacher of that little denomination. In 183 1 this county was 
included in the Indiana conference, and Rev. Nehemiah Griffith became 
the circuit rider who attended to the spiritual needs of all the people 
in this part of the state. The old-time circuit rider is celebrated among 
the men who participated in the fi)unding of civilization in the Missis- 
sippi, and manv men and women yet living within the limits of this 
county can remember the cumings of the itinerant preacher to their 
neighborhood, and especially would they not be likely to forget such 
an important occasion as a visit of his reverance to their own home, 
when the best that the thrifty housewife could procure from her larder, 
always including some " yellow legs," was set before the man of cloth. 

In 1832 Rev. R. S. Robinson was assigned to the post at Elkhart, 
and from that time the ministerial force was augmented to keep pace 
with the rapidlv increasing ])opulation of the county. Some valuable 
information concerning earl)- Methodism contained in an address de- 
livered by Hon. J. H. Defrees on the occasion of the laying of the cor- 
ner stone of the First M. E. church in Goshen, should be given here. 
According to Mr. Defrees, the first sermon preached in Goshen was in 
a building which had been erected by Dr. J. Latta on a lot between 
the residence of Dr. M. M. Latta and Dr. Jackson's office. Their first 
prayer meeting was held in the bar room of a hotel, and the prayers 
rendered by Sparklin and \\'augh. William \\^augh, Thomas and 
(icorge McCullom, with their wives, lived then on the town plat and 
in the immediate vicinity, so that they formed the first little society. 
A Sabbath school was formed early in 1832, and in 1833 the entire 
class comprised only five or six men witli a few women and children. 
But there were other Methodists in this part of the county, among them 
James Beck, R. W. Randall, James Frier and J. Myers, and toward the 
close of 1832 a meeting was held which decided upon erecting a church 
wherein they might worship in peace. This building was, in its archi- 
tectural outline, very uninteresting: it formed a peculiar qua<:lrant, forty 
feet square and only about twelve feet high, and cost $445. In 1840 
no less than one hundred and fifty members were added to the con- 
gregational roster, as the result of a camp meeting held in Violette 
Grove, south of Goshen. In 1845 George Runisey, Ebenezer Brown, 



342 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

John Durlan, Asa A. Morton, James Anderson Samuel Murray and 
Joseph H. Defrees, the trustees of the old church, which had heeii 
named the " Still house," resolved to desert this monument of James 
Beck's architectural genius, and with the co-operation of their brethren 
succeeded in raising the money sufficient to construct the building in 
whicii they continued till the dedication of the more imposing structure 
in 1S74. 

Coincident with, and often working alongside of. the Methodists in 
this county, were the Baptists. It will be remembered that Isaac Mc- 
Coy, the founder of the Baptist mission at Niles, known as the Carey 
Mission, was one of the earliest visitors to Elkhart county, anil named 
Christiana creek in honor of his wife. Gradually, as members of that 
faith increased, meetings were held. In November, 1836, a congrega- 
tion of eleven persons was found at Goshen, under the leadership of 
Elder Adam Miller or Deacon William Stancliff. Another congrega- 
tion was organized ni January, 1839, at Benton, and within the course 
of a few years there were quite prosperous Baptist liodies in different 
parts of the county. 

The Presbyterian church was not far behind- the other pioneer de- 
nominations. A congregation was organized in (ioshen with fifteen 
members, in 1838, and tw'o years later one at Elkhart with ten mem- 
bers. Millersburg and Bristol some time later had churches. Tlie name 
that is always mentioned with reverance in connection with the Pres- 
byterian church of Elkhart county is that of H. L. VanXu_\s, who has 
been identified with both the pioneer and modern epochs of his church ; 
who took charge of the church in Goshen in 1853. guided it through all 
its struggles and times of prosperity, and is still honored as the jiastor 
emeritus. 

In the memorial book published on the occasion of the jubilee anni- 
versary of the First Presbyterian church of Goshen and nf the jiastorate 
of Rev. VanNuys, the history of the church is set forth with such inter- 
esting relation to other matters of historical importance that we quote 
liberally from its pages. " Very soon after the county of Elkhart was 
organized and its county seat platted, a Presbyterian minister jjreached 
the first Presbyterian sermon at the home of a Mr. Irwin in llenton in 
July of 1832. This maji. Rev. Mr. Cory, a few weeks later, jjreached 
the first Presbyterian sermon in Goshen. In 1838 a Rev. Mr. Cook, 
of the New School, formed a church organization of fifteen members, 
and held it together for about two years. He was succeeded by the 




REV. H. L. VAN NUYS, 1902 

REV. H. L. VAN NUYS AS HE LOOKED IN 1852 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 1852 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 1902 



I 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 343 

Rev. Enoch Boutoii, a miiiistei- and home missionary of the I'resb}- 
terian church, who found liere practically no church organization; after 
holding service for a time in the old court house, he organized a small 
church, mainlv of the families of Frederick and Leonard LLirris. and 
Charles L. .Murray, the latter from the state of New York. In 1842 
thev erected ,-l neat frame house <>i worship on North Fifth street on 
the north end of the old ^lessick property now occupied by the (ioshen 
House. The old sui)scripti<in paper for the building is still extant, dated 
November 22. 1841, and is a somewhat remarkable d(jcumenl. There 
were fift\--thrce suliscribers gi\'ing a total value of $578, a large portion 
(.)f which was in work, hniiber and other materials, one man, Ceorge 
Rowell, giving a plow, perhaps to prepare the field for the Great Sower. 
In 1892 but thirteen of these contributors were living and without donlit 
all have now received their reward. 

" The second vear of Mr. rmuton's ministry be was a commissioner 
to the ;,;eneral assembly of the cb.urcli, meeting at I'hiladelijhia. He 
returned from that meeting with a fever, liy which be was taken away 
in the course of a few weeks. After bis death the church w;is unsu])- 
plied for a ];eri(_)d of two or three vears, when the Rew A. S. Kedsie, 
a minister of the Congregational faith, came here to reside, supplying 
the pulpit for a period of nearly tiu'ee years. During his ministry the 
Presbyterian organization was abandoned and the Congregational form 
was adopted, and. mainl\- tln"ough the instrumentality of an itinerant 
evangelist — Avery by name — the menibershi]5 was increased to perhaps 
forty. Immediately following that period, that pastor accepted a call 
to Kalamazoo and left the church vacant, and it remained so for three 
years and more. 

■■ In the spring of 1851 Rev, James Johnson came to (iosben from 
Peru, where he had been pastor of the Presbyterian church. He sup- 
plied the pulpit so far as he was able, with the great burden of constant 
sickness at bis home, luitil the death of bis wife in the autumn of that 
\-ear, after which he remo\ed to Iowa. During the winter succeeding 
the church building was unoccu]iied. The following summer, that of 
1852, it was given up to a private school. 

" Tliis completes the ston- of the precarious beginning of Presbyter- 
ianism in Goshen. Since the death of Rev. Bouton no stable Presby- 
terian organization existed, and even the Congregationalist orgam'za- 
tion fell away after the departure of Rev. Kedsie. Other church organ- 
izations in Goshen in 1852 were the Baptist, which had a small mem- 



344 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

l;ership and a minister but no house of worship. The Methodist church 
had the largest memlacrship, about one hundred and fifty, and what was 
then considered the finest church building between Ft. Wayne and Chi- 
cago. It was located at 211 North Alain street. And such was tlie 
situation at the time of the organization of the present church. 

" From that time to the present a history of the church is almost 
a biography of its pastor, for whatever it is now is his building, what- 
ever of good it has accomplished he deserves the credit. The last Sun- 
dav of October. 185J, the Rev. H. L. Vannuys. a graduate of that 
vear's class of the Theological Seminary of Princeton, came to Goshen 
from Elkhart by stage. He had made an appointment with the Hon. 
Thomas G. Harris to preach the next day in the Presbyterian church. 
The latter was a citizen of prominence, and a politician of note, who; 
being so engrossed in the heat of the troublous campaign then coming 
to a close, when Gen. \\'infield S. Scott was defeated by Franklin Pierce. 
cntirelv forgot that he was Iieing depended upon to arrange a service 
in the little neglected church on Fifth street. In the morning he met 
the young minister at the church, where the latter was awaiting a con- 
gregation, and after expressing his deep regret fcir the situation said 
tliev \\()ul<l arrange a service later in the da}\ The church was unfit 
for occupancy, the door having been left open, and a flock of sheep that 
had the freedom of the streets had used the room as a sleeping place, 
and the walls and benches had been chalk-marked by sacrilegious boys. 

" At the hour of three that afternoon an audience assembled, cjuite 
filling the court room. It was a room a square of perhaps fi)rty-fi\-e 
or fifty feet, the floor of brick and on a level with the ground. The 
preacher occupied the judge's stand. The choir, self-gathered after 
the audience assembled, was in the stall of the jury men at the judge's 
left. The windows were raised as it was a warm Indian summer after- 
noon, and a good mimber of people \\ere at and anmnd the windows 
listening. Such was the humlile start of the church. 

" The following week a meeting was held by a number of people 
inclined U> the Presbyterian faith, the conclusion of which was a projxj- 
sition that if Mr. Vannuys would remain and preach as their minister 
tliey would set about at once to putting of the church building in order 
for occupancy. And before the week was ended they began the work. 
They put a new roof upon the church, put a second coat of plaster upon 
the walls — they had had l)ut one — took out two doors of the front and 
put in a central one covered by an outside vestibule and built the first. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 345 

stay of a tuwer. They reniuved the rough benches and put in pews 
— nicely grained — and tinisheel it up a neat and handsome room. The 
same pulpit remained; it had been built by Re\-. Johnson's own hands. 
By the Christmas of that year the work was completed and the build- 
ing consecrated to worship. 

" All that winter services were held in the little church. When 
spring came there came with it talk of an organization. On Saturday 
afternoon, the 12th day of March, 1853, a meeting was held in the 
church pursuant to a call issued the preceding Sunday, to consider the 
interests of religion. There were fourteen present, all but three of 
whom belonged to the old congregation. The following persons, 
all of whom had been previously in connection with the church here or 
elsewhere, entered into covenant; Charles L. ilurray and Ann .M., his 
wife; James R. ^IcCord, and Eliza, his wife; S. F. Abbott and Lois, 
his wife; Joseph D. Devor and JMartha, his wife; Robert Lowry, Sr., 
Lee Sanderson, Orrin Curtis, ]\latilda Barnes, ]\[arcia ]NL Harris and 
Margaret j\L Miller. 

"The following officers were chosen; Ruling elders; Robert 
Lowry, Sr.. James R. McCord and Orrin Curtis; deacons: Joseph D. 
Dover and Lee Sanderson; trustees; Charles L. Murray, Orrin Cur- 
tis and Thomas G. Harris. Rev. Hervey L. Vannuys was chosen pas- 
tor. The organization was christened as ' The First Presbyterian Church 
of Goshen." 

" David G. Lowry, a son of Ekler Robert Lowry. Sr., was the first 
member taken into the church; this was ]\Lirch 2(1, 1853. About the 
same time Miss Sophia McClure and j\lrs. Lucy Cark were taken in 
as members. A little later Mr.s. Mary Stevens and Dr. C. S. Ramsev 
and wife came from Indianapolis and presented their letters. Then ^Irs. 
Jane McCabe. Mrs. Eliza Lowry, Miss Elizabeth Lowry and ;\Irs. 
Amanda Shepherd joined. ^Trs. Orrin Curtis and Anthea Abljott united 
with the church about this time, but the date is uncertain. All these 
accessions occurred before the month of March elapsed, so that this 
new-born church early became a youth of goodly proportions and twen- 
ty-seven members. 

"About i860 the membership had outgrown the small building 
erected almost twenty }'ears before and to get larger and modern quar- 
ters the trustees sold the old church to Fred Jackson for ^j^o. and 
later purchased the lot on Market street, now Lincoln avenue, where 
the present cinu-ch stands. Fred Jackson sold the old church to Adam 



346 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Yeakcl. wlm nmved il in its present location on South Fifth street, 
where it is now (1902) in use as their jjlace dt worship by the con- 
t^regatiim of tlie German Lutheran church. Turned about, a steeple 
added, stained glass windows replacmg iilain glass, it is yet the same 
;is \\hen put in order back in the fall nf 1852. 

•■ The ])resent structure was built in 1861 at a cost of alxwt ,$12,- 
000. Jiihn Werner, at present a member of the church, laid the founda- 
tion an<l su])erintended the brick wurk. What difticulties must have 
been encountered and overcouie diuing this time of building can scarcely 
be miagined bv members of this day. though fully realized then. It 
was the beginning of the Civil war and it is marvelous to think of such 
a great work going on amid the alarms and ch.aos of that nation-rend- 
ing contest. It is related that while the masons were placing stone the 
])a>loi- ])rocured copies of a newspaper and read them dispatches about 
the battle of Bull Run then in progress." 

These denominations may he called the religious pioneers in h'lk- 
liart countv. Other creeds were certainly represented here about the 
same time, but rather in individual members than in organizations. Dur- 
ing the fifties and sixties many churches weve founded, the old bodies 
erected more substantial houses of worshiii in ])lace of their primitive 
sanctuaries, and the A-arious denominations such as we know them to- 
day became established. Among these early religious bodies should no 
doubt be included also the IMennonites. representatives of wdiich sect 
are said to liave come to the county in 1843. In the years subsequent 
to that time a \-ery strong c<immuuity of these ]3eople, adhering to sim- 
])hcn\- of faith and practice, had been established in the county, and 
the Mennouites exert a considerable influence not onl}- in religion but 
in business and general affairs. 

So closely identified with the general settlement and u])buildiug of 
the couut\' in its church histor\- that elsewdiere in the w<Trk, especially 
in those chaiiters dealing \\ith the early settlement and the histor}' of 
the smaller centers, it has been relate<l bow the churches often formed 
the nucleus around which was built uj) a larger community: also in the 
histor\- of tlie smaller centers we ha\-e named the \-arious church de- 
noiuinritions rej^resented in each town and given such other facts as 
ha\e lieen fru'nished concerning their jjresent condition. In the re- 
luanider of this chapter S(ime iiarticular mention is made of some ve\)- 
resentati\e churches in the coiuUw 

I. S. Hartzler, of the iNIennonite clnn"ch at Goshen, has kindiv fur- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 347 

nished some \aluable facts concerning the history of his church in this 
connty. it was possibly two years after the Araish Mennonites had 
made their tirst settlement in Elkhart county (1841) about four miles 
east of Goshen, that John Smith, a Alennonite of Medina county, Ohio, 
purchased a farm near what is now known as Harrison Center, south- 
west of Goshen, but it was not until the spring of 1845 that the Alennon- 
ites began to make settlements. At that time, says Mr. Hartzler, Bishop 
Martin Hoover, then ei.ghty-five years old, with his son John, moved 
on a farm near Southwest. Few others of the faith came until the 
spring of 1848, when Pre. Jacob Christophel and Pre. Jacob \\'isler, 
with their families accompanied by several other families, joined the 
colony. Ascension day of the same year being chosen as the da}- on 
which the first services should lie held, si.xteen persons, including the 
three ministers, were present, and the principal sermon was preached 
by Jacob W isler. Bishoj) Hoo\'er made a few remarks wliile seated. 
No one being present who was accustomed to lead in singing and others 
fearing tliat the\- would Isreak down, their first service had no song. 

From this time forward regular services were held every two 
weeks, sometimes in the schoolhouse, and sometimes in barns, jirivate 
dwellings, etc. The Mennonite colony was increased in the sun.imer of 
1848 by the arri\al, from Wayne, Medina and Columbiana counties, 
Ohio, of twenty-four families, among which were the Hartmans, Holde- 
mans, iMoyers. Smeltzers and others. By the summer of 1849 the 
congregation had increased so that a meeting house of their own was 
justified. Accordingly a log meeting house, tw'enty-six feet square, was 
built on the same ground now' occupied bv the A'ellow Creek meeting 
house. This building once took fire from the stove iiijae. four of the 
ceiling boards lieing burned and the girder for half the length of the 
building being charred, but the fire went out of its own accord and 
did no further damage. An addition of twenty-four feet in length was 
later made to this house, and in 1861 the old place of worship was 
moved away and the new frame edifice, still standing, forty b\- sixty 
feet, W'as put up in its stead. 

Among the early leaders of this faith in Elkhart county was Daniel 
Moyer, who was chosen to the ministry and served in that capacitv a 
number of years. He was an earnest preacher, but his earthl}- lalx)rs 
were brought to a sudden close by a collision on the railroad, through 
which he lost his life while ou the way with two other ministers to 
visit the churches in Canada, in December, 1864. In 1833 R. J. Schmidt 



848 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

and N. J. Sijniensma, two ministers, and their families and a number 
of their brethren and their famihes, on account of their faithful ad- 
herence to the doctrine of non-resistance, were compelled to emigrate 
from Holland, and settled in this county, where Bro. Sijmensma died 
a few years afterward, leaving the care of his charge to Bro. Schmidt, 
who still held services at stated periods, in the Holland language. After 
his death the remaining members united with the other ^lennonite con- 
gregations. Trouble arose among the Mennonites of this county on ac- 
count of the various ideas and practices brought from the different 
places represented by the new settlers, and from this schismatic diffi- 
culties have resulted the three factions known as Mennonites, United 
Mennonite Brethren in Christ, and the Old Order ( Wisler) Alennonites. 
In the Mennonite faction there are at present the following organ- 
ized congregations in Elkhart county : Nappanee, under the care of 
Bishop David Burkholder and Noah Metzler. Holdeman, under the 
ministers Henry Weldy, John Hygema and Jacob Bixler. Olive, under 
Jacob Shenk. Yellow Creek, ministers Jacob Christophel and Jonas 
Loucks. Elkhart, ministers John E. Funk, Samuel Yoder, CJeorge Lam- 
bert, D. H. Bender. Goshen, ministers J. S. Hartzler and I. W. Royer. 
Salem, minister Jacob Christophel. Clinton, under John Garber, bishop, 
and Samuel Honderich, minister. 

History of the Germ.\n B.vptist Brethren Church in Jackson 
Township. 

B>- J. H. Warstler. 

Unfortunately there do iKit seem to be any records of the early his- 
tory of th.e Brethren church in the county, but the_\- Avere among the 
first settlers in the county ; and among them was Daniel Cripe, the 
first minister of the Brethren church in Elkhart cnunty, who located 
on Elkhart prairie about 1828 or "29. The first church \\as organ- 
ized about 1830 or '31, and Jacob Studebaker and Martin W'eybright, 
Sr., were elected to the ministry, lieing the first ministers chosen in Elk- 
hart county. And it is pretty clear that Daniel Cripe was the first 
minister of any denomination in the county. 

Erom this organization the church spread over the county, and in 
the year 1856 a church was organized in the south part of the county, 
embracing tlie most of Jackson and Benton townships and a part of 
Kosciusko county. This organizati(jn was. named "Solomon's Creek 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 349 

congregatiun." It was organized with Frederick L'. Loehr and Aiarlin 
Wej-brighr, Jr.. as ministers, and Jacol> Arnold, Juhn \\'eyljright. Joel 
Rusli and Levi W'yland, deacons. In the year 1858 Daniel Shixely was 
clio;-en to the ministry, and in the year 1862 F. P. Loehr was ordained 
elder. 

After the church was organized the meetings were held in ]>arns. 
schoolhouses and private dwellings until the year 1864, when the Breth- 
ren Ijuilt one of the largest meeting houses in northern Lidiana. This 
was at a tiriie when \-olunteers for the Civil war were exhausted and 
drafts l)ecame necessary, consequently, comnuitatiun money in connec- 
tion with the expense of building" a house of worship, taxed the brethren 
very hea\'ily and was a source of some annoyance, but the}- met and 
paid off the debt and no^\ the churcli has no oliligations which she i- 
unable to fill. 

Just about the time the house was completed, that is in the year 
1864, Martin Weybright, Jr., was called to reap the reward of his 
labors upon earth, having been permitted to worship but once in the 
new meeting house, and early in the year 1865 Elder Loehr moved to 
]\Iichigan. and in the latter part of the saine year, Daniel B. Gibson, 
a deacon. mo\ed in the congregation and after remaining aljout three 
years, mo\"ed away. 

By the rernowd of F.lder Loehr. Daniel Shixely was left alone in 
the ministr_\- until the month (if June, 1866, when George W. Cripe 
was chosen minister. In the latter part of the same yeav. Peter Ham- 
moa, minister, mo\ed into the church and remained about a ^ear. Avhen 
he moved awa\. In 1S67 Joseph Hardnian and George Domer, min- 
isters, moved in, and in 1868, Lewis JMuntz was chosen to the ministry. 
The same year G. \V. Cripe moved into another congregation. In 
1869 Jesse Calvert, minister, was received by letter of recommendation, 
and in 1871 Joseph Hardman mo\ed away and Joseph Hartsough, 
also a minister, was received by letter of recommendation. 

In 1872 Abraham L. Neff was elected to the ministrv, and in 187^ 
George Domer moved away, and Davis Younce, minister. mo\ed into 
the church. In 1875, Jesse Calvert, and in 1876 Joseph Hartsough 
mo\-ed away, so that in 1S77 the ministers were D. Shively. Lewis 
Muntz, A. L. Neff and Davis Younce. To the deacons alreath- named 
there were added by choice in 1856, Daniel Shively, and soon after 
David Coy. In 1858, as before stated, D. Shively was chosen to the 
ministry and in i860 Josiah Rensberger and Ashlev Furgeson were 



350 HISTORY OF ELKH-\RT COUNTY 

chosen tleacuns. In i8()i Levi W'vland ninved away and Eli Myers 
was chosei!. and in 18G3 he departed this hfe. and in 1863 Jiisiah Rens- 
berger antl .\shle}' Furgeson m(i\ed away, and the same year G. W. 
Cripe. F'lias C'ine and (icdrge Smith were cl.nsen. In 1865 George 
Smith mi)\ed awa}' and Christian Harsliman wa^ recei\-ed l)y letter. In 
i86(). as ah'ead\- stated, ('.. W . Cri]>e was chosen minister, and Daniel 
lM)rnev niovcil in, and m 18(17 jnhn Arnold and Cyrus Lentz were 
elected. In 1869 Jacob Arnold departed this life, and the same year 
Joseph Lautzenheiser and John Robins(jn moved into the district, and 
in 1870 EH Hartei also moved in. In 187J Christian Harshman was 
disabled bv a strcjke of paralysis, and the same year Cyrus Lentz moved 
away. 

In 1873 Joel Rush tlied. and Josejih Lautzenheiser and Eli Harter 
moved away, and in 1874 Michael Treesh and J. Henry W'arstler were 
chosen. In the \'ear 1871') Cyrus Lentz was receixed liack by letter, 
making, in 1877, ten deacons, as follows: John \\'e}l:iright, Daniel 
b'ornev. Christian Harshman (disabled), David C(.)y, Elias Cline, John 
.\rnold, Cvrus Lentz, John Robinson, Michael Treesh and J. H. AYarst- 
ler. 

Since 1877. Lewis Muntz and Da\'is ^'ounce have died, Davis 
Vounce January 14, 181)7. •i''"' Lewis Muntz a short time previous. Of 
the deacons mentioned the following ba\"e also died: Christian Harsh- 
man in 1887, Elias Cline in 1893, John \\'eybright in 1901, Daniel 
bdrnev also in 1901, Da\id Coy in 190J. Cyrus Lentz and John Robin- 
son moved away, and J. LI. Warstler was elected to the ministry. Of 
the number only John .\rnold and ^I. Treesh are still holding the otfice 
of deacon. 

The first election since the abo\e record was in 1878, when J. H. 
W'arstlcr was called to the ministry. The next was in 1883 when Hiram 
Forne_\' was elected deacon. 

In [881 AA^illiam R. F)eeter. elder, nioxed in and a few ^•ears after 
the congregation w:is dixided. placing \\'. R. Deeter in the new con- 
gregation. In 1883 Andrew Cri])e, a deacon. moAed in: he mo\-ed in 
rmd out several times and final!}- in 1902 he mo\x'(l in again, where he 
is at i^resent. The same vear Aaron B. Glider, a deacon, also nnu'ed in 
and in i88C) he left the church. Se])tember 4. 1886, Liiraiu b'ornev 
was elected to the ministry, and David M. \\'eybright to the office of 
deacon, a.ncl at the same time Da\is "S'ouncc was ordained to the elder- 
ship. In 1887 Jacol: .Sheline. deacon. mo\-ed in and in 1888 Solomon 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 351 

Rowdabaugh and Henr_\- Bariager were chosen deacons. In 1889 Daniel 
F. Hartsungh. minister, was receix'ed Ijy letter and about the same 
time A. L. Xeff moved away and James Xeff was cht)sen min- 
ister, and George Lingofelter, d.eacon. In 1893 Flder Daniel C. 
Riggle moved in cUid the next year mo\-ed awa}-. This )'ear Wdl- 
iam Bussard, a minister, also moved in. In 1895 M. Treesli moved 
back. In 1896 Jacob Sheline moved away. In 1897 Daniel Shively 
moved away, also (i. W. Lingofelter, and John \\'. Kitson was elected 
to the ministry and Abraham Morehonse, deacon. .\ few month.s later 
J. W. Kitson moved away. In [898 Amsey E. Clem and John S. 
Neff were elected deacons, and .\. S. Yoder. deacon, moved in, and 
Hiram Forney moved away. In 1899 A. E. Clem was elected to the 
ministrv and Calvin Cripe and Elmer D. Umlienhower were elected 
deacons. In 1900 A. S. Yoder moved away. In 1901 Charles M. 
Arnold was chosen minister and Samuel Whitehead and Hem-y Clanger 
were chosen deacons. This year Daniel Shively moved back, and John 
C. Stout, a minister, came in. This year is also memorable in tiie his- 
tory of the clnn'ch by the loss, by death, of three deacons, viz.: John 
Weybright, Daniel b'orney and E. D. Umbenhower. In 190-' Aaron 
Treesh, deacon, moved in, also A. L. Neff and J. W. Kitson returned. 
Henrv (langer nioxed away and [)a\id C(j}- died. In 1904 Cabin 
Cripe moved away. In 1905 Jesse Metz and J. Orliy Weybright were 
cliosen deacons. 

B\- recapitulation we tind that in all twent}-three ministers and 
fortv-one deacons served in the church since its organization a half 
centnrv ago, a total of sixty-four officers. Of these it will be seen that 
when the clnuTh was organized tlierc were two ministers, ten were 
elected, and eleven received by letter of recommendation, or such as had 
moved into the congregation. Of the deacons, four when organized, 
twenty-seven elected, and ten received liy letter of recommendation. 

.\gam, of the whole number of officers n ministers ha\'e departed 
this life. lea\-ing 1 _' still li\ing. Of the deacons, ifi ha\e died and 
2^ are }et li\'ing, making a total of 27 dead and 37 li\ing. Nine of 
the ministers who are yet li\ing are at present ( 1903 ) serx'ing the 
church. Thev are the following: Daniel Shively, A. L. Neff, J. H. 
Warstler, James Xeff". \\'illiam Bussard, J. W. Kitson, A. M. Clem, 
J. C. Stout and C. M. -\rnold. Tlie tln-ee others of the u are in other 
congregations. 

Of the deacons the following .are still ser\ing tlie church: |oini 



352 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Arnold. Andrew Cripe, AI. Treesh, D. AT. Weybright, Sol Rowda- 
baugh. Henry Baringer, Alie Morehouse. J- S. Neff, Sam Whitehead. 
Aaron Treesh. Jesse Aietz and J. O. \\'e}'ljright. John .-Vrnold and 
Andrew Criiie. hecause of age, are excused from active ser\-ice. 

In 1S77 a churchhouse was bought from the I'resbyterian society in 
\Vaterf(ird b}- the lirethren and others, and moved to the BaintertoAvn 
Cemetery, where it is still used and principally controlled by the brethren. 

In the ^■ear 1H79 the brethren built a new house of worship in the 
south end of the district, in Kosciusko county, and about 1S84 the dis- 
trict was divided with the new house in the new district. In 1885 an 
old Methodist chnrcli house was purchased in New I'aris. In 1S88 
another new liouse was liuilt in Syracuse in the southeast part of the 
district. 

In 1899 the old [Methodist house in Xew I'aris was sold, and a 
lieautiful and substantial one was purchased from the E\-angelical As- 
sociation in Benton township, thus making four houses of worshii) in 
the congregational territory, two services each alternate Sunday at 
about the same hour, beside some kind of Christian work each Sunda\' 
evening and Sunday school at each place. 

SOME .\DDITIOXAI. F.\CT.S. 

By D. M. \\'eybright. 

To the above nia\' be added the fact how our good fathers and 
mothers used to care for and jirovide for the meetings, and for the 
comforts of those who attended the services. They not onlv took the 
meetings into their residences, but after the services were o\er. the 
good mothers would prepare a meal and all were invited to remain 
for dinner, the horses were fed and everybody made comfortable, and 
a most pleasant social intercourse was enjoyed. This had a remarkably 
good influence and added much to the success of the early Christian 
fathers, and the growth of the church. 

In those early days, although the roads were nothing compared to 
what they now are, being rough, muddy, full of stumps, corduroy 
bridges across the marshes and low places, in many instances mere path- 
ways through the forests ; yet people in those days would go farther 
to church on foot, horseback, or in their lumber wagons, sometimes 
drawn by oxen, than they do to-day in their buggies and frne carriages, 
over good roads. It was not an unusual thing for them to walk from 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 353 

six to ten miles, often carrying their children, and frequently in sum- 
mer time thev went barefoot, carrying their shoes until near tlie place 
tif meeting, when they would stuii and put them on. Children, e\en 
of large size, would go to the place of meeting barefoot, and even the 
men would sometimes go barefoot, the writer having witnessed this. 

The good work of spreading the glad tidings of salvation was con- 
tinued' until the church had grown to a membership of about two hun- 
dred and fifiv. when the territory was divided, and about one hundred 
members were allotted to the new organization; the church again in- 
creased Uj a membership of two hundred or oyev. The new organiza- 
tion also was successful and prosperous, having increased in meml)er- 
ship, and to-da)- thev have three substantial houses of worship within 
its territory; the last one nearing completion. 

For a number of years the church had no Sunda}- schools. ])erhaps 
priricipall}' from the scattering condition of the residents of the countr}'. 
the widely separated places of meeting. ;ind the incon\enience of get- 
ting to the appointments. Ihit on the 6th of August, 1S71, a Sunday 
school was organized, and conducted with success, until to-day there is 
a Sundav school in operation at the se\'eral places of worshi]). and 
together with the Christian Workers' meetings, which were introdnced 
in later years, they are considered an important auxiliar_\- to the church. 

On New Year's day, 1905. was dedicated in Wakarusa the beauti- 
ful house of worship of the Christian church, one of the modern edifices 
of the kind ni this county, and in the successful completion thereof not 
only the members of the church but all the citizens of ^\'akarus;l took 
a lively interest and now feel great pride in the institution. In fact 
the church was liuilt as the result of general co-operation among the 
jjeople interested, and represents the zeal and liberality of the people 
of \\'akarusa. The cost of the edifice was nearlv eight thousand dol- 
lars. Tiie exterior structure was made from the duralile and ornate 
cement Idocks. and the interior furnishings, and the trimmings and 
decorati\e work are in keeping with the liest ideas of modern church 
adornment. The building is heated Ijy furnace and lighted bv gas. The 
beautiful stained glass windows are dedicated to the Christian Endeavor, 
Band of \\'il!ing \\'orkers, John Wire. Mrs. Jacol> Walters. Mrs. Kate 
\\'agner. Dr. Knepple. Thomas Price. Christian Wagner family. .\. C. 
CTiIp and wife. B. F. ^Nlehdn and wife. Anthony Smeltzer and wife. 
Senior S. S.. Junior S. S.. Fred Trisinger and wife, and foseph Eshel- 
nian. .Sr. The Christian church of \\'akarusa was organized December 



3r.4- HISTORY OF F.T-KHART COl-XTY 

2"]. iSf'j. and is tliiis (Uie of the old and sulistantial cliurch cnngrega- 
liims i)f the omnty. Its present pastor is John M. Miller. A. C. Culp 
was the architect of the new huilding. and the hnilding committee con- 
sisted of J. H. Dell, Dr. Sensenich and Joseph I-Ishelman, Jr. 

GCSIIEX CHURCHES. 

First Al. 1'".. Church. — 'Idle present edifice was erected in 1874 at 
a cost of twenty tliou.sand dollars, replacing the old brick church on 
AJain street that had been huilt in J 846. Rev. M. J. Magor is minister. 

Fifth Avenue AI. \\. Church. — This congregation dedicated its 
beautiful Iniilding on May \2. i88(). The increasing needs of the North 
.Side Alethodists, which could not be satisfied at the First church, led 
to the erection of this church. The pastor is Rev. J. A. Sumwalt. 

b'irst Baptist Church. — An impo-sing brick and stone structure, 
Washington and Si.xth streets, erected in 187(1. The church was organ- 
ized in 1858, by eight ladies. Rev. J. V. bT-adenburg is pastor. 

b'irst Presbvteriau Church. — Tliis church whose present pastor is 
Rev. \\. .\. Vannuys, nephew of Rev. 11. L. Yannuys, lias 464 members 
in communion, and on the church rolls are the names of 1,151 pers<-ins. 
The historv of the churcli is gi\'en abo\'e. 

St. Tames Episcopal Church. — This jaarish was organized Afarch 
26, 1859, and the present church building was comideted in 1861. Rev. 
Frederick \\ elbani is rector. 

(ierman M. F. Church. — This denoniination was instituted in 18309, 
by Re\-. Mr. 1-iufl'. The first ser\ices were in private homes, then in 
rented ([uarters. and in 1864 a building was erected at Fifth and Purl 
streets, which, since remodeled, still serves as their house of worship. 
Rev. W. 1 '. Rucckheim is pastor. 

St. John's Catholic Church. — The members of this church still 
Wdrship in the building erected in 1860. The priest is Re\-. James Fitz- 
]3atrick. The first jiarochial school was built in 1867, ruid a brick school- 
house was ])ut up in 1881. 

German Baptist. — Rev. (ieorge Swihart. pastor. 

b'irst Reformed ChiuTh. — Was organized in September. 1873. by 
F]. R. Willard. witli twelve charter members. The house of worship 
was on North Main street until 1892, when their present handsome 
church wa-; erected on Fifth street. Their ]iresent minister is I\e\-. N. 
B. Mathes. 

First FInglish Evangelical Lutheran Church. — This church was 




FIRST BAPTIST 
GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL 



KIUST PRKSHYTERIAN' 

ST. JAMES EPISCOPAr. 

SHARITH ISRAEL 

GOSHEN CHURCHES 



FIRST.METHODIST EPISCOPAL 
ST. JOHN S CATHOLIC 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 355 

organized January i"] . 1876, and first worshiped in the German M. E. 
building, finally purchased and remodeled that property, and in 1894 
came into ])ossession of their larger building on South Fifth and East 
Madison streets. Rev. Luther Hogshead is pastor. 

Sharith Israel. — This congregation was organized September 3, 
1878. prior to which time the Jewish residents worshiped in private 
homes. The old Baptist church building was purchased and converted 
into their synagogue, anci the first services held in 1878. A Sabbath 
school was organized in 1886, and in 1887 the congregation purchased 
the ground which is now the Sharith Israel Cemetery. A new church 
w-as erected in i8()(j. Ralihi II. W'einstein has ser\-ed his people in 
Goshen continuDUsl}- si)ice 1881. 

Trinity Lutheran Church. — The First Evangelical Lutheran church 
was organized Octoljer 27, i8()i. the congregations in Harrison and 
Benton to\\nshi]js hei]:)ing in support of the pastor. The old Presln-- 
terian church, was purchased and made the house of worship. From 
this congregation, in 1875, a portion formed the English church. The 
services are conducted in (iernian and English, C. E. Clessler. minister. 

h'irst Christian Churcli. — This congregation was organized in 1886 
in the building known as the Coliseum, and, until the completion of 
their building in the fall of that year, services were held in the Coliseum 
and in Mennonite Hall. 

Alennonite Brethren Church. — Was organized December 27, 1883, 
and their iiou'^e of worship was erected in 1894. 

\Vells Memorial Lutheran Church. — Organization was effected, 
with twenty-six charter members. January 2(\ 18(^2, and after worshiping 
in a store room on the nfirth side, their present home Avas erected on 
Third and Oak Ridge streets. Rev. S. V. l'"rvherger is pastor. 

(jerman Baptist Brethren Church. — The work of this denomina- 
tion began in (ioshen in a mission tent meeting in 1895, and for several 
year;> the adherents of the faith worshiped in rented quarters. Growth 
of their memliership justified the erection of a church, and on November 
2ft. 189U. their present edifice, at l^ifth and Clinton streets, built at a 
cost of fi\e thousand dollars, was dedicated. 

SO.ME ELKtJ.VRT CHrRCHES. 

St. John's Episcopal Church. — The first Episcopal ser\ice was held 
at Elkhart about 1843, Imt the jiarisb was not organized until Alav, 
i8ft8. and the first church linilding erected in 1873. The jiresent beauti- 



356 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 

ful church \\a^ completed in the summer of 1896. R. R. Graham is 
pastor. 

Trinity Al. E. Church. — 'Jliis congregation has a consecutive his- 
tor}' extencling over seventy vears. The present Ijeautiful chtnxh, on 
Second street, was dedicated Feliruary 10, 1890. Somerville Light is 
pastor. 

Congregational Church. — This church was organized in 1869; for 
se\eral years the members worshiped in the Baptist church, and the 
present church was completed in 1872. .\, W. Ogilvie is pastor. 

First Presbyterian Church.. — W. J. Frazier, minister. Organized 
in 1840: this congregation for many years worshiped with the Congre- 
gationalists. l;a\-ing been separate since 1869. 

hirst Christian Church. — Organization was effected October 23, 
1878: their first home was dedicated in January, 1879; another building- 
was erected in 1889, and tliis has since been moved, received two ex- 
tensi\'e additions and been entirely remodeled, the final dedicatory ser\-- 
ices l^emg held in December, 1897. The pastor is W. W. Denham. 

Castle U. B. Church. — The L'nited Brethren have been identified 
with the religious progress of Elkhart since pioneer times, claim lieing 
made that one of their preachers delivered the first sermon ever heard 
in l^lkliart. Rev. John Denham, of this faith, preached in this jiart of 
tlie coimtry as early as 1830. J. E. Grimes presides over the church at 
present. 

First Baptist Church. — O. V. W'heeler. minister. \\'as organized 
in i85Ci. a building was erected in i860, and the present edifice, corner 
of Third and Pigeon streets, was completed in 1888. 

St. A'incents Catholic Church. — The l>uildings of St. Vincent's 
parish, located on South Main street, consist of the large church, the 
ne-\\ rectorw the -listers" home and paroclfial school. H. .\.. Boeckleman 
is t1ie s])iritual bead. 

hirst I^utlieran Church. — Organized in 1873, services were first 
held in rented (|uarters. and in December, 1874. the present edifice. 
Clarion :md Xinth streets, was dedicated. 

Watch Tower E^•angelical Church. — The first meeting of this Eng- 
lish society of the Evangelical cbtu'cb was held Se]5tember 26, 1872, and 
in C)ctober, 1873, their church building was dedicated. 

.Meihodist Protestant Cluucb. — This chiu'ch was organized in 
1893, and a lieautiful little house of worship was erected during the 
])astorate of Rev. Memminger. 



HTSTOkV Ol' I'XKHART fOL'XTY 357 

("lernian E\an^elical Lutheran Llnirch. — \\ as organized in 1874. 
, and the tirst home erected in the same year, and on August 2^. 1S89, 
their present church edifice was dedicated. 

Otlier churches with their ministers are as follows: Free Meth- 
odist, J, ^\. Jolly. Riverside Christian, J. A. Wood. W'illowdale Al. 
E.. P. E. Greenwalt. Swedish Lutheran, Rtv. Bowandes. (ierman 
Baptist Brethren, J. V Felthouse and E. L. Heestand. Eirst Church 
of Cliristian Scientists. St. John's German Lutheran, h'red Ewald. 
JNlennonite lirethren in Clu'ist, C. 1. Scott. 

On Easter da_\', 1905. was dedicated at Elkhart the beautiful 
Evangelical cliurch, one of the latest rmd most pretentious additions to 
the church arcliitecture of the count}-. The magnificent new edifice was 
erected at a cost of $23,000. The ])ropertv on which it was erected is 
valued at So. 300. The t\-i)e is S])anish Gothic, the material is red 
pressed l)rick with Bedford stone trnnmings. The church has a front- 
age of 84 feet on the south and the depth is 76 feet. The auditoruim 
has a seating capacit}- of 900, and 500 may he accommodated in the 
Sunday-school room in the basement. Re\-. L. S. Fisher, the present 
pastor, is a son of Rew Joseph Fisher, the first Tivangelical ])astor in 
Elkhart. The church was organi.'/ed in i8f)0, worshiping at iirst in a 
small frame chaiicl. rmd in 1868 erected a brick church, which \\as 
in use until the ])resent edifice was completed. 

The following has been furnished concerning the dedication id' the 
AJethodist church at Xew Paris. 

■■ On Xovember 29, 1885, the new AI. E. church of New Paris, 
Indiana, was dedicated by the Rev. I. C. T'ershing, L). D., of Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania, Female College. The churcli enterprise was commenced 
last spring. The subscription paper was wTitten April 4, and the pastor 
l)€gan his arduous work of soliciting subscriptions for the erection of 
the building, ^^'hile there were many who very much desired a new 
church there were few who had any hope of success and some thought 
it an im])ossibility to put up such a building as some of the starters 
of the enterprise desired. And even the pastor was reminded in a kind 
way liy a ])rofessor of religion that the outsiders said the last spark of 
MetlKidism in Xew Paris had gone out. 1 suppose that is one reason 
why the outside friends were so liberal in donations. 

In Wi\y the aihertisement was made for bids to erect the structure, 
and in June the contract was let. S. S. ^^'hitehea(l, Dr. James Mathews 
and the |)astor, Rew \\'. 1\. W'ones, were selected as the buildin.g com- 



35S HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 

mittee. The wurk was coninienced at oik-c, and nn July 3 the fnundatinn 
was tinished, tlie corner stune beint;" laid the next day by the Rev. A. E. 
Mahin of Warsaw. The wurk was so ably and successfully ])usbed 
fn'.-warcl that in less than eit;hl months the building was cinnpleted at 
a cost of $4,400. There was a subscription of $3,400, the old clnu'ch 
Imilding sold for $300, and $650 was a.sked for on the day of dedication, 
Avhich amount was raised, and enough more to ])ay for building a fence 
arcjund the lot, and to spout the building. It was estimated that o\er 
seven hundred ]}eople were in attendance on the day of dedication. Dr. 
Pershing pronounced it the neatest structure he ever saw for the money 
e-\pende<l on it, while those who .are mostly interested in the enterprise 
are more than jjleased. Well ma)- Xew l^aris feel prcjud of her three 
church biiildings. The new church is brick veneering. The main 
building is 3- x 58 feet, the .audience room 34x46 feet, with two ba\' 
windows K x 18 feet, and will seat _'30 persons. The class room. 10 x 28 
feet, will seat 50 ijer.-ons, and the gallery, i 2 .\ 34 feet, j^ persoirs. mak- 
ing T,J^. and when well seated, according to plan, 400. The \-estibule 
or entrance is at the southeast corner, and is 10 x 10 feet, surmounted b\' 
a belfrv and tower, the whole So feet in height." 



HOX. -\LBERT R. P.E.VRDSLEY. 

Hon. Albert R. Beardsley. prominent as a man of affairs, influen- 
tial and active in political circles, and a leading factor in the commercial 
and financial activities of Elkhart, is a conspicuous character in the his- 
torv of Elkhart countv, both by reason of his personal achievements 
rdong the lines just mentioned and because of his connection with a 
famih' name which is one of the first to be mentioned in recording the 
founding of Elkliart. 

Born in Dayton, ]\lontgo:nery county, Ohio, X'ovember 7, 1847, 
Mr. Beardslcv is a representative in the eighth generation of the Beards- 
lev family that was founded in .\merica 1)}- William Beardsley, who 
was born in England in 1603 and who landed among the Mas.sachusetts 
colonists in June, 1635. Tm-oui Massachusetts he transferred his home 
to the Connecticut colony, settling at Stratford, which town he assisted 
to establish and was named, probably, in honor of Stratford-on-Avon, 
where, according to tradition, was the original family seat of the Beards- 
leys. .\ man of ability rmd. influence such as to mark him from his 
fellow citizens, AMlliam Beardsley became clerk of the general court 
at Elartford, -serving as such thirteen years, was one of the founders of 
the first (. onoregational church at Stratford, .and in m;ui\' material wavs 



HISTORY OF FXKHART COUNTY 359 

contributed to the growth and development of the new country. He 
was a pious Puritan, making- his Christianit}- an integral part of his 
daily lite, and in many of the old historical documents he is referred tc) 
as " the gcjod man Beardsley." He died in 1661. His son Samuel was 
the first member of the family born on American soil. The intervening- 
generations from this iirst American ancestor have each contained n-ien 
pmminent in industrial, ])rofessional and political affairs, a large num- 
ber of the faniily having reached distinction in the professions of med- 
icine, law and the ministry. 

Captain Ph.ineas Bear(lsle\-. who was the great-grandfather of .\1- 
liert R. Beardsley, was a captain in the Revolutionary war, having 
enlisted, January i, 1777, in the Seventh Connecticut Regiment and serv- 
ing- three years. L'nder him. in the same regiment, was Kis son, Elijah 
Beardsley, who not only serxed throughout the Revolutionary war, lint 
was, according- to family trculition, a member of the famous Boston Tea 
Party. The diary of this intrejjid patriot, still preseived- in the family 
archi\-es. shows that he was -with Washington during the memorable 
winter at \ alley I-'orge and that his militar)- experience took him to 
many other ])laces that Iia\e beconie famous in the history of our coun- 
try. 

In the westward expansion which liegan soon after the close of the 
Revolution, and in accordance with the Beardslev characteristic to be 
pioneers, various members of the family took up their residence in 
Delhi, Xew York, and Elijah Beardsley, in 1814, went still further 
west and settled in Delaw-are C('unty, Ohio, w-hence he afterw-ard moved 
to Spring-field, in the same state, where his death occurred October 2, 
T826. 

Elijah Hubbel Beardsle)', a son of the Ohio pioneer iust men- 
tionerl and father of the Elkhart business man, and younger brother of 
Havilah Beardsley, was born at Delhi, New York, Septemlier 10, 1807, 
being- the youngest of fourteen chilrlren. When a bov he accompanied 
his parents to New Carlisle, Ohio, in 1837 went with them to Dayton, 
and in 1853 settled on Beardsley Prairie in the northern part of St. 
Joseph county. Indiana. Elijah H. Beardsley. who w-as a wagon-maker 
bv trade and followed that ]3ursuit during much of his active Inisiness 
life, died at Buchanan.. Michigan, Septeniber 8. 1885, w-hen seventy- 
eight \ears of age. His wife, who bore the niaiden name of Matilda 
Eemon, died in i860. 

Tt has been in keeping with such an honorable ancestral rec<ird that 
Hon. .\lbert R. Beardsley s career has been wrought out. There are 
other names ])ertinent to the record which might lia\e been nientioned, 
but for the history of Dr. Ha\-ilah Beardsley. the founder of Elkhart, 
the reader is referred to other pages of ibis work, where the Beardsley 
name appears ofteti and conspicuouslv. 

The business career of Mr. Beardsley has lieen one of substantial 
success and progress from yc>uth u];. Ef|uipi)ed with a common school 



360 HISTORY OF KLKll ART COUXTY 

education, in 1864, at the age of se\enteen. he became a clerk in an 
Elkhart store. In six years he had saved enough from his earnings, 
and with capital from his father, to establish himself in a merchandising 
business of his own. and he conducted a very successful business for six 
years. From then until i8go he liad an active interest in the Muzzy, 
starch factor}-. In 1890 I>ecoming a stockholder in the Dr. Miles Med- 
ical C'omjiany, he has since held the office of treasurer and has been 
acti\'e in the management of the Inisiness. Me is a director in the First 
National Bank of Elkhart, .-md l"or ;i number of years he has been a 
factor in tlie business and financial entcrjjrises of the city. 

While almost constantly busied witli the practical affairs of life, 
]\Ir. Beardsley has at the same time revealed a high degree of public 
S]iiru and lovalty to city, state and nation. One of the prominent and 
well known Republicans of Elkhart county and of Indiana, he has for 
'iver thirty years taken a leading ])art in public and official life. In 
1872 he was elected city clerk of Elkhart, was elected city treasurer in 
1876. and fnjm 1892 to 1896 was a member of the city council. In 
the wider sphere of state politics he was elected a member of the house 
for the sixtv-first and of the senate for the sixty-fourth general assembly, 
and took a very prominent part in the election of j\. J. Beveridge to the 
United States senate. In 1896 and again in 1898 he was sent as a 
delegate to the state Republican conxention. In 1897 Oiovernor Mount 
ap]3ointed him to the iiosition of colnuel on the governor's stafT, which 
rank he also held during the ofiicial term of Governor Durbin. Mr. 
Beardsley is a member of the Century Club and the Kenwuod Golf Club 
of Elkhart, and has identified himself \cry closely with the business 
and social life of his city. 

HOX. (;E0RGE T. BARXb:V. 

Hon. George T. Barnev. the octogenarian knvyer of Elkhart, the 
oldest active representative of the Elkhart county bar, has enjoyed a 
career which for wide range of activity and usefulness to society has few 
precedents. Born at Willsboro. Essex county, X^'ew York. April 10, 
1S22, he is now several ^•ears past the ace of fourscore, having, dur- 
ing tlic nine decades in which lie has lixed, witnessed the most imjjor- 
tant exents since the founding of the nation and as one of the lurits 
which make up the nation he has himself borne no incon.si)icuous jiart 
of civic responsiliilit}'. 

Mr, llarnev, liimself a man of distinction in the affairs of life, is 
also a member of a family whose indivi<lual members have performed 
useful parts in their respective communities. The ancestral historv 
in the paternal line goes back to Ireland, wliere was born his grand- 
father .Samuel Barnev, who at an earl}' age, h(iwe\-er, came to this 
countr\- and married his wife at Salisbur}-, X'ermont. at wdiich place 
he lived till death. Samuel Barney, the father of George T., was 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 361 

1)oni ;u W'liilfhall, Xew York. li\ei! in X'erniniit to the age nf sixteen, 
then went to Willslinni, where he learned the trade of iron worker, 
and in 1S33 nioxed to Ijirniinghani, Ohio, where he was employed. in 
the iron works a numher of }ears, and where he died in March. 1862. 
He married Aliigail Adsit. who was liorn in W'illsboro I'cjint. Xew 
York, a dani^iiter of jacoh Adsit. who was an officer in the Ivevohi- 
lionary war and for his ser\-ices received a bounty of eight hundred 
acres in Xew York. Airs. Aliigail Barney died in Elkhart in August. 
1867. she and her husband having Iieen the parents of nine chikh'en. 
all of whom the_\' reared to adult life. These chiklren are as follows: 
l\ichard. who died in 1853: George T. ; William JNl.. of Elkhart: An- 
drew J., of Milan, Ohio; Samuel, who died in Elkhart in 1902: Cor- 
delia and Phoebe, both deceased, about 1882. w-lm were teachers: Julia, 
who died about 1859: and Rlioda, who (bed at Florence. Ohio, in X'o- 
vember. 1896. 

Air. (ieorge T. I'>arne_\. the second child and sec<ind son of the 
famil}-. was aliout tweh-e years old when the famil\- luoxed to Birming- 
ham. Ohio, where he li\-ed until old enough to do for himself. His 
lirst independent occupation was to carry the mail between l'^]\-ria and 
Oberlin. making the tri]) once a week on horseback, but after the first 
year he made the trip daily. Two years at this occui)ation. and then 
he began learning the carpenter's trade at Elyria and for the following- 
four ye:irs did carpenter work in Ohio and Michigan. Then in 1847 
came his experience as a soldier n{ jiis country. He enlisted in the 
.Vmerican army and served under its victorious banner throughout the 
campagin from Vera Cruz to the Cit}- of Mexico, his serxice in the 
Mexican war covering eighteen months. In J848 he ruiwed to Kala- 
mazoo. Michigan, where he had his home a number of vears. and 
where, on January 15. 1852. he married Miss Mary A. Cerona Musell. 
who was born in Sjjringville. Xew- York. July 21. 1834. and at the 
age of fifteen came to Kalamazf>o. Michigan, with her parents. Austin 
C. and Lucy (Bugbee) Ylusel!. 

From Kalamazoo Mr. Barney went to Marquette on Lake Su- 
perior, where he followed liis trade and became one of the prominent 
citizens of that place. In the spring of 1S55 he was elected constable. 
in the following fall was elected sherifif of the countv, and l>v re-elec- 
tion served two terms. Through the influence of General Cass he was 
appointed government timber agent for the upper district of Michi- 
gan, and while in that office was also appointed to make an enumera- 
tion of the Chippewa Indians in that section of the state. He also 
held the office of justice of the peace. In 1861. on the outbreak of 
the war of the rebellion, he enlisted in Company A. Michigan Volun- 
teer Infantry, for three months' service, and was elected captain of the 
com])rmy, hut was rejected for service on account of di.sabilit}-. 

In 1863 Mr. Barney located at Ligonier, Indiana, whence he came 
to Elkhart and made permanent location in this citv in August, 1866 



3t;2 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

At Litiiiiiier he was engaged in tbe mercantile Ijusiness with his lirother, 
and \\a^ alsn in luisiness the lirst twn years of his residence in Elk- 
hart. Having studied law and l)een admitted to the Michigan bar 
in I SO I. soon after locating in Elkhart he took up the active practice 
of his ])rofession. so that he has at this writing been a successful mem- 
ber of the bar in this county for o\er forty }ears, being the clean of the 
jirofession. In connectiim with the law he also writes fire and life in- 
surance. 

j\iv. Barnev has the distinction of lieing one of the \-ery oldest 
Masons in the county or state. He took his initiatory degrees in No- 
\'ember. 1S50. so that he has enjoyed the fraternal brotherhood for 
fifty-fi\e years. His other fraternal associations are with the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Elks, 
of which order he is the oldest li\-ing member, and he is an esteemed 
member of the Century Club of Elkhart. He belongs to the Presby- 
terian chnrch. while his wife is a communicant of the Episcopal church. 
One of the \■er^• few Mexican war veterans still living in this county, 
about 1867 he tO(ik part in the formation of the association known as 
the Indiana Mexican War Veterans and has taken a prominent part 
in the organization ever since, lieing elected to the office of president 
and being several time? called upon to address the society at its re- 
unions. In 1874, on the Democratic ticket, Mr. Barney was elected 
to the Indiana general assembly. In 1878 he was elected clerk of the 
Elkhart city court, serving four years. In 1900 he was elected a 
member of the Elkhart school board, ser\ing three years. 

Mr. (jcorge E. Barney, of Elkhart, who is the only child of Mr. 
and Mrs. Barney, was born in Kalani.azoo in Xoxember. 1852. Thev 
have traveled life's road together for o\er tifty \-ears, having cele- 
lirated their golden wedding several years ago, and with their souls 
enriched with the associations of the past they linger ha])])ih- in the 
last scenes of lives that have been useful and noble. 

XORAi AX S.V'ib:. 

Xorman Sage, pre-idenl of tin- b'lrst State Bank of Elkhart, is 
one of the oldest men in the cit\- still acti\ely connected wnth business 
affairs. Beginning the journey of life o\-er eighty-six years ago, long 
before the first permanent settler had ])enetrated the forests w^hich cov- 
ered Elkhart count}', he has in his lifetime Iseen the witness of a most 
remarkable development and progress in his country and of such a 
series of great national e\"ents as few men ha\e had transpire during 
the iieriod of their (.)wn li\'es. Mi'ume was still president of the United 
States when Air. Sage was born, he was ;i man of nearly thirtv when 
the war with Mexico occurred, was a man of middle age during the 
Civil war, and altogether lived through eight decades of the last cen- 
tur\. lie has l)een intimateh- concerned with the liusiness and civic 



1IIST()R\; OV IiLKH-\RT COL'XTV 3G3 

lite I if i'".lkli;irt since 1868. and is one fit the most honored men of the 
■C(Uint\'. 

P.orn m C'haiittuuiua county, Xew ^'ol■k, March fi. 1819. he was 
a son of Aloses Sage, llie latter, who was a native of and was reared 
and educated at lienninoton, X'erniont, was hv occupation a merchant 
and miller and is also to he rcmemhered as a Michigan pioneer. ha\'- 
ing .settled at Adamsville, Cass count}', in 1834. He erected there one 
of the first grist mills in all that part of the countr}-. His death oc- 
curred in Cass county when he was severity-two years old. Mr. Sag'e's 
mother was \ancy (ioldsmith, a nati\e of Connecticut, who lived to 
lie ahdui forty years of age. 

'Jdiere were just two sons in the familw the brother of Xorman 
lieing Martin (i.. who was the older, and who died some years ago 
in Elkhart. .V hoy of fourteen _\ears when he mo\ed to Cass count}'. 
Mr. Sages schooling was obtained principally in his home town of, 
Fredonia. New York, and he had very little schooling after moving 
to the new Michigan country, ^^^^en he and his brother had attained 
majority they went into partnersliip with their father, under the name 
of Moses Sage and Sons, conducting a large mercantile and milling 
business at Adamsville, Michigan. On the father's death the name 
of the firm was changed to M. (i. and N. Sage, and w-as thus con- 
tinued in .\damsville until 1868, when the brothers came to Elkhart, 
where the}- built and conducted for nearly thirty }'ears the Harx'est 
Queen Mill, finally leasing" the property to other parties. They were 
also interested in sexeral lines of manufacturing, holding a half inter- 
est in the starch factor}-, ii-i a paper mill, and a wagon manufacturing- 
plant. The Sage brotliers made a noteworthy record for harmc-)nious 
and effective co-operation in their \arious enterprises, they never serious- 
ly disagreed, their interests were always held in common until shortly 
before the death of the brother, when a division of property interests 
became necessary, and withal they demonstrated in a remarkable wav 
the strength that comes from unity of action among brothers. Upon 
the organization of the St. Joseph Valley Bank Mr. Norman Sage was 
elected its president, and later, when he sold his stock in that institu- 
tion, he organized the First State Rank, of which he is still the active 
executi\-e head. He has considerable real estate in this cit}-. and his 
Imsine.ss fiperations, past and jiresent. have covered a ver\- wide field. 
He was fornierly interested in the Elkhart Hydraulic Company, was 
the treasurer of the Elkhart Cas. Light and Coke Company, treasurer 
of the Eikhart Straw Board Company, of the Globe Tissue Paper 
Company, the Baldwin Sage \\'agon Compan}-. J(jnes and Hill Chew- 
ing Cium Company, the Mussev and Sage Starch Company. 

Essentially a nian of affairs, and especially business affairs. Mr. 
Sage has never aspired to political activity, being- content merely to 
vote for the man he thinks liest (|ualified for office, regardless of poli- 



3f.i HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

tics. Fraterp.all) he is a iiieml)er (jf the Royal Arcanum, and furnierh' 
was connected wiUi the Cliosen Friends Societ}-. 

Ivlr. Sage married, first, in 1842. ]\liss Juno A. Adams, by whom 
there is one son living, Charles S. By his second marriage, in 1859, 
with Eliza J. .Vdams, he has a son and a daughter, Frank A., who is 
assistant cashier in the L'irst State Bank, and Jennie G., who is the 
wife of D. I""L llotchkin, in the real estate and loan business in Elkhart. 

LE\J F. ITPPENCER. 

Levi Ji. I'ippenger, who is engaged in general farming in Locke 
township, where he owns and operates eighty acres of land, was torn 
in Union township, Elkhart county, February 3, 1865. His ])aternal 
grandfather, John Pippenger, was a native of Pennsylvania and was 
married in Akintgomery county, Ohio, June J/, 182 1. to Mary Cripe, 
also a native of the Keystone state. The^• came to Elkhart county 
in 1829 and settled on what was then called Elkhart prairie, now a 
part of Elkhart township, their home being two miles south of the 
present site of Goshen. There the grandfather took up land from 
the government and improxed a farm upon whicli he remained until 
1838, when he renici\ed to the farm upon which Joseph L. Pippenger 
now resides, trading the land on Elkhart prairie for three hundred 
and twenty acres all in one liody. There John Pippenger continued 
to reside until Ins death, which occurred in his seventv-eighth year, 
and through a long period he was numliered with the progressive 
farmers of the county. doin>..', not a little to promote its agricultin'al 
development. His assistance also i3ro\-ed lieneficial along other lines, 
as he assisted in the pioneer upbuilding of this part of the state. His 
wife died in Union towns]:i[), when about seventy years of age. Their 
sons and daughters were: Daniel, Emanuel, Elizabeth, John, I\[agda- 
lene, Susan, Christian, Mar}-, Catharina, Rel)ecca and Jose])!!. Of 
these only three are now living: Emanuel, Catharina and Tosei>h, ai- 
thotigh nine of the number reached adult ;ige. 

Jose])ii L. Pi])i)enger, the xrmngest of the Kaniilv. was born De- 
cember ',2, 1839, on the farm on section 21. Union township, where 
he now Vwes. When a boy he pursued his studies in one of the ]")ioneer 
log schoolhouses common .at that day and .also assisted in the arduous 
task of clearing and imjiroving .-i new farm. He remained with his 
parents until tbeir deatli and then continued in charge of the old home- 
stead. 

Fie was married .\])ril 13, 1862, to Miss Pollv .\nn Skinner, who 
was born in Noble county, Indiana, December 2, 1833, a daughter of 
Ephraim and Mary (Black) Skinner, in whose familv of nme chil- 
dren she was the second. Slie was reared in Nol>le county, Indiana 
— where she was born — and since her marriage has resided' upon but 
one farm. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pippenger: Levi: 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUxNTY 365 

Eniamifl. deceased: William, who was horn Septemher 13, 1867, ^^'^'^^ 
is at home: Edward, horn February 8. 1870; Mary, wife of John 
Hartsangh, of Union township ; DeLoom, of Iowa, born November 
17, 1874; Milo, who was born August 2, 1877. and is a mail clerk on 
the Lake Shore railroad, living at Goshen, Indiana ; Amos, born March 
21, i88t : Lizzie, who was bom December 18, 1883, and is the wife 
of Da\-i(l Stouder, nf Union township; and Cla}'t(jn, w h(.> was burn 
]\Iarch II, 1889. All were horn in L'nion township. 

Joseph Pippenger is now the owner of seventy-eight and a half 
acres of good land and at one time owned much more. He has been 
retired, liowever, for the past eight years, leaving the actixe \\ork of 
the fann to others. Fie has resided upon this place for sixty-five j^ears 
and everything about the farm is endeared to him through the asso- 
ciations of his boyhood and his manhood. He belongs toi the German 
Baptist or Dunkard church, lias taken an active part in its work and 
contributes generoush- to its support. In jiolitics a Democrat, he has 
served as trustee of Lhiion township for about six years. 

Levi Pippenger was a public school student in his _\nuth and when 
not occupied with the duties of the schoolroom gave his attention to 
the farm work, assisting his father until twenty-one years of age. He 
has always carried on agricultural pursuits and has spent his entire 
life in Union and Locke townships. He now owns eighty acres of land 
in the latter and the well tilled fields are the visible evidence of his 
careful supervision and practical methods. 

In 1883 Mr. Pippenger was married to Miss Mary .Mice Xeff, a 
daughter of Samuel C. and Lydia (Stouder) Neff, who were early set- 
tlers of this county. The\- lived for a year in Union township and 
then removed to the farm in Locke township which they now occupy. 
Four children have been born to them: Jesse, Eva, Morris and Chloe. 

Mr. Pippenger, since attaining his majority, has taken an active 
interest in political questions and is regarded as an active worker in 
the local ranks of the Democratic party. He was elected trustee of 
Lock'e ti^wnshi]T in 19O-I. and is now serving in that capacitv. He is 
a member nf tlie (jerman P)aptist chin-ch and his interest in ilic mate- 
rial, social, intellectual ;md nuiral iimgress in the cumnumitv finds 
tangible jiroof in his efforts fr,r advancement along those lines. 

MRS. b:LlZ.\BETH TROUP. 

It has been well said tliat the destin_\- of a nation lies in the kee]i- 
ing of tlie mother>, and the ])art they play in the best life and highest 
welfare of any community is, if not the most conspicuous, certainlv 
the most important. As a wiman wIkjsc character has left a perma- 
nent record in her wortln children and whose life work is not less 
deserving of mention than the representati\'es of the sterner se.x. a 



3(i(; iiisrom oi' I'.i.kiiar'I' county 

l)i(ii;T;i])li\ nf Mr^,. I'lli/.ilicil: '\'riiu\i li;is a inosl lillint;' ijlacf in lliis 
liisinry. 

,\ iialivi' (Iriu.i^lilrr nf l''.ll<liart >-Miiiit\, wIktc she was burn Xd- 
\cnilKT I, iS'4,^ she was tlic (iMcst cliild in the family nf Jcihii and 
Joanna (Lindenman) Weybri.q;ht, whose lives have been skclchcd in 
the ])ei-S(.nal history of William \Vevhri,t;ht, elsewhere in this work. 

Mrs. ■rrou]> was Imin on the faimms I'dkhart prairie, at a time 
wlu-n all liie .^nrroniidin,L;s were in their ])rimilive state, .and sjie was 
reared dnrint; the d.i\s when tlie conntry was just emer.^ini;- from its 
]jioneer state into the Liter ejioeli of hlossominf^- ])ros])erily .and frnit- 
age. It has acc(jrdini.;]\- heeii her jjrivile^^e to witness ne.arly all the 
l)henoinena of develo])ment .and progress hy whieh the eonnt\ li.as heen 
entireh' transformed during the jiast h.alf century, with its r.ailroads, 
telegraph and telephone lines, its cities and .all other m.arks of twen- 
tieth century ci\-ilization, ller girlhood w.a^ ]i,asseil dnring tlu' ])erio(l 
when log-cahin schools were still found in tlic conntN. am] she .at- 
tended the old school whicli stood on the sitt' of ilu' " lli^ (■jmrcli," 
and lier first school teacher was Israel Wyland. I'limitixc indeed were 
the schoolhouses of that day as coni]>ared with the lie.intifid sirurlnres 
where IIk' \onlli of this da\ k'.'irn the lirst lessons i>\ \\\v. Among 
othei ]iioni'ei' exjierienees she h.as s])un woo] into y;irn, ,ind she li.as in 
her possession three of the old time cowrlels which were \\o\en in 
the year 1860. 'I'hese -ou\enirs -^row more \.aln,al>le .and ]irecions with 
each succeeding year, .and should .always he preserved in the family 
.as relics of a past time wonderfully difTerent from this present age. 

.\ugust jji,. 1K62, .Miss Weyhiight w.as nnited in marriage witli 
I'eler Ti'ou]), .and of the foin' sons .and three daughters hoiai of this 
h;il)])\' union fonr art' still li\iug: .M.ar\ \\. is the wife of .S.amnel 
llise\', a f.armer of Kosciusko connty, ;nid h.is 1 w o children. Uov .and 
W'ilm.a. C'h.arley 11,, ,1 c,ar]>enler and joiiua- li\ing in ( losheu. m.ir- 
ried Miss ivlla ('ripe .and has live childnai : .Men-ill, i'.ainue. l\a\, 
Mabel, and Elsie, ,M\itle is the wife of .Mpheus XelT. ;i farmer of 
Jacksoi; township, .\lilo, who w.as hoiii .M.ay IJ, iS"";, w.as re.ai'ed .as 
a ])ractic,al f.armer .and is now successfully engaged in the conduct of 
his mothi'r's ])I;icc. Me m.arried Miss bmm.a h'nller .and lluw li.avc one 
daughter \rdis llcruice. lie is a l)i'mo(a,al ;md he .and his wife .are 
memheis of tin- (ierm.an Itaptist church. 

I'etei' Tron]), in whose death the counts' lost one of its most use- 
ful citizens, w.as hoin in Canada near I'.ulTalo, .\'ew ^'ork. M.a\' 14. 
1S42, and at the ,a,L;e of ele\en years came to I'.lkh.arl conut\. where he 
was reared to m.inh(jod. Industrious and honor.ible in all his trans- 
actions, he gained a large degree of success in material affairs and at 
the same time won the high esteem of ;dl who knew him. lie and 
his wife were liberal contrihntoi-s in the building of the ('.erm.'in Bap- 
tist " liig Church," .and they could .alwavs lie counted on for help in 
.any cause which meant i1k' .advancement of i-eligion .and iiii i|-,ilif \-. 



iiiSTom' oi' I'.i.Kii AKT (■(H■x'^^■ .^07 

Mr. Troiiii ni iiulilits ,iil\ DCiilcil tin- principles nf tlic I )cmi KTiilii- party, 
willunit ik-siriii,!.; to ImiM .•in\ iiIVkw altln ni.!;ii lie was an elTcrtixc worker 
ill the eaiise nl" i^un^] roads. His remains ri'st in the liaiiitertiiwii cein- 
eleiy. ami Ins l<i\in,!L;- faniil\ have ereeted there a heantifnl stone in his 
ineninr\ . h'dlli'w iiii; is ihe dhituary inililished at the time of his death: 

"in the Siiliiinnirs (reek C(iiip,re<j'atinn, h'lkhart ennnly, Indiana. 
Novemlier j^. um'o r.rn!lur I'elcr TrdU]). a,L;ed .|S \ears. o innnths 
and M <la\s. The snhjei't of tins was lioiii in W'elland cuniil), ( an- 
ada, aiid ninxeil In hdkliart r.niniy. Indiana, in his _\(iuth, lie iL;re\v 

np amnii!^- iis n. manli 1, married a daiis.;hli'r of Brother John Wcy- 

hris^ht, nnileil with tlu elinrch in \^i\^. and remained an honorahle 
nicmlier to his death. Uroiher l'<'ter snITered loni;-, hut hore all with 
Christian ])alieiire. lie called Inr the I'lders somi' time' before lu' die(l, 
and was anointed in tin name o| ilu' l.ord. Me leaves a w i ti' (a sister) 
and six children, two hidtlu'rs, one sister and other relatives to mourn 
the loss of :i loxed one. llis f;imil\ will miss him. h'nnei'al services 
conducted hy Mlders 1). Shively and 1). ^'onllce. Deceased w.as a 
1>rother to lirothcr I leiir)- Troup, of Iowa, ;i minister." 

Mrs, Trou]!. at home amoni; her friends .and children, can well 
rejoice in the h.a])iiiness that life has hroui^hl her. ll;i\inL;' |)erforined 
her ])art well, die deserves all the hlessinj^s whii-h h;i\e hei'ii hestowed 
n])on her. It h;is lieen said that the h,ap]iiest wdini'ii. like the hap])iest 
nations, h;i\e no iiistoi y. hut in this luii'f !;fiiealo,L;ic.al record. ])re- 
served in iiermanent form in the Ihslorv of the coiintv, her children 
will find e\cr renewed jileasure in readin;.;- the I'vents of her ])eaccful 
and quiet life, filled witli ^'ood deeds and rich in the intlnences which 
come from character and true wom.anhood. 

lli'lXin- h". I'RA/lh.R. 

Henry \\ I'razier. .an architect of Na])panee, was horn in St.ark 
County. ( )liio, Jann.ary S. iS„|(;. Hi., f.ather died when he w.as hut twn 
years ol age so that he learned nothin.^' concerning;- Ihe .incestr.il his- 
tory in the paternal line. His mother. Mrs, ll.nin.ih fr.i/iei-, w.as 
horn in Burlington county. New Jersew and there spent her i;irlliood 
d.ays in the home of her f.ather, Samuel kra/ier, of that st.ate. 

Tfenry k. k'razier is the only child of his mother's first m.arria.m'. 
T^fe was ahout three years of a,qe when he c.anie with his ,L;randl';illier. 
.Samuel iM-azier. to FJkhart count\-. Indi.an.a, .and with him he remained 
until twenty-one ye.ars of ;i,<;e. llis prt'liiiiin;iry eihic;itioii w;is ac(|uirefl 
in the I'ommon schools and he afterw.ard studied in llii' .State Normal 
Sciiool at Terre Haute. Indiana, .^ainiiif;' a thoroutih and com|)rehensive 
knowIcd|2^e of various branches of leaniinj^'. so that he w.as enabled to 
gain a teacher's certificate ;ind enter u])on e(Uicational work as .an in- 
structor when nineteen years of age. He taught altogether for twenty 
vears, of which five yeai"s were spent in the public schools of X;ip- 



P.tss HIS'IORY Ol" KLKIIAR'I" COfXTY 

panee — from 1882 until 1887. \\v. l-razier also worked at the car- 
penter's trade in early life, S(.-r\ ing a regular apprenticeship and fol- 
lowing" that calling during the periods of \acation. In the meantime 
he took u)) the studx- nl architecture and- has devoted his time and 
energies lu that profession f<ir ahout fourteen }-ears. He has jjlanned 
most c)f the good homes of ca]jitalists of Nappanee and also many fine , 
structures in the towns of Brenien. (ioshen and other places. Churches, 
schoolhouses and residences stand as monuments to his skill in this 
direction, and for fourteen ^•ears his attention has heen successfully 
given to architectural designing. 

August 8, 1882, occurred the marriage of Mr. I'razier and ]\Iiss 
Elizaheth Alast, a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth ((jingerich) 
Mast. They now have five children — three sons and two daughters: 
Clarence li.. who studied under his father, now occupies a good position 
as chief draugh.tsman in an architect's office in Chicago ; Dinah has suc- 
cessfully followed teaching for three years: Lois and I-ialph are attend- 
ing school: and Horace completes the family. 

Mr. Frazier votes with the Democrac}'. Init while keejjing well 
informed on the questions and issues of the da}- has no time nor inclina- 
tion for ])uhlic office. He has heen a resident of h'lkhart countv since 
three vears of age and is interested in its welfare, rejoices in its ]H"ogress 
and C(j-operates in many measures for its advancement and improve- 
ment. He h.as a wide acquaintance in the locality where he has so 
long resided ;ind he is to-day classed with the leading citizens of 
Nap]3rmee. 

JOHN H. r.AKER. 

John 11. r.aker. ex-Cnited States di.strict judge of Indiana, i)rom- 
inent at the liencli and har of Indiana for ne;ir!y half ;i centur}-, and 
now living retired in his pleasant home in Cioshen, was Imrn in Mon- 
roe county. New York. February 28. 1832. In his long life of more 
than three score and ten years he has again and again pro\ed his right 
to the distinguished honors \\hich ha\-e l)een l)estowe<l u])on liim. and 
in bis age liis character has the bre:iilt]i and richness which are the 
fruit of varied and eventful e-\]ierienee in affairs of the world. 

When still an infant his parents remo\-etl to the present county of 
Fulton. Ohio, wbicli \\-as then on the frontier, and as he grew up he 
as-listed his father on the farm amid iiionecr scenes. Educated in the 
])rimiti\-e sch.ools of the time and during only a few winter terms, he 
himself later became a school teacher and tluis sax'ed the mone\' which 
enal)led him, at the age of twenty-one. to take a course of two years 
study in the Ohio AVesleyan Cniversity. at Delaware. Ohio. When 
this literary ])reparation was completed he began the stud}' of law at 
Adrian. ^Michigan, and. jiassing a satislactory examination before the 
supreme coiu't of ■Michigan, was admitted to the Ijar in 1837. 

In the same year he located in Coslien and took up the jiractice 




r // /3ay^'(^ 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 369 

of liis cliiisen professidii, anc!. snon gaining a godd clientage, has ne\er 
lacked Imili tlie emnUiments and honors rif the dignilied and accom- 
plished inrist. Dnring the tronldous times of sla\er\- he niihesitat- 
ingly cast his lot with the new-horn Repulilican party, and in i86j 
was nominated and elected a member of the state senate. As was 
and is the case with nearh' everv attorney, he held a notary public's 
commission, and. h\ the skillful and oxerdrawn cunstructinu nf the 
Democratic mainrit}- in the senate, a notar_\- public was declared the 
incumbent (d" a lucrati\e oFrice. therefore constitutional]}- ineligilile to 
a seat in the senate, whereupon he was expelled from the Imdw .\fter 
this brief legislative experience he returned to Goshen and resumed 
his practice with such abilit\- that he soon liecame recogm"zed as one 
of the ab'lest lawyers of northern Indiana. 

In 1872 he was the aspirant fnr nomination to Congress fmni 
the thirteenth congressional district, but after a lung cuntest in the 
nominating convention was defeated b\' a combination of the other 
three candidates. .At the succeeding campaign, howe\er. he w;is nom- 
inated bv hi.- ])arty and after an exciting campaign was elected and 
saved the district by a \'ery narrow margin from the Democratic 
tidal wave that swept the state in 1S74. In iS-o he was rennminateil 
by acclamatinn and elected 1\\' a handsome majnrit}" of oxer Xwn thou- 
sand, and again in 1878, nominated b)' acclamation, w;is elected bv 
an incre;ised mainritx'. His record in Congress was an honor to him- 
self and constituencw and !hs abilities and earnest efforts i>]ace(l him 
on a plane with the most eminent statesmen m the house. When he 
retired he was the ranking Republican men.iber on the ajipropriations 
committee, and had also ]ierformed imjiortant ser\ice on other com- 
mittees. His high sense of integrity and right and bis ])ositive ]>erson- 
ality and strength matle their imijress not onl}- upon his colleagues but 
upon the legislation of the period. He bail earned the respect and 
esteem of the ]3eople of Indiana, and might ha\e continued in his ])lace 
in the house indefinitely, but at the close of liis third term he declined 
another nomination and returned to (iosben to de\i)te liis energies to 
the needs of his large legal clientage. 

When James .\. Carfield l)ecame president he urged n])on Mr. 
I'.aker the acce])tance of the ]iosition of second assistant ])ostinaster 
general, an office for which the latter was peculiarly well fitted be- 
cause of his ex]icrience while in Congress in investigating- the " Star 
Route" contracts. But in this case, as in subserpieiit ])roffers of high 
and honorable ]iositions. be resolutely refused to resign his jiracticc 
except for some office in direct line with liis jirofession. In i8()2 
Judge Wood was |)ronioted to the I'nited .States circuit bench from 
the United .States (hstrict court, and to succeed Judge Wood in tb.e 
district judgeshi]) President Harrison appointed Mr. Baker, who was 
thus honored absolutely xvithout solicitation on his ])art or that of his 
friends. When he assumed the duties of the oflice on March jq. i8<;2. 



370 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

there came to tliis federal enurt an ideal jurist, thoroug-hly versed in 
the law and precedent, a man iif hrnadest reading and culture, and 
possessed of a lofty conception of the duties of the co-urt. He served 
with distinction as district judge until 1902, when he retired under 
the age pri\-ilege of the law, and has since been enjoying the wide 
esteem and fellowship of his friends and associates in Goshen. 

Judge leaker was married in early manhood to Miss Harriet E. 
DeFrees. a daughter of J. H. Del'rees. of Goshen. Their one son, 
judge Francis F. Baker, is now I'nited States circuit judge. Mr. 
Baker and his wife are members of the Alethodist church in Goshen. 

DANIEL H. FISHER. 

Emerson has said that the history of a country is best told in 
the lives of its people and thi- statement holds equally true of a town 
or community. Public prcjgress is due to the citizens who recognize 
possibilities and utilize opportunities and to this class belongs Daniel 
H. Fisher, well known as an enterprising young man of Jackson town- 
ship and the village oi New Paris. The attractiveness of this locality 
as a place of residence is w'ell indicated by the fact that many of the 
native sotis remain here after attaining majority and when seeking" 
their positions in the business world. Mr. Fisher was born in Jackson 
township. May 15, 1870, his jiarents being Harr}- and [Matilda (Rye- 
straw-) Fisher. The father was born in the province of Friesland, 
Holland, in the year 181 1, and passed avv'ay in 1887. He acquired a 
good common school education and w^as a fisherman in his native land. 
He was married while in Holland and about 1853 he set sail from 
Amsterdam for England, and there he re-embarked at Liverpool, upon 
a sailing vessel bound for the United States. The anchor was at last 
dropped in tlie harbor of New York and he came at once to Elkhart 
county to make a home for his family. He had little capital and his 
early life here w'as fraught with some hardships and difficulties. Just 
as the party were leaving the train the mother fell and broke her arm, 
wdiich added to their troubles. Mr. Fisher began as a laborer, scorn- 
ing no employment that would yield him an honest living, but as time 
went on he prospered and when his capital had become sufficient he 
purchased a small tract of land which was unimproved. The only 
building upon the place was a log cabin, but with characteristic energy^ 
he began making a home for his family and placing his fields under 
cultivation. He added to the farm until he became the owner of eighty 
acres of very productive land in Jackson township. He was a sup- 
porter of Democratic principles and he and his wife were advocates 
of the Mennonite faith, holding membership in the church in LInion 
township. They aided in the erection of the house of worship and 
contributed generously of their means in support of the church. Mrs. 
Fisher w^as a native of Friesland, born in 1833, ^"cl she is yet living 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 371 

on the "1(1 lidinestead where she has now resided for many long years, 
while the conntv has emerged from pioneer conditions and taken its 
place with tlie leading counties of this great commonwealth. In their 
famiU- were eleven children, ten <ons and a daughter, of whom Daniel 
H. is" the tenth in order of hirth. With the exception of one son they 
are all living and are residents of Elkhart county. 

Daniel H. Fisher was reared in the county of his nativity, remain- 
ing with his parents until he had attained his majority. His educa- 
tion was acquired in the pulilic schools and in the summer normal 
schools and he began the profession of teaching in New Mexico when 
twent}-one }'ears of age. He had no capital at that time, but nature 
hail endow'-ed him with a good mind and he also possessed a resolute 
will and laudable am1>ition. .\s he had brothers in the southwest he 
concluded that he would also tiy his fortune in that part of the coun- 
try and borrowed money to pay the expense of the railroad tri]) to 
that point. In the winter of 1891 he started for Eddy county. New 
Mexico, and after filing a claim to some land he entered upon the work 
of teach.ing. which he followed in the same place for seven years, pro\- 
ing a capable instructor, who imparted clearly and concisely to others 
the knowledge that he had -icc|uired. He won popularity as a teacher 
and citizen of the southwest, but in i89<S he returned to his home, 
making the journey by wav of Galveston around Kev W^est to New 
York, and then after spending several days in the eastern metropolis 
proceeded to Washington, where he also remained for a few days, 
visiting man\- points of interest in the capital. While he was in the 
southwest he made a trip to Old Mexico, and saw many points of his- 
toric and modern interest there. 

In the spring of 1898 Mr. Fisher again reached Elkhart county 
and soon afterward established a fann implement business in New' 
Paris. A short time later his brother Martin joined him in the enter- 
prise and they extended the value of their operations by adding a stock 
of hardware, lumber, lime, cement, coal and building materials. The 
firm under the style of Fisher Brothers is now doing a large business, 
which will amount annually to about thirty thousand dollars. They 
have prospered by reason of their commercial integrity and earnest 
desire to please their patrons, combined with an enterprise that brooks 
no obstacles which can be overcome by perseverance. They have the 
entire confidence of the community and justly merit the success which 
is attending them. 

Daniel H. Fisher was married August 20, 1902. to Miss Winifred 
Whitten, and they have an interesting little son, Harry "W. Mrs. 
Fisher is a native of Elkhart countv, born October 29, 1874, and is 
a daughter of William Whitten. She spent her girlhood days here 
and after attending the common schools continued her studies in the 
Milford high school, from which she was graduated. She was also 
a student in the Tri-State Normal and became ore of the school teach- 



372 MISTORV OF ELKHART COl"XTV 

ers of ibis section of the state, foUowiiit;- tlie professi<in in Kosciusko 
and Elkhart counties. Slie h;is also heen a student of instrumental 
music and she is a memher of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mv. 
Fisher l)ck)ngs tn the ^lennonite church, hut is a teacher in the Meth- 
odist Sutiday sclioul, and has also been similarly connected with Men- 
nonite Sunday schoul. He i*- a Prohibitionist in his ]iohtical senti- 
ments, and takes a strong stand in fa\i)r of temijerance, doing everN-- 
thing' in his power to promote tlie cause. He and his wife are most 
estimable peo])k- and the circle of their friends is aliuost co-e.\tensive 
with the circle of their acquaintance. 

1). AL WI'AdiKK.II'r. 

13. Ai. W'eybrigbt. one of the best known citizens of Elkhart 
county, represents some of the most sub.stantial factors which have 
entered into the growth and jiermanent ]5rogress of this countv. In 
fact, a complete history of l-dkh.art county could not he written without 
prominent reference to the part whicli has been ]ila_\ed 1i\ tlie W'ev- 
bright family, from the earliest ])ioneer years up to the ])resent. Mate- 
rial upbuilding, industrial activity, civic and social welfare, and the 
cause of religion and morality. ba\-e each in due proportion received 
from this family those impulses of jiower .-md influence which have 
resulted in adx'ancement along the right hues and upward toward the 
highest ideals of civilization. 

Mr. W'evbright belongs td one of the most prominent (ierman- 
Anierican families of the countw To this element (^f her ])• ']>ulatii)n 
Elkhart ciiunty owes more of her iiermaneut ])ros]ierit>' than to anv 
other class. Their ])henomenal industry, their integrity of character, 
their loyalty to constituted authfirity and to the (i(rd-gi\en ])rinci])les 
of fundamen.ta] religion are known to all ^vbo ha\e e\-er had dealings 
with them or witnessed the results of their life wi)rk. Mr. Weybright 
is proud to call Elkhart county his birthplace, and the scene of most 
of his subsequent activities. He was born September 4, 1854, the sixth 
in a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters, whose par- 
ents were John and Joanna (Lindeman) Weybright. Six of the chil- 
dren are living: Elizabeth, widow of Peter Troup, of Jack.son town- 
ship; William il., a prosperous farmer and citizen of the same town- 
shi]); |acol> 1'".. also an agriculturist of Jackson townshi]); D. A[.. next 
in order; John A., who is married and is engaged in farming in \'an 
P>uren township, Ko-^ciusko county; Daniel \\'.. married and a farmer 
in Jackson townshi]). 

Jolm Weybright. the father, who at his death en May 20, tc;o], 
was one of the oldest and most honored of the pioneer citizens of the 
county, was born near Dayton, Ohio, July (>. iHig. and when eleven 
years (lid, in 1830, accomjianied his ])arents to Elkhart county. In 
that the \car in which Elkliart county was organized, primeval nature 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 37;j 

ever_\\\ii(jix' held sway over this lieautilul regiuii : the furests were un- 
tiiiR-he(!, Uie wild game had not been cHsturbed in their haunts, tlie 
red men were more numen.ius tlian the whites, and all conditions and 
surroundings were different beyond realization from the present. John 
W'eybright attended log-cabin school, and at an early age was initiated 
inl(. llu- metliods of jjioneer agriculture, using the nld-time cradle and 
sickle til cut the gram, threshing it nut with tlail or treading, and fan- 
ning it .lul in the wind. That his ynuth was passed in an eyioch wdiich 
is oiiK a histnrical niemury tn the present generation ma\- be inferred 
from the following mcident, preserved among the family reminiscences. 
Upon one occasion an Indian, in passing the ^Veybright farm, picked 
up a hoe and was making oft' with it when John's elder brother Mar- 
tin, observing him, seized' the wagon whip and overtaking the thief 
proceeded to administer a sunimarv thrashing, .\fter enduring stoically 
this condign punishment fur a time, the red man turned upon his as- 
sailant and no doubt would have killed the ytnith if he had had a 
weapon. But the bo}- Martin, being \-er_\- acti\-e and strong, managed 
to double himself up and, jilanting his feet nn the Indian's breast and 
stomach, shoved him oft', then junijied u]) and, recm-ering the hoe, 
made good his retreat. 

The grandfather had entei'ed a large amount of land from the go\'- 
ernment in this count}', and Jnbn W'eybright, emulating the industry 
and successful management of his father, accumulated considerable 
land in the ci unity and was one of the most enterprising of the ]>io- 
neer farmers. In the latter years of his life he had been a steadfast 
adherent of the Re]Miblican party, but he cast his first vote for the great 
exponent of Whig ])rinciples, Harrison, the hero of Tip]>ecanoe. Upon 
the death of grandfather \Veyl)right, and on the day of the funeral 
and just after the interment, John W'eybright, his wife, his brother 
Martin (whose w'ife was already a member), his brother Michael and 
wife, and his sister Lizzie and her husband Jacob Smeltzer, w^ere all 
received into the communion and fellowship of the German Baptist 
church liy Christian bajitism. John W'eybright was one of the fore- 
most in the erectinn of the cbm'ch in the southeastern ])art of Jackson 
townshij) which is known ever^'where as " The Big Church." Some 
of the timbers of this edifice are sixty feet in length ;md most of them 
came from the W'eybright farm. 

The mother of Mr. D. M. W'eybright was Imrn in Haden, (ler- 
m.anv. Inly 0. I'Sij. and, at the great age of iner eighty-eight years, 
is one nf the nldfst and must \enerable women nf the count}-, her 
length nf \-ears being C(|ualle<l b}- her deeds of kindness to children and 
friends and by the elemental beauty and strength of her character. She 
was nine ^"ears old when she came across the waters to .\merica and 
after several vears' residence in Baltimore. i\Iar}-land, lier ]iarents 
came to Indiana. She resides with her son Ha\id. 

Mr. D. AL W'eybright was reared on the homestead which is still 



374 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

his liniiie. rec(.'i\-e(l his educatmn in the Cdiiiniou schocjls. and, trained 
to the life nt farmer, has fullowed tliat occnpaliun witli almost unvary- 
ing success from early manhood tn the ])resent. He began at the age 
ijf twenty-nue in the emplo}- cjf his father at wages of sixteen dollars 
a month iluring the summer and seventy-h\e cents a day during the 
winter, and in this way accumulated about two hundred dollars capi- 
tal the first year. It has been by a constant succession of such years of 
industry, thrift and capalile management that Mr. ^Veybright has ar- 
rived at his present degree nf i)r(is])erity, .-md no one begrudges him 
the comfortable circum.stances which he has gained by his own dili- 
gent efforts. Not selfishly, not in the spirit or practice of self-gain 
at the cost of others' loss, has he sought to reach success. That beauti- 
ful idea! of social serxice. < f counting one's own ad\-ancement as un- 
worthv of effort unless at the same time mankind in general, and espe- 
ciallv the immediate circle of famih- and friends, receives benefit — 
this has Ijeen the cardinal principle <if liis life work. He has practiced 
this manner of life because he lias believed it in harmony with the 
Fatherhrjud of ( iod and Brotherhood of Alan, as exemplified in the 
Saviour who denied himself the pleasures and glory of di\-ine life that 
he might come to earth and prove a means of salvation to men. 

June lo. 1878. Mr. Weyliright was united in marriage with jVIiss 
Emily C. Hinebaugh. Their wedded life has been blessed with four 
children. Arthur B.. the eldest, was educated in the common .schools 
and is now a ]iractical and successful farmer: he married Miss Ida 
Peters, and they ha\e one son, Clio Leslie. Harley F.. who attended 
the commcjn schools and w In 1. in company with his brother Arthur, 
spent one summer in Utah, is now farming his grandmother's place. 
John Walter, who, after finishing the common schools, attended the 
Elkhart Business College, where be took his diploma in the bookkee])- 
ing course, is now with bis lirotber Arthur. .\da J. li\-es nt home, 
having completed the public school course and recei\-ed her diploma. 
Mrs. Weybright. who was l>orn in Ohio, Septeml:ier 19, J 852, is a 
daughter of Benjamin F. and Alinerva ( Bern worth) Hinebaugh. Her 
father died in March, 1902, but lier mother is living in Jackson town- 
ship. There were seven children in the Hinebaugh family and five 
are living. Mrs. Wevliright is likewise a member of the German Bap- 
tist church in Jackson township, and a woman of such devotion to the 
Christian life that her example and works have proved the strongest 
influence for good in the rearing of her children. 

On his thirty-second birthday. .September 4. t886. Mr. Weybright 
was elected deacon of the " Big Church." ;uid from that day to this 
he has continued to fill this position and has been one of the most 
prominent workers in the church and Sunday school. He is a Repub- 
lican in politics, and as a ]Hiblic-spirited citizen has always done his 
share toward promoting civic progress. In December. 1900, he was 
appointed a rural mail carrier from the central office at New Paris, and 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 375 

through weather fair and t'oul lie has ])erfrinneil liis (hities u]i to tlie 
present time. 

Tlie career thu.-; briefly sketched has ijecn replete with honorable 
effort and pra'sevvorthy results, and it deserves a place of dignity in 
this work, where children and grandchildren \\U] long refer to it an<i 
gain therefrom lessons of encouragement to work for like high ideals. 
Tn conclusion we reprint the obituary notice of the late John \Ve\- 
bright which, was ])ulilislicd in the (ioshen .\c7^v-7^iiin's on the occasion 
of liis death : 

"John W'eyhright was l;orn in Montgomer\- count\-, ()hiii. [ul\' 
6, i8iQ, and died 'Slv.y _'0, 1901. aged eighty-one years, ten months. 
He emigrated with his i)arents tn l^lkhart count}-, Indiana, in 1830, 
when about eleven years old, when the wild beasts and the Indians 
held almost undisturbed possession of this countr_\-. He saw the changes 
whicii have resulted in liringing this country up to what it is at the 
present day; he .saw our cities and villages spring up from their in- 
fancy to what they now are; he saw the building of our first railroads, 
telegraph and electric lines, the introduction of the electric light and 
telephone. 

" He was united in marriage to Joanna Lindeman, Novemljer 24, 
1842. To this union ten children were born, nine of wdiich he saw- 
grow up to manhoofl and womanhood ; one died in infancy. His aged 
companion, six children, twenty-six grandchildren, twenty great-grand- 
children, one brother and one sister remain to mourn his loss. With 
his wife he moved to the place of his late residence in the autumn of 
1845 and by hard work and economy they accomplished what they 
did. He was a man of peace and lived at peace with his fellow men. 
He never sued nor was sued liy anyone, but was ever ready to yield 
rather than have difficulty. May we profit by his exan-iple. 

" He united with the German Baptist or Brethren church in March, 
1845, and ren-iained a faithful ni.ember over fifty-six years. He was 
called to serve the church in the capacity of deacon in the autumn 
of 1831, in wh.ich capacitv he ser\-ed faithfullv for almost fifty years." 

WEYBRTCHT F.KMILY REUNION. 

It is a nleasing lualter nf record tO' find a family so long estab- 
lished in this portion of the middle west that their associations indi- 
\-idually and collectively have become occasions of celebration out of 
the ordinar}-. In the east a family gathering under a roof which has 
sheltered five or six generations of kin is a common occurrence, while 
in this newer middle country such an event is impossible for historical 
reasons. Of interest as completing the family history of the Wey- 
brights and also as forming an additional topic to the full history of 
Elkhart county, will be found the account of a Weybright reunion as 



376 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTA' 

it appeared in the issue of the old Xew Paris Rrcoiul nt Tulv 15. 1899. 
Tlie article fnllnws ; 

The anr.ual reunicm of the faiiiilv of jdhn W'eylnight occurred 
on Thursday. July (>. at the old homestead in the southern part of Jack- 
son township, !-"lkliart county. It has always heen the aim of the mem- 
her;; of the W'eyhri^ht family to hold these reunions on the natal day 
of (irandfather Weyhrigiit. On this occasion Mr. Wevhright was 
eigiit}' \tars old. and the memhers of the family (juce more gathered 
under the fannlx' roof and proceeded to enjo\- themsehes. Mr. and 
Mrs. W'eyhright ha\e resided in the ti'wnshi]) for o\-er hft\- \ears, and 
have seen nine of their children reach the age of manhood and woman- 
hood. se\en of them arc still li\-ing and were jiresent, excejjt one daugh- 
ter who was unable to attend on account of her ill health — her aljsence 
lieing tlie only feature to niar the happiness of the occasion. 

Eighty-two guests were ):)resent. Among those present from 
ahmad were T. L. Hammond, wife and daughter. Ira ^^'eybrig•ht and 
f.amil}- of Mih'ord: 13a\-id Lamb and family and ^V'illiam Sheffield and 
family of Syracuse; C IL Troup ami family and ^Vayne Binkley 
of (^oshen : Mrs. Kilmer and daughter of AVakarusa : Mrs. Girl of 
Cleveland, Ohio; AL \\'e\bright of \A'arsaw . who recenth- returned 
from a two years' sojourn in ( 'alifornia. the oul\- sur\i\-ing brother of 
John W'eyhright : Rew Russard. with wife, the minister of the neigh- 
l)orhood. was also present. The evening was spent in social inter- 
course, with music and song. .\ heav}'-laden table. Icjaded with re- 
fre'^hments to satisfy the cra\'ings of the inner man. was soon relie\"ed 
of its burden, after which song ser\'ices were held, the blessings of 
the .\lmight\' leather were asked by Rev. Bussard, assisted b\' tlie mem- 
bers of the famih'. After ha\'ing enjoyed the occasion one could not 
but wish that grandfather and grandmother Weybright might be 
s])ared that many more annual reunions of the family might be en- 
joye>i with them as the guests of honor: hut it must be remembered 
that one liy one we are passing away, and ere long, if we so order 
our lives and live faithful, we will join in (^le unbroken family reunion 
in the lilissful liex'ond. ne\-er to part again. 

X. 11. ^'om-:R. 

X. 1!. ^d(ler. senior member of the firm of N'oder llrothers. whose 
commercial enter])rise and abilit\ ha\e been one of the ])rime factors 
in bringing Wakarusa. within the last decade, to rank .among the lead- 
ing btisiness centers o'" northern Indian.a. w,is born in Columbiana 
county. Ohio, March 12. 1^04. He is the h fib child in the family of 
Henrv Ik and Elizabeth (P.ixler) ^'oder. detailed mention of whosc> 
lives will be found in the sketch of their son. Rev. -\. 1>. Voder, pre- 
siding elder of the Mennonite cliurch of northern Indiana and south- 
ern Alichigan. The Yculers .are of (jerman stock, inheriting from the 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 377 

fatherland and transmitting throngh ail the descendants that \irility. 
indnstrv and upright character which have made them men and women 
of influence and ^\'(lrth in every sphere of life. 

A child when his parents moved to Indiana. Mr. Yoder has spent 
practically his entire Hfe in Fdkhart county. His education was hegun 
in the common schools and was continued almost thn.nigh the literary 
and scientific departments of the \'al)jaraiso Normal. It was as a 
teacher chat he began his independent career, and for sixteen years 
he followed what has well been called the most elevating of the pro- 
fessions. These sixteen years of pedagogic labor were spent in six 
differenf schools, and in that time it was his lot to fashion and mold 
for future usefulness the minds and characters of many score of boys 
and girls. One nf the successful and prosperous men of the county 
at the present time, yet when he began life at his majorit}- he was pos- 
sessed only of a well trained mind and muscles and the al^ilit^• to work 
hard and perseveringly, and that he has utilized this potential capital 
to the best advantage his position in I;usines.^ and social circles would 
amply prove. While teaching he spent- the parts of four years in 
farming on rented land. He began his business career in ,1893, when 
he engaged in the liardware business at Wakarusa in partnership with 
P. C. Messick and L J. Leatherman. A year later Rev. A. B. Yoder. 
his lirother, inuxhased the interests of Messrs. Messick and Leather- 
man. The brothers conducted the business one year, and in 1895 ''^• 
B. Yoder purchased a one-third interest in the estalilisbment. In 1901 
Rev. A. B. Yoder sold out his share to tlie other two members, who 
have since conducted the Inisiness on such a scale as to rank it among 
the foremost hardware houses in the county. fhe store, which is ex- 
cellently situated for the conveniences of the tratle ami in a good build- 
ing of brick, is tilled u]) witli a full line of standard shelf and heavy 
hardware, steel ranges and sto\es of all kinds: another department is 
devoted to furniture and undertaking, Air. .\. B. Yoder having taken 
a full course in the Barnes Embalming School, receiving his dijiloma 
in 1900. and he attends to this department of the business. 

Mr. N. B. Yoder owns one of the beautiful homes for which the 
town of Wakarusa is noted among all- wdio have ever visited there. His 
residence, located (in \\'al>ash avenue, is modern to every detail, fin- 
ished in hard jiine and pojilar. and delightful and comfortable in all 
its furnishings and appointments. The lad)- who ])resicles so well o\-er 
this home and who has in countless ways been a co-partner and help- 
mate for her husband both in his business and social life, was, before 
her marriage, ]\Iiss Clara A. Longenecker. Tlie\- were married in Pea- 
body. Kansas, Mav 25, 1892, and fi\e children ha\e been born to them, 
namely: Wave, deceased: Merl A., in the third grade of school: 
Worth N.. Hattie. rmd Fern. Mrs. "Sexier was born in St. Joseph 
county, this state. February 13. 1869, a daughter of Joseijh and Esther 
fLeathermaiO Longenecker. .Slie was reared in her natixe countv. 



378 HISTORY OF ELKHART COl'NTV 

in t!ie state of Ohio and at Peabody, Kansas, receiving her education 
in tlie omnion sciiools. Both Mr. and ]\lr5. Voder are progressive 
people. r.Axake to the nianifokl interests which claim the attention of 
mankind in this age, and ha\e endeavored ti> broaden their minds and 
characters with each veav of their lives. Mr. Yf)der has traveled ex- 
tensi\-ely and is a well informed man. He takes high ground on the 
sulj'ject of temperance, endeavoring by his franchise and jiersonal in- 
tluence to blot out the liquor curse, and in all other movements for 
the ci\ic welfare his etiforts are prompted by the same high degree of 
public spirit. He and iiis wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, j.nd iie has been teacher of the business men's class for the past 
fi\-c vears. 

jOHX .AicX.\L'( ;htox. 

Xiiw retired frcmi acti\e |)artici]iati'.n in business, after having 
been identified prominently with the develop,ment and upbuilding of 
Elkhart county, especially (if the city of Elkhart, for more tlian sixty 
years. JMr. John JMcX'augbton is one of the few real " old-timers " wdiom 
time has left to this present dav. He has been and is vet one of the 
leading men of Elkhart — strong in character. n\ which bcmesty and 
integrity ha\'e been foundation stones from vnuth up. an<l eminent in 
both private and ci\'ic life. Public-spirited by nature, from him has 
come for many years a definite influence in the direction of upbuilding 
and progress in ei,"erv I'hase of Elkh;n"t"s histor\'. It is doubtful if any 
other man has been so long a.nd so intinnatelv identified with the enter- 
prises and activities which have been both the foundation and frame- 
work of Elkhart's substantial and permanent growth toward civic and 
industrial ideals. His name will always receive iirominent mention in 
the history of Elkhart, since his vocation placed him in ])osition to render 
on many occasions great service to that city. 

Born in Cambletnwn. Argvlesbire, Scotland, X^ovember 2^. 1825, 
^[r. ?\lcXaug'hton. by both family and racial connections, inherited men- 
tal, moral and physical strength. His sister, who is li\ing with him in 
the Elkhart home and who is several years his elder, is the widow of 
the late Hon. Jose])h H. Defrees. one of the distinguished picineers whose 
life work has so much to do with the early development of the county, 
and who was eminent as a business man. journalist and in public life, 
at one time being in Congress. Mrs. Defrees. whose maiden name was 
Margaret McX'augbton. was born in Scotland, married for her first hus- 
band a Mr. Pearce and in 1865 married Mr. Defrees. whom .she survives, 
being one of the oldest and most esteemed women of Elkhart county. 

Mr. ^IcNaughton was not reared in opulence, had almost none of 
the advantages and easy circumstances which are the lot of the average 
boy of the present day. and what he has accomplished Imth in material 
wealth ;uid indn-idual character is the result of his own labors and 
a])plic.iti(in. At the age i.f eight \-cars he accomiianied his father and 




//iju V-i^.,^ c^jiy^^j 



H1ST()R^' Ol'- la.KIIAR'l' COUNTY 370 

the othtT children In .\ineric;i. tlie motlier havingf (hed at Cambletown. 
and t\\(i years after their home Avas located in Canada the father also 
died, since which time J\Ir. McNanghton has practically shifted for him- 
self and been dependent npon his own resources. The family soon 
moved to Detroit, Michig'an. From there he went to Niles, Michigan, 
later to South Rend. Indiana, and in 1843 arrived at Goshen. He lo- 
cated in Elkhart in 1851. Embarking in the grocery business, which 
he later enlarged to a general mercantile store, he had a very prosperous 
commercial career until 1865, since which time, up to his retirement, he 
has been in the real estate business. IMany buildings in this city were 
originally erected by him and hardly a public enterprise of any impor- 
tance has been undertaken without his co-operation aad support. He 
was one of the nine men who built the dam in the river and thus gave 
one of the principal sources of industrial wealtb to the city. He has 
helped liy time and nionev nearly every factory that has been established 
in Elkhart during- the last forty years. When the Lake Shore Railroad 
moved its shops to Elkhart it was partly upon his land and also with 
the hell) of a cash bonus from him that the extensive shops were erected. 
His public spirit has been manifested in numerous other ways, and dur- 
ing the many years of his residence he has been gratified to witness the 
almost complete transformation of bis city, so far as buildings and im- 
provements are concerned. W'hile claiming no distinction as a philan 
tbropist. and while he would be the last one to make mention of his 
generosity, he has for many years been a steady and large contributor to 
the needs of the worthy poor in the city of Elkhart. 

In politics Mr. McNaughton. while a .Democrat in principle and 
generallv voting that wav, has also shown bis independence of views 
bv voting for Republican candidates. He has the honor of having been 
the last president of the tillage of Elkhart before its incorporation as a 
city in 1875. He is one of the veterari Masons of the county, having 
joined the order fifty years ag^o, and at one time was also an Odd Fellow. 

Mr. McNaughton married for bis first wife, in 1853, Miss Jane A. 
Hiller, who died August 31, 1854. His second marriage, in 1858, was 
with Laura E. Davenport, a native of this county. She died in i86t. 
Such is a brief review of the active life of John McNaughton, and to 
omit the same from the history of the city of Elkhart would leave the 
citv's histor\- incomplete forever. 

JOHN .\. PENCE. 

Staliilitv of character and honesty of purpose are the salient feat- 
tires in the life record of John A. Pence. He needs no introduction 
to the readers of this volume because he is well known as an enter- 
prising agriculturist of Jackson townshi]) and one who " stands four 
square to the world." He \\as born in Preble county, Ohio, Septem- 
ber 8. 1847. his parents being Joseph and Susan fWeist) Pence. The 



3S0 HISTORY OF ELKIIART COUNTY 

father, a native "f Rockingham county, \'irginia. was born in 1812 
and died in October, 1851. By trade he was a mechanic, but through 
much of his Hfe he carried on agricuhural pursuits. His parents were 
natives of Scotland and witli them he removed from the Old Dominion 
to Preble county, Ohio, during his early boyhood days, his father 
]iurchasing land in the latter place. He was there reared to farm life, 
and although he learned a trade he de\'oted much of his attention to 
the tilling of the soil in later years. He married Susan \Veist, who 
was Iiorn in Preble county, Ohio, in 1818, and died Januarv 2. 1881. 
Her grandfather came from Germanx ti > the new world and served 
his adopted country in the war of 181 j. while her father, Henry W'eist. 
was a soldier of the Mexican war. Air. and Mrs. Pence were the par- 
ents of three sons and a daughter and of this numljer three are yet 
living. Nancy, the eldest, is the widow of J. H. -Middaugh and a resi- 
dent of Dayton, Ohio. Her husband was a sawyer. Mrs. Middaugh 
now has tiiree daughters. Oliver, the youngest living member of the 
family, is a resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is engaged 
in mining. 

John -\. Pence, the second of the familv, was reared in his nati\e 
county ;.s a tiller of tb.e soil and he supplemented his early education, 
acciuired in the common schorils. by study in Earlham College at Rich- 
mond. Indiana. He afterward engaged in teaching for one term in 
the county of bis nati\-ity. Tn early life he chose a companion and 
helpmate and was married to Miss Alary .\. Yates, who belonged to 
a prominent family of Ohio. Her birth occurred in Miami county, 
that state, Augtist 24, 1850, and she is the youngest of twelve chil- 
dren, six sons and six daughters, of whom five are now li\"- 
ing, namely : Thomas Yates, wdio is a resident of Goshen, Indiana ; 
Frances, the wife of Jacob Long, who was a soldier of the Ci\-il war 
and is now a retired farmer living in Lena, Ohio; Sarah, the wife of 
Robert Weatherhead, a farmer living near Bristol, Indiana: Priscilla. 
the widow of Dallas Miller and now a resident of Clinton township, 
Elkhart county; an<l Airs. Pence. The last named spent her girlhood 
(lavs in the ci'/unt\- of her nativit}- and accprired a common school edu- 
cation. Her father, Nezer S. Yates, was a nati\e of Cape Alav county. 
New- Jersey, born in 1801 and his death occurred in 1874. The name 
of Yates is of English origin and there were four brothers who came 
from England to .\merica prior to the Revolutionary war, while two 
of the number acted as body guard to General \\'ashington at A'alley 
F'orge. -o that the children of Air. and Airs. Pence are entitled to mem- 
bership with the Sons and Daughter.- of the .\merican Revolution. 
The name of Abates figures conspicuously in the history of the state 
of Illinois. Ex-Governor A'ates is a distant relative of this family 
and Lieutenant Governor .'Sherman of Illimiis is also a relative of 
the familv, his grandfather liaving been ;i brother of the father of 
Airs. Pence. 



i 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 381 

Our subject and his wife were married December 9, 1S69, and 
the\' began their domestic Hfe in Miami county, Ohio, where they 
lived for some years. In 1877, however, they purchased what is known 
as the Pence homestead, residing thereon until 1884, wlien they re- 
moved lo Jackson township, Elkhart county, and bought ninety-four 
acres of land, constituting their present farm. This was at one time 
the Ira Jackson homestead. Mr. Pence has made improvements in 
the house and has carried on his farm work along progressive lines. 
He keeps good grades of stock and everything about his place is neat 
and thrifty in appearance. The home has been blessed with a son and 
a daughter, both yet living. The latter. Pearl, is the wife of Omar 
Darr of Syracuse, Indiana, who is a carpenter and joiner by trade and 
they have a little ilaughter. Vera. Mrs. Darr was educated in the com- 
mon scliools to the age of fourteen years and' then entered the Nappa- 
nee high school. She afterward became a student in the higl? school 
of Goshen, Indiana, from which she was graduated with the class of 
1895. She afterward successfully engaged in teaching in this county 
for several }ears and she is now an active member of the church and 
an ardent worker in the cause of temperance. Ollie was educaied in 
the public scliools of Benton and is now a practical farmer and stock- 
man. Ollie wedded Miss Feme Judy, of the old pioneer family, and 
thev maJ<e their home in Jackson township. 

Mr. Pence votes with the Democracy and is a staunch advocate 
of Jefifersonian principles. He belongs to the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, with which he has been identified since 1872, joining 
the organization in New Paris. He has passed all of the chairs in 
the local lodge and is now affiliated with Goshen Lodge No. 34, I. O. 
O. F. He is likewise a member of Goshen Tent, K. O. T. M., and his 
son Ollie is a member of the Modern Woodmen Camp No. 7930, at 
Benton. ]\Irs. Pence belongs to the United Brethren church. Both 
our subject and his wife stand high in the esteem of all who know 
them and are well worthy of representation in this volume. 

SOLOMON ROWD.VBAUGH. 

Solomon Rowdabaugh. whose integrity and strength of character 
have been strong elements in the successful career that makes him one 
of the prosperous farmers of Jackson township, and whose public 
spirit has been the motive element that has caused him to co-operate 
in man.y measures for the general good, was born in Cumberland 
county, Pennsylvania, January 7, 1843. He is the third in a family 
of four children — two sons and two daughters, born to John and 
Sahina (Shaw) Rowdabaugh, but only two of the children are now 
living, the elder being Elizabeth A., the wife of Noah Rasor, a pros- 
perous agriculturist of Jackson township. 

The father was born in Cumberland countv, Pennsvlvania, Feb- 



3.S2 HISTORY 01" ELKHART COUNTY 

nuiry 8, 1814, and died January 2b, 1894. He came of an old Penn- 
sylvania German family that was founded in the Keystone state at 
an early day. He was a cooper b}- trade and followed that pursuit in 
earlier life, Inil afterward ga\e his attention to agricultural interests. 
He remained a resident of I'ennsylvania until after his marriage and 
in fact until 1851, when he left his native state for Ohio, settling in 
Montgomery county, about ten miles northwest of Dayton. The trip 
was made Ihvcjugii the mountains in a wagon, and Mrs, Rowdabaugh, 
grandmother of our subject, says she will never forget the incidents 
that occurred in the journey. There were few railroads at the time 
and must of the tra\el \\as done by water (.>r private conveyance. The 
familv began life in Ohio by renting land and for ten years remained 
residents of Montgomery county. On the ist of Octol^er. i860, they 
came t<< Elkhart county, Indiana, and Mr, Rowdal^aug-h purchased 
eightv acres of unimproved land. Here he began life somewhat after 
the primitive manner of the times and he continued to carry on general 
farming up to the time of his death. His home was a log cabin which 
has been remodeled and still stands on the premises, one of the few 
remaining landmarks of pioneer days. He assisted in the building of 
the German Baptist church, known as the " Big Church " and he also 
aided in measiu'es for the benefit of his township and county, being 
a gentleman of progressive spirit and helpful disposition. In politics 
he was a Republican and his religious faith was that of the German 
Baptist church. Into the niin(is of his children he instilled lessons of 
moralit^•, trudi and uprightness that have torne fruit in the honorable 
lives in later \ears. His wife was )x)m in Lancaster county, Penn- 
svlvania. .\ugust 10, 1819. and is yet living, having now passed the 
eighty-sixth milestone on life's journe}'. She yet enjoys good health 
and her mental faculties remain unimpaired. She can relate many in- 
teresting incidents of early days in Ohio and Indiana, having for long 
years been a witness of the growth and progress of these states. She 
was a daughter o-f William and Susanna (Landis) Shaw, the former 
a native of England, whence he was brought to America when only 
two years old. He became a brick and stone mason and was always 
identified with building operations in that way. Mrs. Rowdabaugh 
spent her girlhood days in her father's home, there remaining until 
her marriage. To her husl^and she proved a faithful helpmate on life's 
iourne> and now that he has been called from this life .she makes her 
iiome with her son Solomon. Although well advanced in years she is 
still able to attend church occasionally. 

Solomon Rowdabaugh was a youth of about seventeen vears 
when lie became a citizen of Elkhart county, and here he has since 
remained. He began his education in one of the old-time log- school- 
houses of Pennsvlvania, conning his lessons upon an old wood bench 
and writing his exercises upon a desk that was made of a broad Ixiard 
restine on wooden pins, (lri^•en into the wall. Tliere was an immense 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 383 

fireplace in one end of the room. The methods of teaching; were al- 
most as primitive as the Iniilding, and tlie school was supported through 
private subscription. He has often written with tJie old-fashioned 
goosequill pen, which was made hy the master. The schools which 
his mother attended were e\'en more primitive in character. Both the 
mother and the son became familiar with all of the evidences of pio- 
neer life and Mr. Rowdabaugh and his wife now have in their pos- 
session one of the old-fashioned coverlets which were used upon the 
beds at an early day, while his mother has a pair of fire tongs made 
in 1839 and a pair of snuffers used in connection with the candles 
which furnislied the only means of illumination at that time. In his 
youth Solomon Rowdabaugh assisted in the active work of the farm 
from the time of early spring planting until after crops were harvested 
in autumn, giving his lather the benefit of his services un to the time 
of his marriage. 

Mr. Rowdabaugh has lieen twice married. He first wedded Miss 
Christina \\'evbright, and the}' had four children — a son and three 
daughters, of wliom t\\o are living ; John Wesley, a practical asricul- 
turist and a man of good business ability, is now secretary of the Ger- 
man Baptist Iioard and also secretary of the New Paris Mutual Tele- 
phone Union. He married Miss Grace Rensberger and they have four 
children. Minnie is the wife of James D. Neff, a leading farmer of 
Kosciusko county, Indiana, .\fter losing his first wife Mr. Rowda- 
baugh married Miss Mahala Longenecker, on the loth of Noveml)er, 
1878, and they had twin children. The daughter, Lydia Florence, has 
attended the public schools to the |)resent time and has also been a 
student in instrumental music. The son is deceased. Mrs. Rowda- 
iMugh was born in Kosciusko county, October 5, 1862, and is a daugh- 
ter of Isaac and Sarah (Brunbaugh) Longenecker, the former a native 
of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Ohio. In their family were seven 
children, of whom four are living: Catherine, the widow of Samuel 
Denlinger, and a resident of Montgomery county : Conrad, who is mar- 
ried and follov.s farming in Kosciusko county ; Mablon, who is mar- 
ried and is a resident farmer of Noble county. Indiana ; and Mrs. 
Rowdabaugh. The last named was reared in Kosciusko county to the 
age of six vears, wha: the parents removed with their family to Law- 
rence countv. Illinois, but subsequently returned to the former county. 
Her maternal grandfather, Conrad Brunbaugh, was one of the first 
settlers of Elkhart county, making his home on Elkhart prairie. Both 
Mr. and Mrs. Rowdabaugh have the warm esteem of many friends. 
He is a Republican in his political views, but is content to do his pub- 
lic duty as a private citizen without seeking ofiice as a reward for 
party fealty. A devoted member of the German Ba])tist church, he 
takes a verv active and helpful part in its work, contributing gener- 
ously to its support and doing evervthing in bis power to extend its 
influence. He is one of the trustees and also a deacon of the church. 



3.S4 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

lining the letter position since 1SX7. His farm is a \-alual)le property 
of one hundred and thirty acres, which is splcndidl}' developed and 
many nf the modern in^proxements upon the place are the evidences of 
liis han.diwork. What he lias accomplished makes him one of the 
prosperous citizens of his community and his life record, honorable 
in all it? relations, constitutes him well wortliy of representation in 
this volume. 

JOHN A\'F.SLhA" ROW DABAUGH. 

It is a noticeahle fact that at the present age and in this period 
iif progressive de\'elopment and advancement it is the young men who 
are hearing the burdens of life, who are establishing new business 
methods and promoting the various activities wherein rests the com- 
mercial, industrial and agricultural prosperity of state and nation. Mr. 
Rowdahaugh, one of the enterprising young men of Elkhart county, 
was born in Jackson township, July ig, 1869, ^^'^'^^ ^^'^^ the second in 
the famil}" ixirn to Solomon and Christina (Weybright) Rowdahaugh, 
who arc mentioned on another page of this work. At the usual age 
he entered the public schools and his close application to his studies 
ga\e hi, 11 a thorough knowledge of branches of learning whereby he 
was well fitted for life's practical and responsible duties. He has a 
got)d command of language and as a writer is well known in connec- 
tion with correspondence for \arious journals, including the Milford 
Mml, the Farmers' Guide and dififerent newspapers of Goshen. He 
also reported the conference meetings of the German Baptist church 
in the years 1895, 1896 and 1902 as news matter, and his report of 
the last conference was given over the telephone to the Goshen papers, 
being taken down in shorthand at the other end of the line. His atten- 
tion, however, has been chiefly given to agricultural pursuits and in 
all his farm «ork he is practical, methodical and systematic, carrying 
forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. Into an- 
other field of activity he has extended his labors, 1)eing now the secre- 
tary of the New Paris Mutual Telephone Union. His farm comprises 
seventy acres of productive land situated on sections 26 and 27, Jack- 
son township, and a glance at the jilace indicates to the passerby the 
careful supervision of the owner. 

Mr. Rowdahaugh was united in marriage to Miss Grace Parolee 
Rensherger, on the 30th of October, 1892. She was born in Elkhart 
township not far from the city of Goshen. March 22, 1874, and is a 
daughter r)f Sr.muel and Martlia (Hess) Rensherger, in whose family 
were ten children — six sons and four daughters. Of this number eight 
are vet living : Josephine, who is a graduate of the Fort Wayne Medi- 
cal College, is now the wife of Dr. John M. Hoover, an agriculturist 
of Elkhart township, and they both engage in the practice of medicine ; 
.\lbert is a practical farmer of Clinton township, who married Miss 
j\Tarv M. Smith: William, who wedded Miss Anna Worthington, is a 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY :!S5 

liarber, residing- in Las Animas, Colorado: Hiram, wlio wedded Miss 
Ella Miller, is living dii the old homestead in Elkhart township; Melvin 
A., a resident of Union City, Lidiana, is an agriculturist and also a 
minister of the German Baptist church and was one of the trustees of 
the North Manchester College; Chloe is the wife of Edwin Berkev. an 
agriculturist, living in Jackson township; Cephas, living- in Los An- 
geles, California, is a member of the Heavy Artillery and served in 
the Spanish-American war, bein.g sent to aid in the capture of Manila, 
then in the Philippine movements ; Mrs. Rowdabaugh of this review 
completes the famil}-. By her marriage she has become the mother 
of three sons a daughter, all of whom are yet living; Seth Earl, WWl- 
iam Floyd, Bertha Alarie and Solomon Carl, and the three eldest are 
now students in the public school. 

Mr. Rowdabaugh exercises his right (~if franchise in support nf 
the men and measures of the Republican part}-. He belongs tn the 
German Baptist church, in which he has served as clerk of the official 
board for eight years. He is alsd \-ice president of the Farmers' Insti- 
tute of Elkhart county for Jackson township. In all his work for 
public progress and improvement he has the endorsement and encour- 
agement of his wife, and they are both deeply interested in church 
work, he having served as superintendent of the Sunday school. 'Slv. 
Rowda1>augh now has in his possession a copy of the Carlisle Herald 
and Exa.iiducy. which was issued Jan.uary i, 1840, and contains an 
announcement of the candidacy of William Henry Harrison for presi- 
dent of the L^nited States. It also gives an account of the first session 
of the tw-enty-sixth Congress. Mrs. Rowdabaugh is the possessor of 
a fine ivory snuff box which was 1:rought from Germany many years 
ago and is more than tw-o centuries old. She also has a flat-iron which 
has been in existence for ninety-six years and is in weekly use. Both 
Mr. and Mrs. Rowdabaugh are well known in the locality w-here they 
reside and belong to that class of typical citizens -who stand for im- 
provement, progress, truth, justice and right. 

REV. JOHN HENRY A^^\RSTLER. 

Devoting his life to the high and holy calling of proclaiming the 
gospel to his fellowmen and aiding them to follow principles which 
develop a noble character and high and honorable manhootl and wom- 
anhood. Rev. John Henry Warstler as pastor of the German Baptist 
church. I if New Paris, is now doing an effective work, his influence 
being of no restricted order. He is a native of Frederick county, INIary- 
land, torn June 24, 1840, his parents being Johii and Mary Ann ("Glad- 
hill) Warstler, in whose family were seven sons and three daughters. 
The father, also a iiative of Maryland, was born N()\-eiiil>er to. 1S18. 
and died in 1898. He was reared and educated in the ])1ace nf his 
nati\-ity ;uul liecame a cooper by trade. Aliout 1864 be renio\-ed from 



386 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Maryland to Preble count}-, Ohio, where he remained for a few j-ears, 
after which he took up his abode in Union City, Randolph county, In- 
diana. There he was married a second time and in that city his death 
occurred when lie had reached the venerable age of eighty vears. His 
early political support was gi\'en to the Democracy, luit in i860 he 
supported Abraham Lincoln for the presidency. Both he and his wife 
were members of the Lutheran church and Rev. \\'arstler now has 
in his possession as a cherished heirlodui the catechism which his 
mother used. The \\'arstler family is of (ierman lineage and in his 
life John Warstler displayed man}- of the sterling characteristics of 
the ancestry which come from the fatherland. His wife, also a native 
of ?^Iarvland, was born October 11, 1822, and died in i860. She was 
an affectionate wife and mother, a kind neighbor and a devoted Chris- 
tian \\iinKui. Of their ten children six are yet living; Rev. Warstler 
being the eldest. The others arc: Josiah. wlio is married and follows 
farniing in Jackson township; George ^\'.. who is married and is an 
agricultin"ist of Randolph county. Indiana; Jacob D., whd is married 
and also lives on a farm in Randolph county; Martha E., the wife of 
Charles O. Ebel, a publisher of Terre Haute, Indiana; and Charles F., 
\vlio fi>ll()\-.s agricultural pursuits in Alarshall county, Indiana. 

Re\-. John H. Warstler in early life began working with his father 
at the cimper's trade and continued as his assistant up to the time of 
his marriage. He is what is termed a self-educated man, having ac- 
quired his knowledge largely through self-exertion and the devotion 
of his leisure hours tO' reading, study and investigation. From early 
life he entertained a strong desire to ei-iter the ministry and was always 
a close and earnest student of tlie Bilile. The years brought him 
the fullilment of his hope and in the German Baptist church he has 
labored most faitlifulh', jire.-icbing the gospel as he understands it to 
the people wlio come under Ins teaching and exerting a wide and bene- 
ficial influence for the nioral de\-elopment of the communities in which 
he has lived. 

Re\-. \\'arstler has been twice married. ( )n the ist of November, 
jS6o, he wedded Miss ^Inry K. Harshman, and they became the par- 
ents of ten children, of whom three sons and three daughters are yet 
living, namely: Flora E.. the wife of D. T. Gripe, in charge of the 
city electric light plant of (loshen, Indiana; Charles E., who married 
Miss Nancv Holtzinger, and is section foreman on the Lake Shore 
& ^lichigan Southern Railroad; Otha H., who wedded Miss Susan 
Renfrew, and is section foreman on the Lake Shore & Michigan South- 
ern Railroad, making his lidmc at h'lkhart ; h'liza C. the wife of U. S. 
Hoo\er, ;iii ;igriculturist of Jacksim township; .\lbert A\'.. a fanner 
of Jack-on township, who married INIiss l'"l!a Moorehouse; and Mary 
C. Ihe wile of J. J. Kiefer, .-i farmer, residing at Middlebury, Indiana. 
The mother of these children, a native of M;u-vland. w-as liorn October 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 3S7 

I, 1839, and is now deceased. She was a member of the German Bap- 
tist church. On the 15th of Feliruary, 1905, Rev. Warstler was mar- 
ried to Miss Ella Cline, who was bom in Elkhart county, Indiana, 
June 17, 1851, and is a daugliter of Elias and Martha Jane (Drake) 
Cline, in whose family were four daughters and a son, and only two 
are living" : Margaret, the wife of Henry Judy, a farmer of Benton 
township; and Mrs. Warstler. The father was born in Rockingham 
county. V^irginia, in 18 17, and died in 1893. He possessed much me- 
chanical ingenuity which he exercised at the same time that he fol- 
lowed farming. He had little opportunity but made the most of his 
advantages throughout life. He remained in Virginia until he attained 
his majority and then came with his parents to Elkhart county, making 
the journey by wagon in true pioneer style, the family settling in Jack- 
son townsh.ip in 1837. It was a pioneer district into which they came, 
Indians being still found in tlie neighborhood, while various kinds of 
wild game roamed through the forests. The first home of Mr. Cline 
was a log cabin of pioneer style, and as the years passed he became 
a successful agriculturist. He gave his political support to the Demo- 
cratic party and both he and his wife were members of the German 
Bapti-t church. She was born in Ohio, in 1820, and died March 23, 
190S, at the age of eighty -five years, retaining her mental faculties un- 
impaired until the last. She was a kind and good pioneer mother, 
devoted to her family. She came to Elkhart county in 1830 and often 
related lio\\' ;;he and her brother \isited the Indian battlefield just 
south of Goshen, in Elkhart townshijx where the ground was strewn 
with the bones of the dead red men and where they also found many 
silver ornaments made by the Indians. These they brought home and 
shovi'ed their mother and she made them return them to the graves 
on which they had found them. Her life was characterized by good 
deeds to the poor and needy and to the sick and afflicted, and her mem- 
orv is yet cherished by those who knew her. Mrs. Warstler always 
remained at home with her aged mother and ]3erformed willingly every 
ser\ice which she could do for her. Mr. and Mrs. Cline contributed 
generonslv tcward the erection of the house of worship of the German 
Baptist church. In 1873 they located in the Niliage of Xew Paris 
where they nccu]>ied a beautiful and attracti\-e home, in which Mrs. 
Warstler now resides. Called to their final rest, interment was made 
in the Baintertown cemetery, where a beautiful monument has been 
erected to their memor\-. 

In 187S Mr. Warstler began his work as jjastor of the (lerman 
Ba])tisl cburcb ;md for a quarter of a century be has ministered in 
this \\a\- to tile jieople of Jackson and Benton townshii)s. He has also 
delivered many public addresses and sermons throughout the state and 
his life is devoted to the cause of the church of which he is now a 
most able representriti\e. In politics be is a Renublican on national 



3SS HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

affairs and at local elections votes independently. His time is given 
in almost undivided manner to his church work and his efforts have 
been far-reacliing- and lieneficial, ably supported bv his good wife. 

ALFRED LOWRY. 

As present mayor of Goshen and for many years prominently 
identified with the manufacturing, business and public affairs of this 
city, Alfred Lowry's broad and self-attained individual success has 
likewise identified him in many useful ways \\ith his cit\- and com- 
munity. 

Bom in New York city and having been left an orphan, he was 
brought to Elkhart county and reared to manhood in the home of 
William D. Platter at Waterford. Mr. Lowry has been a resident of 
Goshen since 1872. The Waterford and Goshen schools furnished 
him a fair amount of education, but as a matter of fact he has lieen 
earning his own way since boyhood, being a practical, self-made man. 
whose achievements in life have been due more to his own energy and 
persevering ambition than to any circumstances of fortune or heritage. 
He was introduced to the every-day world of labor b\' l)ecoming an 
employe, while a boy, first on the farm, working by the month, and 
then in the Goshen Pump Company's factory, where in time he rose 
to the position of foreman. Having thus become thoroughly familiar 
with pump-making in all its branches, he became one of the organizers 
of the I X L Pump Company, and later of the I X L and Goshen Pump 
Company, the well known manufacturing corjxjration of Goshen, and 
held the of¥ices of president and treasurer of the company. He with- 
drew from this business, however, in 1897, and became assistant cash- 
ier in the State Bank of Goshen, which institution he helped organize, 
and has been a director of the same since 1891. Mr. Lowry was one 
of the founders and, since its organization, has lieen a member n\ the 
board of directors of the Elkhart County Loan and Trust Compan\'. 
While continuing to discharge his duties as cashier he is also inter- 
ested in real estate transactions, and is the owner of valuable farm 
property, the management of which he directs. Mr. Lowr}- is a fine 
type of the successful business man who has gained each successi\e 
step through his own well directed effort and industry. 

Mr. Lowiy in politics is a stanch Republican, and, long noted for 
the public-spirited part he has taken in municiixil and civic affairs, 
has a record of public service marked with the utmost fidelity to duty 
in the administration of public matters entrusted to his care. He served 
as a member of the Goshen common council, 1896-98 and 1 900-0 j. and 
in 1904 was elected chief executive of the city, a choice which has 
proved most felicitous for the welfare of Goshen. Fraternally Mr. 
Lowry affiliates with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and 
Protective Order of Elks. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 3S9 

FiTim this brief re\-iew nf liis life his interests are seen to l)e varied 
and so important that liis own welfare and success invohe the well- 
being of others. The strength to carry these responsibilities has been 
g-iven him. and he has made excellent use of the opportunities wliich 
have been vouchsafed to him. 

LEWIS K. McCLURE. 

Lewis K. ]\IcClure, who, applying his natural energy and busi- 
ness ability to the development of the resources of the county, has 
thereby won success, becoming a substantial farmer of Jackson town- 
ship, was born in Elkhart county. March 7, 1853. His parents were 
John and Rachel (Lloyd) McClure, in whose family were six children, 
two sons and four daughters. Lewis K. being the fourth in order of 
birth. Only four of the number are now living and further mention 
is made of the family in the sketch of John F. McClure of Xew Paris, 
given on another page of this work. 

Lewis K. ]\IcClure was reared in Elkhart county and at the usual 
age entered the common schools. The school system at that time was 
very imperfect, for pioneer conditions existed. He began his studies 
in a little log building standing on section twenty-two. It contained 
but one room and was furnished with slab benches. There were no 
desks before any of the seats, but a board was placed around the sides 
of the room, resting upon wooden pins driven into the wall. Upon 
this the older children wrote their exercises. The Elementary spelling 
book was used and an old-fashioned goosequill pen made by the master 
was found in the hands of the older pupils. The branches of learning 
taught were somewhat limited, being confined largely to reading, writ- 
ing, arithmetic, grammar and geography. It is probable that Mr. Mc- 
Clure enjoyed the pleasures of the play-ground as thoroughly as he 
did the duties of the schoolroom. When not occupied with his text 
books during the summer seasons he aided in the work on the home 
farm and continued to assist his father until he had attained his ma- 
jority, when his father gave him a horse and with this as his sole stock 
in trade he started out in life on his OAvn account. 

Mr. McClure, as a companion and helpmate for life's journey, chose 
Miss Delilah Immel, to whom he was married on the 15th of September. 
1880. She was born in Jackson township, November 13, 1856. and 
is the fourth, in a family of ten children, whose parents were Israel 
and Eva (Coughman) Tnimel. Her father was a native of Ross county, 
Ohio, and further mention of him is made elsewhere in this work. 
Mrs. McClure spent her girlhood days in the place of her nati\ity 
and acquired n common school education, after wdiich she became a 
student in the Goshen normal school. Later she was a successful teacher 
of this countv for sex'en terms, the scholars making good progress 



390 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

under her direction, but slie ga\-e up her work in this connection in 
order to assiune liouseliold (hities at the time ni her marriage to Mr. 
McChire. 

The }-oung- couple began their doiuestic life upon a farm and 
Mr. McCiure lias continued to engage in agricultural pursuits since 
that time. It was in 1883 that he located on his present farm of one 
hundred and forty acres of productive and valuable land in fackson 
township and he has since given his attention in undivided manner to 
the further development and improvement of this property. In 1904 
he erected a pretty and modern country home, wdiich forms one of the 
attractive features of the landscape. It was constructed in tasteful 
style and architecture, is ^.\■ell furnished and moreover is noted for its 
generous hosi^itality, which is greatly enjoyed by many friends of the 
family. In his farming operations Mv. McClure has been c^uite suc- 
cessful and he has striven to improve the grade of cattle raising, his 
specialty being ,Short-horns. He also raises Poland China hogs and his 
stock presents a splendid appearance, being well kept and of good 
breeds. 

Tlie home of Air. and Mrs. IMcClure has been blessed with a 
daughter and a scjn. Maude, who was graduated from the pul)Iic 
schools of Xew Paris in tlie class of 1897, entered the Milford high 
school in the \ear 1898 and \\as a student there fur three ^•ears. 
She afterward successful]}- ])assed a teacher's examination in Elkhart 
county and later pursued a year's course in the New Paris high school. 
She next secured a position as teacher in the intermediate department 
of the schools of New Paris, where she remained for two years, when 
she continued her own education, matriculating in Dan\'ille normal, 
where she is now a student. She will ha\e charge the coming year 
of the intermediate department of the New Paris high schools. She be- 
longs to the New Century Club of New Paris. Idie only son. Lloyd, 
completed the course in the public schools near liis home with the 
class of 1898 and then spent two years in the Milford high school and 
four months in the high school at Xew Paris. He then took the teacher's 
examination and after receixing his diploma he continued his studies 
in New Paris. His first school A\as in the home township, teaching 
there in the winter of 1902 and '03, and he has now followed the ])ro- 
fession for three \ears. In the fall of 1905 he expects to enter the Dan- 
ville normal to ]>ursuc the full scientific course. He is a thorough and 
zealous student, and \\r. and Mrs. McClure ba\-e every reason to be 
proud of their children, whom the\ have carefull}- educated and thus 
qualilieil for the important duties in life. 

Mr. ^vlcClure \-otes with the Pepnlilican ])<arty, of -rtbich he has 
been a stalwart advocate since casting his first presidential ballot for 
R. B. Haves. Fie has frequently been a delegate to county conven- 
tions and vet he is not a typical politician in the sense of office seeking. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 391 

preferring to leave that to others. He stands for all that is progressive 
in citizenship, honorahle in husiness affairs :wa\ for faithfulness to the 
ties of friendship and of the home. 

REV. ABRAH.XM B. YODER. 

Ivex'. Aliraharii B. Voder, jn'esiding elder for the Alennonite Breth- 
ren in Christ of southern Michigan and northern Indiana, one of the 
best known and most able of the ministers, of that denomination, has 
been a highly esteemed citizen of Wakarusa for a number of years. 
Not only as an evangel of religion, culture and morality, has he directed 
his endeavors in performing the work of life, but, being possessed of 
good husiness sagacity and executive power, he has been known as 
a successful merchant in Wakarusa, and in various wavs has identified 
himself with the life and activities of the cnmmunities where he has 
made his home. 

Elkhart county also claims Re\ . Voder as one of its nati\-e sons, 
antl he has been an honored member of the great family, both native and 
adopted, which has brought advancement and prosperity to the county 
during the past decades. Born in Olive township, Deceml^er 24, 1867, 
he is the seventh in a famil\- of nine children, seven sons and t\v(j 
daughters, born to Pennsyhania (ierman parents. Henry B. Voder, 
the father, \vas ijorn June 3, 1829. in Mahoning county, Ohio, and 
dietl ]\farch 18, 1899, at his home near Wakarusa, Indiana. Elizabeth 
(Bixler) Voder was born in JNIercer county, Pennsylvania, August 30. 
1833. '11'"^' '^I'Sf' 'it her home near Wakarusa, December 24. 1889. 

Reared on the home farm and educated in the common schools 
and then the high school at Wakarusa, at the age of eighteen Rev. 
^'oder received a certificate to teach school and at once entered upon 
his profession in Locke township, where thirteen years of successful 
work as a practical educator shows how well he performed his duties. 
He also taught a year in the Elkhart Seminary, in which institution 
he taught language and church history and topical Bible study. At 
the age of twenty-eight he entered the ministr}- of the Alennonite Bretli- 
ren in Christ Society, and of his nine years in the ministrv he spent 
two at New Market, Iowa, \\hcre he had charge of several congrega- 
tions. In 1 90 1 he was elected b}- the annual conference as ]>residing 
elder of the Indiana and Ohio Conference, his field of labor being in 
southern Michigan and northern Indiana. He has ten circuits and 
sixteen churclies to look after, so that he leads a verv busv life and 
his devotion to the cause of upbuilding his church and religious culture 
in general has brought about some notable results in the last few years. 
Some vears ago Re\-. Voder, with his two brothers. N. B. and A. B., 
established a hardware iuisiness in Wakarusa, and for seven vears was 
one of tiie merchants of the town. The fire of Octol^er, 1898, resulted 
in the destruction of thirteen buildings comprising the main business 



392 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

portion of the tmvn. their place of hiisiness being burned and their 
resnltin^i; loss l)eino- h\e timnsand dollars. He sold out to his brothers 
in February, lyoi. 

August 31. 1889. Rew Yoder married }iliss ^Nlary M. Alyers. They 
have one child. Ray O., born November 20, 1893, who is now in the 
se\'enth grade of the W'akarusa schools and is a bright all-around stu- 
dent, with perhajis special fondness for history and geography. Mrs. 
Yoder, who as a woman of culture and innate refinement, has been Ixith 
an inspiring influence and helpful co-worker with her husband, was born 
in this count)-, February 12, 1869, being the tenth of eleven children, 
four sors and seven daughters, bam to Jonas and Mary (Barkey) IMyers. 
The fi\'e chiklren \et H\'ing are all residents of this county. Jonas 
Myers, who was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, is now aged seventy 
years and lives on a farm in Locke township. He and bis wife are 
members of the Mennonite church, and his ])olitical belief is Repub- 
lican. Mrs. ]Myers, who was born in Holmes county, Ohio, over seventy 
years ago, is also still li\'ing. Ah's. Yoder received her education in 
the schools of Locke townshi]). ]\Ir. and Mrs. Yoder have a pretty 
and cosy cottage on Wabash avenue in ^^'akarusa and are held in high 
esteem among their many friends. 

A strong Prohibitionist. Rev. Voder has dione all in bis ])ower for 
temperance and morality in bis town. He is an able exponent, by 
practical life and conviction, of the creed of simplicity, righteous living 
and spirituality which forms the basis of Mennonite faith. The world 
is much, the gainer for the past and present lives of this high-minded 
and wholesome-acting sect, and wherever Mennonite communities are 
found there abide integrity, respect for law. and high standards of uKiral 
conduct. 

JOHN F. McCLURE. 

John F. McClure. a farn.ier. who was connected with pioneer 
interests in Elkhart county, was liorn in Jackson township, November 
20, 1850. his parents being John and Rachel E. fLoyd) McClure. The 
father was liorn in ]\Iuskingum county, Ohio. October 30, 1808. and 
died Se]3tember 6, 1893. He was reared to farm life, spending his 
childhood and youtii in the county of his nativity. Following his 
marriage he remo\'ed to Lidiana. in 1850, accompanied by Louis Noble. 
making the journey in a covered wagon in true pioneer style. He 
settled in Jackson township, purchasing about one hundred and sixty 
acres of jwrtially improved land, on which he built a log cabin. Deer 
were to be seen in the forests at that time and the village of New 
Paris was but a hamlet. Mr. McClure was a very enterprising and 
energetic man and through his well directed labors acquired three hun- 
dred and eighty-six acres of land in Jackson township, together with 
a nice property in New Paris. He adhered to the principles of the 
Presbvterian faith ami adxocated all measiuxs for the growth and 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 39:5 

development nl the churches and for tlie hetteniient of mankind. He 
was a man of strong convictions and he daily instilled into the minds 
of liis children lessons of industry and integrity, while his own life 
record was proof of the value and sure rewards of character. Mrs. 
McClure was also a native of Muskingum county. Ohio, and to her 
family was an afifectionate and loving wife and mother. They became 
the parents of six children^two sons and four daughters, and those 
yet living are: Ellen, the wife of John Scrannage. an agriculturist of 
Clinton township: John V.. who was the third of the six children: 
Lewis K.. who is married and follows farming in Jackson township: 
and Rachel E.. who resides in Xew Paris. Indiana. 

John F. McClure was reared upon the old home farm and at the 
usual age entered the public school-;, the little "temple of learning'" 
being a log schoolhouse in Jackson township. The building is still 
standing and is now used as a house. There was one long desk and the 
room was heated by a box stove. The seats were made of slabs, resting 
on wooden legs, and the methods of teaching were also somewhat 
primitive. Mr. McClure having witnessed great changes in the school 
system of the county. He can remember many e\ents of pioneer life 
here, including the building of the first railroad which crossed Jackson 
township. He ivas early trained to farm lal)or. becoming familiar with 
the work of field and meadow at an early age, and he remained with 
his parents until twenty-one years of age. when he began renting land 
of his father so that his lajjors might more directly benefit himself. 
He continued to make his home, however, with his parents up to the 
time of his marriage, which occurred on the 31st of January, 1884, 
Miss Mary E. Vail becoming his wife. She was born in Ohio, May 9. 
1857. and with her parents came to Indiana when a little girl, so that 
her education was acquired in this county. She is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church and belongs to the Ladies" Aid Society, 
and has been a faithful and devoted wife and mother, encouraging and 
assisting her husband in every possible way. To this marriage has 
been born a daughter. Carrie E., who is now attending school and is 
in the seventh grade. 

Mr. McChire is a stalwart Repulilican and proutll_\- cast his first 
presidential vote for General \J. S. Grant, since which time he has 
given his ballot for each nominee at the head of the ticket. He has 
frequently been chosen to represent his township in the county conven- 
tion, but he has never sought or desired office for himself, preferring 
to give his undivided attention to his l>usiness afifairs. For manv years 
he continued to carry on agricultural pursuits, he and his sister Rachel 
owning one hundred and eighty-five acres of fine land in Jackson 
township. In March, 1904, however, he left the acti\e work of the 
farm to others and removed to New Paris, locating in a modest home 
here in order to educate his daughter. While on the farm he always 
raised the best grades of stock and carried on his work along progressive 



394 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

liuei. The family are well known in Xew Paris and throughout Elk- 
hart ci.uni}- and the hosjiitality of man}- of the best homes is freely 
accorded them. 

RE\'. HENRY NEFE. 

Rev. Flenry Neff, active in the ministry of the Cierman Baptist 
church and making his home in Jackson township, is of Swiss lineage, 
his ancestors having lived in Switzerland, the land of the Alps. He 
was born in White county. Indiana, January 23, 1837, his parents being 
Henry and Anna (Erantz) Neff, who had eleven children, but only 
two are now living, the sister of Rev. Neff being Mrs. Susan Arnold, 
the widow of Levi Arnold and a resident of Jackson township. Henry 
Neff was a native of Botetourt county, Virginia, tx>rn in 1798, a year 
before the death of George Vv'ashington. He became a tiller of the 
soil and remained in the Old Dominion until after his marriage. He 
wedded Miss Anna Erantz and four children were born to them ere 
their removal to the west. His educational privileges were meagre, 
but he managed to broaden his knowledge greatly through private study 
and investigation. He was an earnest student of the Bible and was 
also noted for his piety and his high standard of conduct. He was 
firm in. his religious faith and each day led the worship amund the 
family altar.. It was in 1833, the year of the great meteoric display, 
that he and his family emigrated to the west with southern Indiana as 
their destination. The trip was made in true i^oneer stvle, traveling 
in covered wagons across the swamps and through the wilderness. 
They to.ik up their abode in White county, Indiana, where they were 
living at the time of the birth of Re\". Neff. For a few years onlv, 
howe\-er. they remained in that locality and thence came to Elkhart 
county, settling in \\'ashington township. In 1840 they located in 
Jackson township, where Mr. Neff purchased eighty acres of partially 
improved land. The surrounding district was covered with a flense 
growth of timber and no roads had lieen laid out. Thi^ first home of 
the family was a little log cabin with a mud and stick chimney, while 
before the immense fire-place was a stone hearth. Henr)- Neff' carrieil 
on agricultural pursuits year after \ear and became a successful man, 
accumulating six hundred and forty acres of land, so that he was 
enabled to give to each of his fi\e sous an eighty acre tract. He thus 
assisted them niaterially as they started out in life and he also instilled 
into their minds in youth lessons of industr}-, integrity and honor, 
wdnch made them upright and \-aluable citizens in later vears. .\t that 
earlv day many of the residents of Elkhart county were worshipers in 
the German Baptist church and as the county became more thickly 
populated the original church was divided and subdivided, various con- 
gregations being established until the last offshoot of the church is 
that known as the Union Center church. Henry Neff, Sr.. was then 
chosen bv th.e congregation as its pastor and for about thirtv vears he 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 3'J5 

ministered ti) tliis growing flocl-:. By his good words of admonition 
and liis untiring !al>irs the church prospered and grew throughout this 
long period. In early days the services of the German Baptists were 
held in the homes of the different members, but in 1858 the East or 
Whitehead house of worship was erected in Jackson township and it is 
now the oldest church of the denomination in Elkhart county. Mr. 
Neff's money aided very materially in the erection of this church and 
he always contributed generously toward promoting the cause of re- 
ligion. His life was indeed honorable and upright and his memory is 
vet enshrined in the hearts of those who knew him. He passed away 
in November. 1868, amid the dee]> and widespread regret of a very 
extensive circle of friends. His wife, who was also a native of Vir- 
ginia, was l)orn near Roanoke City in 1804 and died in 1887. She 
was a kind and affectionate wife and mother, economical in her man- 
agement of household affairs, and thus she proved of great assistance 
to her husband in the early days when their possessions were few. Great 
responsibilil}' devolved upon lier, for her husband's time was taken up 
almost wholly by his ministerial duties. 

Rev. Henry Neff, whose name introduces this record, was a little 
lad of only about three years when he Avas brought to Elkhart county, 
and for sixty-five years he has resided here, witnessing its development 
as from the virgin forests there has emerged an advanced civilization. 
For more than a half century he has lived in Jackson township and 
during this period has witnessed many remarkable chang^es, including 
the introduction of the telegraph and telephone and the building of the 
extensive railroad systems that now cross and recross the state, while 
the beautiful cities of Elkhart and Goshen have developed from small 
towns and villages and other centers of learning and culture, of busi- 
ness activity and commercial enterprise, have sprung up. As has been 
said, great changes have occurred within the memory of Rev. Neff. 
He was at one time a pupil in the early pioneer school wdien the house 
was built of logs — a little structin-e eighteen by twenty-two feet. Tt 
was covered with a clapboard roof, through which a stove pipe ex- 
tended from the stove to the open air. The desk on which the larger 
boys and girls wrote their exercises was formed by placing a lx)ard 
upon wooden ])ins driven into the wall, while the seats were made of 
split puncheons, m which large holes had been bored that wooden 
legs might be inserted, thus raising the bench from the ground. He 
wrote with the old-time goose quill pen fashioned by the master, and 
some of his early text-books were Webster's Elementary Speller, McGuf- 
fey's Readers and Davies" and Ray's arithmetics. Now the log school- 
house h:is ]iassed away, replaced by substantial frame and brick struc- 
tures, and groat improvements have been introduced in the methods of 
teaching as well as in the curriculum. 

Rev. Nefif was reared to the occupation of farming and after 
arriving at years of maturitv he was married to Miss Elizabeth Brown. 



390 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

the wedding ceremony being performed on the 6tli of Feljruarv, 1862. 
Mrs. Nefi was born in Elkhart county, July 9, 1840. and is a daughter 
of Jacob and L}-dia (Smith) Brown. By her marriage she became 
the mother of four sons and a daughter, all of wdiom are yet living, 
namely: Alelvin D., a farmer residing in Kosciusko county, Indiana, 
who married Miss Etta Ruckstool ; William Franklin and Charles A., 
who are upon the home farm; Josiah E., a farmer of Jackson township, 
who married Etta Conrad and has a son and a daughter; and Anna, 
the wife of William Clayton, a farmer of Jackson township, by whom 
she has three daughters and one son. 

In 1892 Rev. Neff was elected minister of the gospel of the Ger- 
man Baptist church and labors with the Union Center congregation. 
He is loved by his people for his devotion to the cause and his conse- 
cration to the work and he enjoys the full respect and confidence of 
people of other denominations as well. He aims at all times to present 
the truth as he understands it and to assist his fellow men in drawing 
near to the path of life marked out by the holy scriptures. He maltes 
his home in Jackson township, where he owns a valuable farm of over 
four hundred acres of land and he also has eighty acres outside of the 
county limits. His is a beautiful country residence, situated in the 
midst of attractive surroundings and he and his family are prominent 
socially, exercising a beneficent influence for the welfare and upbuild- 
ing of the community. 

DANIEL A. SANDERS. 

The expression " the dignity of labor " is exemplified in the life 
record of Daniel A. Sanders, who attributes his success to earnest Avork 
and close application. He is a man of strong force of character, purpose- 
ful and energetic, and his keen discrimination and sound judgment are 
shown in his capable management of one of the most important industries 
of Goshen, being president of the Sanders & Egbert Company. He was 
born in York county, Pennsyhania, January 31. 1841. His father, Her- 
man R. Sanders, was a native of Germany, being there reared, and after 
coming to America was married and took up his abode in York county, 
Pennsylvania, his death there occurring when he had reached his eightieth 
year. He was a shoemaker by occupation. His wife died at the age of 
sixty-six years. She bore the maiden name of Rebecca Gross, and by her 
marriage became the mother of three children, two sons and a daughtei". 

Daniel A. .Sanders, the second child in order O'f birth in his parents' 
family, spent his boyhood days in the county of his nativity, during which 
time he attended its public schools. On reaching the age of twenty-one 
he left the parental home and started out on the active duties of life for 
himself, first serving a two years' apprenticeship at the stone-mason's 
trade, and for eleven years he followed that occupation. On the expiration 
of that period he engaged in the buying and selling of timber. The vear 



I-IISTORY 01' ELKH Airr COUNTS' 397 

1865 witnessed his arrival in Goshen, and in 1892. at the organization of 
the Lesli. Sanders & Es^bert Company, he was made its vice-president and 
treasurer. In July, i8g8. the firm name was changed to that of Sanders 
& Egljert Company, and of this Mr. Sanders was made president and 
general manager. Much nf the success of this well known institution is 
due to his untiring" efforts. This extensive corporation furnishes employ- 
ment to from one hundred and fifty to two hundred men, and is one of 
the leading institutions of this section of the state. Mr. Sanders is also 
a director in the City National Bank and a director in the Elkhart County 
Loan & Trust Company of Goshen. 

He married Frances Mary Millenberger, and they have had two son.s^- 
Harry M., and Boyd \\'., who died at the age of fifteen years. Mr. San- 
ders gi\'es his jjolitical support to the Democracy, and fraternally is a 
member of the Indejiendent Order nf Odd Fellows. 

WJLBER L. STONE.X. 

\\ ilher L. Stonex, lor many years prominent in legal and business 
affairs at Goshen, ex-president of the Elkhart County Historical So- 
ciety, and who, out of piu^e love for the preservation of local annals 
and old-time records of his countv, has devoted much time and labor 
to placing in literary form se\eral important phases of the history of 
his county, was horn at Sturgis, Michigan, March 5, 1852. 

Mr. St(<ne.x has a long and interesting ancestry, and is connected 
on the maternal side vith one of the earliest as also most prominent 
pioneers of Elkhart county. Ilis great-grandfather was Thomas Stone.x, 
who \\as liorn. lived and died in Morton, Norfolk county, England; 
who hat! three brnlliers, Ro\\ land, Benjamin- anfl James, and one sister, 
Deborah; antl who married for his second wife a widow A\'right, who 
bore him one son, William. 

AA'illiam Stone.x, the grandfather, who was liorn in luigland in 
1791, married Elizahetii Tipple, and in 1830 emigrated to the United 
States, making a permanent settlement in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. He 
died in 1848, and was buried. in I'"ranklin county, Indiana. 

One child was born to William and Elizabeth Stonex, William 
Garrett, whose birth occmred al 18 Chambers street, London. lingland, 
November 17, 1818, and who was twelve years old when the family 
came to America. .Studying law at Lawrenceburg. this state, he was 
adp.iittcfl to the bar in 1842. but soon afterward entered the ministry 
of the Metliodist church, and at one time was pastor of that congre- 
gation at G(>s!ien. In \S()/ he transferred his religious allegiance to 
the Episcopal chuich. He died in Dexter, .Michigan, August 12, 1897, 
and was buried in ('io>hen. where he was well known and much be- 
loved. His wife w;i« Mary .\gnes Thomas, the youngest daughter of 
Thomas Thon'ias, \vhose name figures ]ironn'nentl\- in connection with 
the earh- histor\- of this countv and who wa- tlie first countx" clerk. 



398 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

She was but a child when slie came to this county, and she married 
Rev. Mr. Stonex March 30. 1846. Her deatli occurred April 10, 1889, 
at the age of sixty-three years. The following children who grew 
to maturity were born of tlieir marriage: Rev. Henry A. Stonex; 
Mary and Emma, unmarried daughters, who live at Dexter. Michigan; 
and Wiiher L. 

Owing to the itinerant character of his father's profession Mr. 
Wilber L. Stonex passed his youth in various localities and under 
varying influences. He received an excellent education, however, at- 
tending and graduating from Albion (A'lichigan) College in 1870 with 
the degree of A. B. (A. M.. in 1880). He then taught one year in 
Immanuel Hall Military School, near Chicago, and in January. 1872. 
came to Goshen and entered the law office of the well known hiw firm 
of Baker and ^litchell. Pursuing his studies with characteristic energy, 
he was admitted to the bar in 1873, and has since been numbered among 
the able representatives of the Elkhart county bar. 

Mr. Stonex married, December 20. 1883, Miss lumice Bivins, 
who was born in Mishawaka, Indiana, a daughter of William L. Bivins, 
who twice served as postmaster at Goshen. His father, Chauncey 
Bivins, was a pioneer settler at Goshen. Mr. and Mrs. Stonex have 
one son, Arthur Bivins, and one daughter, Mildred. Mr. Stonex is 
a Republican in politics, affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, and is a member of the Episcopal church. He was a prime 
mover in the organization of the Elkhart County Historical Societv, 
serve'.! several years as its president, has read before its sessions se\eral 
valuable papers stored with historical data concerning this cmmty. and 
has done much for the cause of preser\'ing local history. 

D.WID F. :\1ILLFR. 

David 1''. Miller, a leading representative of industrialism in Xap- 
panee, who is engaged in the manufacture of buggies, was Imrn in 
Concord township, Elkhart county, September 22, 1862. His fatlier, 
Joseph Aliller, was a native of Pennsylvania and became one of the 
]Moneer residents of Elkhart county, but was killed in 1865 when liis 
son David was only about three }-ears of age. The latter was reared 
upon a f.'irm in Kosciusko count}'. Indiana, by J, H. Miller, with 
whom he remained until eighteen years of age, and during that time 
he mastered the branches of learning taught in the public schools and 
also gained an intimate and practical knowledge of farm work in its 
various departments. On starting out upon an active business career 
he worked as a farm hand, being thus employed for five years, but 
thinking that lie might enter a business that would prove more con- 
genial and more profitable he came to Nappanee in 1884 and began 
dealing in harness and buggies. He continued in that line until 1892, 
v.hen he commenced the manufacture of carriages as a member of a 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 39y 

company, l)ul in ujoo lie iiurchased his partner's interests and is nnw 
conducting tlie business ahme, employing about thirty men. He manu- 
factures carriages. IjUggies and cutters, and the output nf the factory 
is now quite large, as is indicated by the fact that so many workmen 
are retained in his services. Thoroughness and substantial workman- 
ship are two of the cpialities which characterize the output and ha\e 
lieen a strong element in his success. His trade is growing and Mr. 
Miller has made for himself a creditable position among the leading 
manufacturers of Elkhart county. 

-\ stancii Republican in his political \ie\\s. Air. Aliller has accept- 
abh' ser\ed on the schor)l board, and whether in office or out of it he 
labors consecutively and effectively for the welfare of the community. 
Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias. He was 
ma'-ried October 23. 1885. tn Alis-- Alice Ariz, a daughter of Ahab 
Artz, and a nati\-e of Elkhart cuunt}'. The_\' now have two interesting- 
children — Vera and Walter, and in social circles the}- are well known, 
the hospitality of the iiest liomcs of this locality lieing freeh- accorded 
then-i. 

EZRA G. LEEDY. 

As the liistor}- of a nation is liest told in tlie li\-es of its people, ac- 
cording to the words of Emerson, it is in-ii)erati\'e that we make men- 
tion of Ezra Ci. Leedy. who is one i>f die representative agriculturists 
of Jackson townsliip. He was born in this county May 4. 1861. His 
fathei-. Christian S. Leedy, was a native of Ohio, born about 182 1. and 
in the state of his nativity he was reared to manhood. Determining 
to seek a home elsewhere, he walked across the country to Elkhart 
county, taking up his abode in Jefferson tow-nship. where he purchased 
one hundred and sixty acres of partially improved land. He became 
one of the pioneer settlers of that locality, assisting in its early develop- 
ment and improvement and there he made his home until his death, 
which occurred in 1869. In his political views he was a Democrat and 
both he and his wife were members of the German Baptist church. 
Mrs. Leedy l»re the maiden name of Elizabeth Garver and was born 
in Ohio, being a few }-ears her hu.sbaiid's junior. She too lived for 
many years in this county, her death occurring in Elkhart townshij). 
By her marriage she had liecome the mother of nine children, seven 
sons and tw^o rlaughters. of whom Ezra G. w^as the sixth in order of 
birth. Of this family seven are yet li\-ing, while four are residents of 
Elkhart count}-. Those residing elsewhere are Lewis G.. an agricul- 
tm"ist. who is married and resides in Van Buren county. Michigan: Ira 
G.. who is a horticulturist and is married and makes his home in Colona, 
Michigan: and Rufus. who is married and is a pros]>erous citizen of 
Moline, Illinois. 

Ezra G. Leed}- was re;ired in Jeffersnn township tn the life of a 
farmer, earlv becoming familiar with all the duties and lalwrs that fall 



400 HISTORY ()!• KI.KHART COUNTY 

t<j tlie lot (if the agriculturist. His ])i"elimiiiai"v educatiim, ac(|uirecl in 
the common schools, was supplemented hy a term's study in the college 
at Ashland, Ohio. He lemained upon the home farm until twenty 
years of age and was then married to Miss Emma Ulery on the 26th 
of Fehruary. 1880. She was horn in Elkhart cmmty. July 27,. 1863, 
and is a daughter of Levi and Mary (Sickefoos) Ulery. She acquired 
her education in the pulilic schools and by her marriage has hecome 
the mother of a son and three daughters. Dwight L., who after attend- 
ing the common school pursued a fnur -v-cars" course in the (joshen high 
school, is now a ])ainter following his trade in (loslien. He married 
Miss Regina Zetler. Pearl M.. who attended the inihlic schools near 
her home, has spent three and a half \ears as a high school student and 
is now one of the successful leacliers of the count}'. She also studied 
mttsic to some extent at the Tri-State Normal School at Angola, In- 
diana. Mary E. was graduated as member of the class of 1902 from 
the N,ew Paris high school under Professor Swart. Ida V. was grad- 
uated from the New Paris high school in the class of r()04 and to some 
extent has studied music. 

It was in 1883 that Air. Leedy located in Jacksiai township, where 
he owns one hundred six and two-thirds acres of land, on which he has 
erected a comfortable country residence. His farm is well improved 
and yields to him good crops, so that his business is n<i\\ ])ro\ing |)rofit- 
able. In politic? he is a Democrat where national questions are in\-olved, 
but at local elections he votes independently, regarding only the capabil- 
it\- of the candidates. Both he and his wife are members of the Breth- 
ren church al New Paris and Mr. Leedy has serveil as one of its trus- 
tees, while he and his daughters are teachers in the Sunday school in 
the Evangelical church at New Paris. 

The Leedv family in four states hold an annual reunion. ;uid the 
Leedys of Indiana held their reunion the fourth Wednesday in August 
at Winona Park, Indiana, and there were aljout one hundred in at- 
tendance at this memorable occasion, which occurred .\u.gust 23, 1905. 

CHARLES H. MOORE. 

Charles H. Moore, well known as one of the progressive and prac- 
tical farmers of Olive townshi)). is a scion of nne of the old settlers 
of this county, an'd in his own industrious and successful career has 
continued the good work begun l)y his father during the pioneer period. 
Mr. Moore was torn in Elkhart county, March 5, 1866. A son of John 
and lulia ( Com])ton ) Moore, he was the seventh in their family of 
twelve children, three .sons and nine daughters, eight cjf whom are liv- 
ing and all residents of this county. Two of the sisters were teachers 
in this countv, and Josephine, now the wife of Tabor Mitchell, taught 
for twenty years. 

lohn Moore, the father, was horn in New York state in 1820 and 



IlISTOKV OF JlLKHART COUNTY 4i)l 

died in lyoi. after attaining tiie atlvanced age of eighty-ime years. At 
the age of fifteen he left liis native stale and accompanied his parents 
on their archions and pioneer journey through tlie woods to IncHana. 
where they arrived in time to ex]ierience all the primitive conditions 
which surrounded the earliest settlers. His active career was passed 
as farmer and stockman, and though he hegan life without cash capi- 
tal, long before the close of his career he was rated as a prosperous 
man and one who wielded infiuence in his community. Many years 
ago he bottght eighty acres of untouched timber land in Olive town- 
ship, going- in delrt for it and erecting for his first habitation a log" 
cabin. He improved his land into one of the model farms of the town- 
ship, and by further purchase owned one hundred and forty-four acres 
in the townshi]j. He was a Democrat in politics and Vvas a member 
of the Evangelical churcli. His father came from England, but the 
family stock is Scotch. The mother, Julia fCompton) Moore, was 
born in Indiana and died when her son Charles was nine years old. 

Reared to manhood in this county and receiving a common school 
education. Mr. Moore began his independent career liy purchasing part 
of the old homestead, and it is here that he has wrought out his svtc- 
cessful career. He tends his land in an up-to-date manner, raises good 
stock, and is known as a thoroughly practical and efficient farmer. 

August 15. 1884, Mr. Moore married JNIiss Harriet Zimmerman, 
and three children have been born to them. Clyde C who has fin- 
ished the common schools and taken two years of high school work, 
is his father's efficient helper and gratifies his taste for mechanics by 
doing ali the work of that nature around the place. Madge E.. the 
elder daughter, has taken the eighth grade of school work and also 
studied music. Mildred [., the youngest, is in the second grade. Mrs. 
Moore is a native of the far west, having been born in California, but 
since the age of six years has lived in Indiana, where she received a 
common and high school education. Mr. Moore is a Democrat in poli- 
tics, and he and liis wife stand high in the esteem and favorable regard 
of their communit}-. 

RUFUS C. EHRET. 

Rufns C. Ehret is tlie enterprising gentleman who is manager and 
editor of the W'akarnsa Cifi::^!. the history of which bright little paper 
is gi\en elsewhere in this volume. Of German lineage, and deriving 
from that source many of the determined (|ualities of character which 
ha\e served him so well in his career. Mr. Ehret was born in Elkhart 
county, January i, 1868, the eldest of four children, two sons and two 
daughters, born to Michael and Lydia (Seitz) Ehret. Three children 
survix'e. Sarah is the wife of Cieorge Austin, a farmer at Xashville. 
Michigan ; and Homer E. is a farmer of the same localit)', and married 
]\tiss Hattie Scott. The father, who was born in Ohio and now re- 
sides in Xashville. Michigan, was of German parents, and during his 



40'2 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

active career has followed farniino- with marked success. He is an 
ardent Republican, and he and liis wife adhere to the religious faith of 
the United Brethren Radical. The mother, who is also living, was born 
in Pennsylvania. 

Mr. Ehret spent onl_\ the lirst two years of his childhood in this 
eoimty, and thereafter until he was thirty-two years old \vas a resident 
at Na.shville, Michigan. .\ common school education Avas supplemented 
by a course at the well known business school, Ferris Institute, at Big 
Rajjids, Michigan. He w-as granted a teacher's certificate at the age 
of eighteen, and for fifteen years following taught school in the coun- 
ties of Barry and Eaton, Michigan. He then went into the far south- 
west, to Socorro county. New Me.xico. and for six months was em- 
ployed as a bookkeeper in the mining camps of the territory. In the 
fall of [c;oi he returned to Elkhart county and f(/r a year was em- 
ployed \\ith ;\lr. l-'rank Brown, the attorney, and in the fall of igo2 
took charge of the W'akarusa Cifi.::ci:, a seven-column, quarto print 
which is a credit to the editor and the town of Wakarusa, and leads the 
van in many enterprises of concern to the progress of the town. The 
office has a Washington press, a Chandler-Price-Gordon job press, and 
on each Friday morning the issue of seven hundred copies is distributed 
to the many readers in the town and throughout tlie county. 

Mr. Ehret married Miss Fl(M"ence Wells, who was born in the 
]jrovince of Ontario, Canada, and was educated in the public schools 
and took a 'business course in a convent. Her parents are both living 
in Ontario. They have one little daughter, Florence Mildred. 

A stanch Republican, ]VIr. Ehret cast his first vote for Harri.son. 
and on all the public cjuestions of the day he keeps himself intelligently 
informed, so that he is a ]3leasant gentleman to talk with. He was 
secretary of the Wakarusa Improvement Association, an organization 
designed to encourage the location of factories and other industries in 
Wakarusa. During his residence at Nashville, Michigan, he was treas- 
urer of his town and township two difi^erent terms. Since locating in 
Wakarusa he has gained the highest esteem of the citizens through his 
jjublic-spirited citizenship, his upright conduct, and genial disposition. 
He edits his jiaper with clearness and force, yet with utmost regard 
for propriety and taste, and neatness and thoroughness seem to charac- 
terize everything he undertakes. 

DAVID W. NEIDIG. 

David W. Neidig, wdio with the exception of the first five 3'ears 
has spent his entire life in Elkhart county and who in recent years 
has been identified closely and prominently with ccnuity affairs and 
with the business and financial life of Goshen, is the cashier of the 
State Bank of Go.shen. 

Born near Columbiana. Columbiana county, Ohio, May 8, 1853, 





',*^*' V 



cf 



'f^O 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 403 

a son i>r William and Maria C ( dreenaniyei") Neidig, natives of the 
same cuunty, Mv. Xeidig is in the fourth ancestral remove from the 
Xeidig. whose first name is not now recalled, who came from his native 
German fatherland and founded the family in America. The son of 
this emigrant was David, who aas among the early settlers of Colum- 
biana county, Ohio, coming iherc from Pennsylvania. The parents, 
who married in Columbiana county, in 1858 left there and came to Elk- 
hart county, settling about two and a half miles southwest of Goshen, 
and later on they moved into Goshen, where they died, the mother in 
August, 1897, at the age trf sixty-four, and the father in October, 1898, 
aged seventy-one. The father, although by trade a blacksmith, fol- 
lowed farming the greater part of his life, and passed his later years in 
retirement from active pursuits, having prospered in business affairs. 
He was a Republican, and he and his wife were Methodists. Their 
three children are ]\Irs. Melissa 1. Aliller, David \V., and Charles E., 
who is a lumberman in Goshen. 

Coming to this county when hve years old, Mr. iSTeidig has spent 
practically all his life here. He passed childhood and youth on a farm, 
and went to school in Waterford, later attended the Northern Indiana 
College at Valparaiso, also the Goshen high school, and completed his 
education in Mt. Union (Ohio) College. When he was twenty-two 
years old he got a teacher's certificate and for eight terms was the mas- 
ter of a country school. From the schoolroom he entered the law 
office of Vail and Neidig in Goshen, where he took up abstract work. 
December 19. [881, he became deputy count)- recorder, and after he 
had held that office n\e years he was elected, in November, 1886, re- 
corder of Elkhart county, having beai the Republican nominee for that 
office. His term as recorder ended in XoAcmber, 189 1, and in the July 
following, on the incorporation of the State Bank of Goshen, Mr. Neidig 
was elected cashier, which position he has continued to fill to the pres- 
ent time. 

Mr. Neidig's fraternal athliatious are with the Knights of Pythias 
and he is a Master Mason. An active Republican for many years, he 
was once secretary of the Republican county committee and twice chair- 
man of that 1x)dy. He has served two terms as a city councilman of 
Goshen, and for three years was a member of the Goshen .school board, 
being treasurer two years and president one year. 

^Ir. Xeidig married, in 1883, Miss Edith M. Hoffman, of this 
county. They have one son. Edward W., who is seventeen years old 
and is a student in the Cuher Military School. 

W IkLIAM B. PRATT. 

William Brooks Pratt was bom in Battle Creek, IMichigan, May 
23. 1853 His parents were Frederick B. and Charlotte E. Pratt. 
Spending the greater part of his youth as well as mature years in Elk- 



404 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTV 

luirt. he received his echicalimi in puhlic and private schools in that city 
and also fron-. pri\ate tutors. After finisliing; school at the age of eigh- 
teen, in 1871, he entered the retail linrdwrire business, and in 1873, with 
his father started the i)usiness of V. 11. I'ratt and Son, manufacturing- 
carriages. He has been coiiliniiou.~ly identified with this industry to 
the present time, and has been jiresident ni the Elkhart Carriage and 
Harness Manufacturing (\)inpany f( .r t\>enty years. He has also been 
connected with several other manufacturing comjianies for a number of 
years. 

The Elkhart Carriage and Harness Manufacturing Company, of 
which Air. I'ratt is president, lias tlie beginning of its history at a date 
about thirty years prior to this writing, when I*'. 1!. I'ratt and Stm 
commenced making carriages in Elkhart. This business has since 
grown and prospered, being " the largest manufacturers of vehicles 
and harness in the wr.rld selling to consumers e.xclusiveh.'" Their 
metiiods of transacting business does away with the jobber, their deal- 
ings being directly with the consumer, wlierexer he may be located, to 
whom the desired goods are shii)])ed and their (|uality and excellence 
thus become, on examination, their own salesman. The nresent extent 
of the business is familiar to the citizens of Elkhart, there being two 
large, factories, one at Beardsley avenue and Michigan street, and the 
other at Pratt and East streels. Mr. William B. Pratt is president and 
secretary of the compan\'. and Cieorge 1!. Pratt, \ice ])resident and 
treasurer. 

Mr, Pratt has been a member of the Presbyterian church since the 
age of sixteen, and a trustee since he was twenty-one. Always inter- 
ested in the religious, moral and educational advancement of his com- 
munity, he was for several years president of the local Young Men's 
Christian Association, and for a number of years was a member of the 
Y. M. C. A. state board. 

Mr. Pratt is a memljer of several local clubs, is a memljer of the 
National Association of Carriage Manufacturers, a member of the Na- 
tional Association of Implement and X'ebicle Manufacturers and of the 
National Association of Advertisers. 

Mr. Pratt married, in 1880, Miss Crace .\. Tutt, a daughter of 
Hon. Francis R. Tutt, of South Bend, Indiana. They ha\e one daugh- 
ter. Alarv Brooks Pratt, born in Elkhart. October. 1884. 

P. .\. EAUIA'. 

1'. A. Earl}-, dejjuty prosecuting attorne}' of Xa])]janee, is a native 
of Gerniantown, Montgomery county, Ohio, born on the i3tb xA July, 
1854. His ancestral history can be traced back to Virginia where lived 
his grandfather. John Early. The latter, a native of the Old Dominion, 
removed to Montgomery county. Ohio, where he spent his remaining 
days, following the occupation of farming. His son. Joseph B. Early, 
who was also born in Virginia, v.as a young lad at the time of the estab- 



UlSTOkVOF ELKHART C()L'X'rV 405 

lisliment of the laniily home in (Jhiu. He was married in Montgomery 
count}' to Miss Lydia Myers, who was there Ixirn and is now living 
in Ashland, Ohio, at the age of seventy-four years. In early life Joseph 
B. Early engaged in teaching school and also followed agricultural pur- 
suits. Ahdut 1857 lie removed to Wabash county, Indiana, but was 
not long permitted to enjoy his new home, his death occurring there ni 
i860. His widow afterward brought her familv to Elkhart county. 
The} were the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters, 
but one son and one daughter died when about six vears of age. The 
surviving daughter is Sarah, the wife of (iuilford Leslie of .\shland, 
Ohio. 

P. .\. b-arly, the eldest member of the familw was onlv alxiut three 
years of age when taken by his parents to Wabash county, Intliana, 
and when a youth of six years his father died and the mother removed 
to Elkhart county wltere she was again ntarried. He remained with 
her until he had attained his majority and his education was acquired 
in the public schools. \\ ben be had sufficiently mastered the branches 
nf English learning in order to pass an examination he secured a cer- 
tificate and began teaching, this profession being followed in Waljash 
county for two years. He also engaged in farming in Wabash county 
for seven years and in 1883 came to Nappanee. Here he turned his 
attention to merchandising, first as a dealer in hardware but at this 
writing is proprietor of a drug store. He employs a man to conduct 
the busmess, while he gives his attention largely to the practice of law. 
He entered upon the stud\ of law in 1888 and in 1892 was admitted 
to the bar, since which time he has been in active practice with a con- 
stantly growing patronage. He is now deputy prosecuting attorney 
of Elkhart county and also state attorney, occupying the latter position 
for about ten years. The public and the profession accord him a lead- 
ing place in the ranks of the legal fraternity, and be is known as a con- 
scientious, earnest and painstaking la\\ yer, whose devotion t(i his clients' 
interests is proverbial. 

On the 15th of October, 1875. Mr. Early was married to Miss 
Eliza Gill:)ert, a daughter of Israel and Mary (Horning) Gilbert. The}' 
became the parents of three children, but Maud, the eldest, is deceased. 
Nora M is at home and Clyde is an undertaker of Chicago. 

In his fraternal relations Mr. Early is a Mason and a Knight of 
Pythias and is true and loyal to the teachings and tenets of these organ- 
izations. Since age gave to him the right of franchise he has given 
his political supjxirt to the Rejiublican party, takes an active interest 
in its work and has served on the town board and in other local offices 
aside from those in the direct line of his jirofession. His devotion to 
the public welfare is above c[uestion and the qualities of his manhood 
aside from his jirofessional and official relations are such as commend 
him to the confidence and good will of those with whom he is asso- 
ciated. 



4(»6 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

GEORGE L. LAiMB. 

(ie()ige L. Lamb, pmminentl}- known in Nappanee and throughout 
the ciiiinty as proprietor of the large noveUy furniture manufacturing- 
plant in that city, was horn in Alliance, Stark county, Ohio, February 
i8, 1862. His parents were David W. and Ann (Zelly) Lamb, both 
born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The father, who was a mechanic 
and cabinet-maker, came to Elkhart county in 1864, locating on a farm 
in Locke township and identifying himself with the agricultural inter- 
ests of the county. He is still living, and makes his home with his son 
George : the mother is deceased. 

Having lived in this county since he was two years old, Mr. Lamb 
IS both well known and has made himself an important factor in the 
industrial affairs of die count}-. He was reared and educated in Locke 
township, and began his business career in Goshen, where the firm of 
Chaniberlain and Lamb were formerly well known manufacturers of 
brushes. This became later the Latta-Lai-nb Company, which continued 
the n-iaking- of Inrushes and furniture imtil 1895, '^t which date Mr. 
Lamb became the sole proprietor of the plant at Goshen. Li 1900 he 
came to Nappanee and established his present business, which has since 
gnnxn to \ery large and jjrofitable ])roportions, with a large annual 
output rnid with a force of employes nunibering about thirty-five. Nov- 
elty furniture and brushes are the principal articles of manufacture, and 
their wholesale trade covers a very large territory. Mr. Laml> is pro- 
gessive and enterprising to an unusual degree, as his business record 
would indicate, and stands among the men of that class who have been 
responsible for the very rapid growth and de\-elopment of Nappanee as 
a manufacturing and business center. 

. Essentially a business man, he has never, however, neglected the 
other interests which claim the attention of every man who occupies a 
worthy place in his community. He is a public-spirited citizen and a 
stanch Republican, has fraternal affiliations with the Knights of Pythias, 
and is a trustee and elder in the Presbyterian church at Nappanee. 

Mr. Lami) married, in 1872 at Goshen. Miss Carpenter, who was 
taken away by death in 1881. Three daughters were born to them: 
Anna Grace, Lulu May and Mabel Irene. Mr, Lamb married for his 
present wife Clara Warren. 

WILLL\M H. WEYBRTGHT. 

William H. Weybright is the owner of an excellent and well im- 
proved farm in Jackson township and is a representative agriculturi.st, 
manifesting in his life many sterling traits of the German ancestry and 
at tlie same time displaying unquestioned loyalty to America and her 
institutions. Lie also belongs to one of the pioneer families of Elk- 
hart county, and his birth here occurred December 26, 1848. He is 
the eldest son of a fan-iily of ten children, whose parents were John 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COl'XTY i<'7 

and Joanna (Lindeman) W'eybright. The father was Ixnii in the citv 
of Dayton, in Montgximery county, Ohio, July 6. i8iy. and liis life 
record co\'ered more than eighty-one years, his death occurring May 
20. 1901. He spent the first eleven years of his life in his native county 
and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Elkhart county. 
Indiana. tra\'eling in pioneer style in cmered wag'ons. They settled 
on Elkhart prairie and in that section of the state there were few hx)mes. 
much of the land being still in possession of the government. His 
father entered a claim and the family began their life in the state in 
a log caliin. which stood near the Elkhart river. The door of the builil- 
ing was of sjilit legs or puncheons and the house was heated by the old- 
tin'e fireplace. The Indians roamed through the forests and often 
stopped at this pioneer home, but they manifested a friendly sjiirit to- 
ward its inmates. There were many deer and wild turkeys to be had 
so there was no lack of meat on the pioneer board. Mr. W'eybright of 
this review assisted his father in tbreslu'ng grain, which was stamped 
out by the horses on the barn floor. He has seen the reaping done with 
the old-fashioned hand sickle and other primitive farm machinery used. 
The father was a miller by trade but spent most of bis life as an agri- 
culturist, and although he performed manual labor that is not required 
at the present time because of the improved machinery be ultimately 
acquired a gratifying meacure of success. .\s his financial resources 
increased he made jufUcious investment in property until be had large 
landed interests in both Kosciusko and Elkhart counties. He was well 
known for his strict honesty and upright purpose, and he took great 
pride in rearing his children to habits of integrity and industry — habits 
which in later years have borne rich fruit in upright life. In his politi- 
cal views be was a Whig and in bis early life cast his presidential vote 
for \\''illiam Henry Harrison wdien the rallying cry of the Whigs was 
" Tippecanoe and Tyler too." Following the dissolution of the party 
he never took any active interest ui politics. He was reared in the faith 
of the German Baptist church and was one of the prime mo\ers in 
organizing what is known as the " Big Church "' in Jackson town.sbip. 
giving liberally of his means toward its erection and support. He was 
one of the deacons of the church for many years. Much of the timber 
for the building came irom the forests on bis land and some of the huge 
timbers were eighty feet in lengtli. Mr. Weybright also gave liberalh- 
for the building of other churches in his locality and be was a (iod-fear- 
ing man, who taught his children lessons of love, charity and bene\-o- 
lence. His wife was bom in Germany, July 9. 1816. and was a little 
maiden when brought to America by her parents. She is yet living at 
the advanced age of eighty-nine years, residing with her son Da\-ifl on 
the old homestead, and her mental faculties are unimpaired. She is 
one of the worthy pioneer mothers of Elkhart county and her memorv 
forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive 
present. 



i08 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Mr. W'eyljright of this review was reared in Elkhart county and 
the first school which he ever attended was held in a little log building 
sixteen hy twenty-four feet. The desk was formed of a board resting 
upon wooden pins driven into the wall and the old-fashioned goose- 
qudl ])en was largely used. He attended school during the winter 
m(<nths :'.nd in the summer months he worked upon the farm, giving 
his father ihe benefit of his ser\-ices until he had attained his majority. 

Mr. Weybright wedded Miss Susanna Cieyer in 1873. She was 
horn an;l reared in Elkhart county and has been a devoted and faithful 
hel]imatc to her husband. Both her jjarents are now deceased. Mr. 
ruul Airs. W'eyliright began their domestic life on a farm of eighty 
acres, on which the)- are yet living. He first rented this property Iwt 
Soon after his father ga\e him the land, to which he has since added 
until be now has a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres in 
Jackson township, supplied with modern equipments and conveniences 
and all tlie necessary buildings for the shelter of grain and stock. He 
liah in his jjossession two of the old ]3arcbment deeds which were 
executed by President Martin \'an Biu'en and bear the date of August 
10. 1837. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Weybright have lieen born four children, two 
sons ;uid tw( daughters, and the family circle yet remains unbroken 
1)\- the hand of death. Dora A., the eldest, is the w'ife of John Stout, 
a farmer and minister of the German Baptist church, li\'ing in Jack- 
son townshi]!. They have a little daughter, Ruth. John Orba is an 
agriculturist of Jackson townsbi]i and was recently elected to the office 
of deacon in his church. He lias been married twice, first wedding 
Miss Maud IJerry, by whom he had a son, James William. His pres- 
ent wife bore the maiden name of l',ertha Culler. Charlie V. is em- 
])loyed in the bouse of .VUbaugh Brothers, Dover & Company, on Frank- 
lin street, Chicago. Nina Edith is the youngest and attends the home 
school. Mr. and Mrs. Weybright are botli meml>ers of the German 
Baptist church, taking an active interest in the church and Sunday 
school and be is now serving as one of the trustees of the church at 
Syracuse, Indiana. Both are representatives of old pioneer families 
here and thev have spent their entire lives in the county, where they 
are wideh' and fa\dra!)l\- known. Iiax'ing a \-er)- extensive circle of 
frien<ls. 

HARR^' M. S.VNDERS. 

Entering vijxjn his career of business activity less than ten years 
<«go, jMr. Harry M. Sanders has in the meantime displayed such execu- 
tive ability and thorough C(jmprebensi()n of modern business affairs 
that he stands in the front rank of Elkhart county's men of success and 
enterprise. In the history of Elkhart count}- industries is found some 
detailed mention of the extensive manufacturing plant known as the 
Sanders & Eg1>ert Company, wholesale manufacturers of hardwood 




HARRY M. SANDERS 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY -idO 

lumber at (joshen. Mr. Sanders is a director and stockhokler in this 
concern, having been identiiied with its management since it was or- 
ganized nnder the present name, and is also connected with several 
other com]xmies at Goshen which would at once be named as repre- 
sentative of their class of business activity. 

.\ son of Daniel A. and Frances M. ( Miltenberger ) Sanders, the 
father being president of the .Sanders & Egl>ert Company, ^Ir. Harry 
M. Sanders was born in tiie city of Goshen, January 17, 1875. When 
he had completed his education in the Goshen schools and at Eastman's 
Business College in Poughkeepsie, New York, the door of business 
opportunity being open to him he at once entered and has sought 
success in the field of industrial enterprise. He has confined most of 
his attention to the lumber trade and manufacturing. He became a 
member of the firm of Lesh, Sanders, Egbert and Company, and since 
1898 has Ijeen connected with the Sanders and Egbert Company. He 
is also secretary and a director in the Sanders, Hay and Neidig Com- 
pany, is a director of the State Bank of Goshen, and assistant secre- 
tary of the Elkhart County Loan and Trust Company. These inter- 
ests connect him with the foremost financial and manufacturing enter- 
prises of the county, making him. at the close of his third decade of 
life, a factor of ])ower and influence in directing the business current 
of the count}-. Mr. Sanders also owns and operates a valuable farm 
in this county. 

June 16, 1897, Mr. Sanders married Miss Annie Louise Heckert, 
of York, Pennsylvania, a daughter of D. Phillip and Annie Heckert. 
Mr. and Mrs. Sanders have a happy little family of three children, 
whose names are Annie Virginia, Daniel Heckert and Mary Christine. 
One of the prominent Masons of the state, ]\Ir. Sanders has active aftil- 
iation with Goshen Commandery No. 50, K. T., and as a thirty-second 
degree Mason is a member of the Ir.dianapolis Consistory and belongs 
to Murat Temple of the ^lystic Shrine at the same ])lace. Like so 
many yimng men of the twentieth centuiy, Mr. Sanders directs his 
])olitical action along the lines of independent judgment rather than 
by jjartisanship. althcnigh in national politics he has alwavs \-oted the 
Republican ticket. Socially prominent, Mr. Sanders and wife are 
among the best known .-incl most highly esteemed young people of 
Goshen. 

A. B. VODER. 

A. r>. ^'o(ler. iunior member of the well known and prosperous 
hardware and fiu'nilure firm oi Yoder Brothers at W'akarusa, is pos- 
sessed of like enterprise and business alaility with that which has made 
the name of Yoder conspicuous in business and civic affairs in this 
county. Geniality and courtesy form a \'er)- \-aluable stock-in-trade 
for one who enters a mercantile career, and it is to these qualities that 
Mr. \'o(ler ascribes miicli of his success, although they rdone would 



il" HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

not have ])een enough had he nut also used perseverance and hnundless 
industr}- in getting started. 

Mr. Voder, wlio was Ijorii in Olive township, this county. ^Nlarch 
2. 1870. and who lias been identified with the county by practically a 
lifelong residence, was the seventh child in the family of Henry and 
Elizabeth ( Bixler ) Yoder. Educated in the common schools and the 
W'akarusa high school, he spent all of the first twenty-one years of his 
life in this count}, and in 1891 went to Whiteside county. Illinois, 
where he s]jent two years in. farniing and one year as a postoffice em- 
ploye. In the fall of iSgj; he returncfl to Wakarusa. and since then 
has l;een identified, in increasing prominence, with the laisiness affairs 
of this ihri\ing town. Accepting a place in the general store of Adam 
Domer at wages of twelve dollars a month, by integrity and diligence 
he was not long in advancing to a position of independent effort. Mr. 
Yoder is one of the men of present-day prosperous circumstances who 
at the lieginning of their careers found it worth their while to accept 
any work which would aft'ord an honest livelihood, relying upon in- 
dividual ability and hard work and experience to raise them from lower 
tn higher places of responsibility. After remaining with Mr. Domer 
until 1895 he purchased an interest in the store of the Yoder Brothers, 
going in debt for the major part of his stock, but in the subsecjuent ten 
years he has not only lifted e\'ery incum1>rance of financial nature but 
has extended and broadened the scope of the business until the firm of 
Yoder Brothers is one of the foremost of its kind in Elkhart county. 

Mr. Yoder married Miss Clara 'Ehret. September 18, 1895, and 
iMie daughter and one infant son lia\e beeen born to them, the daughter 
being Joy Oma, who is in the first grade of school. Mrs. Yoder was 
Iwrn in Olive township, this comity, January 7, 1871. a daughter of 
Jacob l". and Mary (Morris) Ehret, who are still living, being pioneer 
settlers in this county. The Morris family is noted elsewhere in this 
work as having been identified prominently with early Elkhartian his- 
tory, the first election following the organization of Olive township 
being held at the Morris home and the ballot box lieing the sugar bowl 
in daily use at that home. Mrs. Yoder was educated in the public 
schools of this count\-. Mr. anrl ]Mrs. Yoder have a pretty cottage home 
on Hano\-er street, and their hospitality and social worth make them 
prominent factors in the social life and acti\'ities of the town. They 
are members of the Mennonite church, he being a trustee and steward 
in the Wakarusa society. He is alsri one of the strongest supporters 
of the Prohibition party in this part of the county, and his position on 
matters aft'ecting the cixic and moral welfare of bis community is well 
Ivuown to all. 

JOHN RIDDLE. 

1-or the ])ast ten vears numljered among the substantial and suc- 
cessful agriculturists and imblic-siiirited citizens of Elkhart count\-. Mr. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 411 

John Riddle, of Olive township, has been a valuable addition to the 
civic life and material activities of this county and belongs to that class 
which will be most prominently mentioned in connection with the his- 
tory of the county during these first years of the twentieth century. 

Born in Knox county, Ohio, (.ni Christmas day, i<S56, he was the 
seventh of his parents' ten children, four sons and six daughters. Those 
yet li\'ing are : Lydia, formerly a teacher, now the wife of John \^'. 
Miller, a retired resident of Chicago Junction, Ohio ; Archibald, mar- 
ried and a farmer of Huron county, Ohio; Sj^bil, wife of Fremont 
Miller, a farmer of Seneca county, Ohio: Philander, who is a farmer 
and lives with his family in Huron county, Ohio: John, next in order; 
Lunetta. wife of George Hatch, a farmer of Ohio: William, wIki is 
inarried and is a farmer in Huron county. 

The parents were John and Amanda (Thorr.ton) Riddle. \'he 
father, a native of Penn.sj-lvania, came to Ohio at an early enough date 
to be classed as a pioneer, and, being a well educated man. taught school 
for a numter of years in Richland and Knox counties. Successful in 
business affairs, he was the owner of two- hundred acres of Ohio land 
at the time of his death, which occurred in Ohio when he -was about 
sixty-four years old. His political affiliations were first with the Whig- 
party and later with the Republican, and he and his wife were close 
communion Baptists. The mother, who was born in New York state, 
became a resident of Ohio at the age of twelve and spent the rest of 
her life there, both she and her husband being interred in Huron county. 

The first eight years of Mr. Riddle's life w-ere spent at his birthplace 
in Kno.x county, and from that time until he took up his residence in 
Indiana he lived in Huron county. A common school education, with 
one term in the schools of .\ttica, (Dhio, sufficed for literary preparation, 
and his practical efficiency and common sense have supplied all the re- 
maining requisites for a successful career. \\^ithout cash capital he be- 
gan at the age of twenty-one as a renter on his father's estate, and con- 
tinuing in that relation until he was twenty-six years old, he progressed 
steadily b}' industry and strict attention to business and put himself in 
line for continual advancement. 

October 7, 1883. Mr. Riddle married Miss Sarah .\. Innk, a 
daughter of Peter and Maiy (Clouse) Fink, she being one of their 
nine children, all of whom are living. Mrs. Riddle was born in Elk- 
hart county, December 18, 1856, ancl after completing the work of the 
common schools received her teacher's certificate wdien sixteen years 
old. She also took instructi(.n in the Valparaiso Normal and l>egan 
teaching in Locke township. Her successful record as teacher covers 
thirteen terms in Indiana and two terms in Seneca county and one in 
Huron county. Ohio. Her pleasing personality and genial manner, 
combined with her ability, have made her successful both in educational 
work and as a homemaker. 

In the winter of iSg^ 'Sir. and I\[rs. Riddle located on the old Fink 



412 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

homestead in section 2. Olixx tdwiislii]), which pri:)perty. after renting 
tour years, they purchased. They ha\e remodeled the old liome into 
one of tlie comfortable and pretty aiuntry residences of the township, 
and all the snnxiundings betoken the enterprising' management and ef- 
ficiency of the owners. The farm has one hundred and ten acres, and 
commodious barns and other buildings afford all the conveniences and 
shelter for stocks and crops. Mr. Riddle likes good stock and keeps 
-S'ome excellent grades on his place, favoring the Poland China hog 
and the heavy draft horses. 

Mr. Riddle is one of the brm supporters of Republicanism in his 
])art I if the county, having stood for those principles since casting his 
lii"st \iite for (iarfield. In religion he adiieres to the faith which his 
good parents practiced, and in social relations and all the varied ways 
in which individuals mingle with each other he and his wife have en- 
io\ed the constant esteem and regard of all friends and acciuaintances. 

AI.l'.KRT CHRISTI.W ^T^^)F,R, .\.B., ^I.I). 

.Mbert Christian ^'ocler, M.D.. i)liysician and surgeon, with a 
good general ]3racticc at Goshen wliich he has l)uilt u]) \\itbin the three 
or four vears of his residence in this cit\'. was born on a fai'ui o\er in 
LaGrange county. Xnvember ii, 1867. He comes of a substantial 
family that iias Ijeen established in northern Indiana since the pioneer 
epoch. His grandfather. Christian C. Yoder. who married a Miss 
Hcrschbnrger. was a native j'f I'enns\-l\ania and of German parentage, 
as was also his wife. In the early daws they traveled across the country 
1)\- \\ai,'on and made settlement in LaGrange county. Indiana, whence 
thev later moved to McPherson county. Kansas, where both died. 

Xoab C. Voder, the father of Dr. Voder, was also born in La- 
(irangc countv. He died at the age of fifty-three, on February 26. 
iS(j7, having been born January 14. 1S44. Fie married Anna Mary 
Margaret Lambright. who was born in ( iermany. September 10. 1845. 
but who was brought to .\merica bv her father. Peter Lambright. 
when slie was three or four weeks old. Her father settled at first in 
Holmes county. Ohio, later came to LaGrange county. Indiana, where 
he died. Vlv. Voder's parents were married in La(jrange county. March 
22. 186^1. His mother still resides on the old homestead, lieing sixty 
years old. Thev had four children, of wlioin All)ert (_'. is the oldest. 

.\n''i<l the rural surroundings of La(irange county as it was thirty 
vears ago Dr. ^'oder grew to manhood, alternating his \outhfu] acti\ity 
between the farm and the country school. One would naturally infer 
that the Doctor was a bright student, since at the age of sixteen he 
was awarded a teacher's certificate, aiirl thereafter for several years he 
instructed the \-outh of a countr\- school, following that occupation 
altogether for fi\'e vea''s. One inter\;ening year he attended the La- 
Grange high school. In tlie spring of 1890 he entered the Indiana 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 4J3 

State Xonnal Sclioul at Terre Haute, where he completed the four 
years' course and was graduated in 1893. During the six succeechng 
years lie was principal of the high school at Vincennes, Indiana. During 
this time, however, he was on leave of ahsence for the purpose of at- 
teniling the University of Indiana, where he was graduated in 1899 
with the degree of A. B. In the same year he entered Rush Medical 
College in Chicago and took the sophomore year's work, after which he 
taught liis last year in the high schoul of \'incennes. closing in the 
spring of 1901. In the t\illo\\ii;g Julv he re-entered Rush Medical, 
and Octoher 2. 190J. graduated with the degree of M. D. .Septemlier 
26, 1902, he located at Goslien, and in the lirief period since then has 
gained a \ery satisfactory practice in this city and adjacent countr}-. 
He stands high among his fellow practitioners, being Secretary of tlie 
Elkhart County Medical Society, and has membership in the Indiana 
State ^Medical and the American !\Iedical associations. 

Dr. Yoder affiliates with the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of 
the World and the INIodern ^^'oo^lmen of America, and in religion is 
a member of the Methodist church. He was married on Christmas 
day of 1894 tci Miss Elora IMarie Brookie. and the two children horn to 
them are Dvvight Brookie and Albertine Marie. 

ALBERT MUTSCHLER. 

Albert Mutsciiler. treasurer of the Coppes. Zook & 'Mutschler 
Company at Nappanee. is an able representative of the enterprise and 
business progressiveness which have been at the foundation of that 
city's substantial and rapid growth within the last decade. His com- 
parati\ely brief career in connection with business life has been char- 
acterized by the alertness and executixe force which are essential to 
present-day success, and have brought him into a prominent jiosition 
among the men of affairs in this county. 

Mr. Mutschler. who is the third child in the family of George and 
Sarah I'Froelich) Mutschler. whose biography appears on other ]>ages 
of this work, was born in the town of Millersburg. tliis county. Sep- 
teml>er 30. 1871. and was reared to manhood in his natixe town. Re- 
ceiving Jiis elementar)" education in the common schools nf Millers- 
burg he later attended the State Normal at Terre Haute and l>egan 
his business career with his father at Millersburg. He later was a 
clerk in Stutz and Donaldson's general store, and then was a clerk in 
the office of his father's manufacturing plant in Goshen. He came to 
Napjjanee as manager of the Nappanee I-'urniture Companv in 1894. 
and held that position until the Coppes. Zook & Mutschler Company 
was organized in 1902. at which time he was chosen to his present 
office of treasurer of this latter company. His further business interests 
are in the flour mills, and sawmill and the furniture plant, all of Nap- 
panee. enterprises which furnish, altogether, employment to about three 



414 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

hundred iiK-n. As tnld in a more specil^c article on other pages, the 
("oppes. Zuok & ^iutschlcr (J)Mipan_v is (inc of the leading industrial 
establishments in the county, increasing the resources of the county 
and affording employment to many men, and Mr. Mutschler's connec- 
tion with thi*; concern, as with his i;tlier afTairs. has given him a large 
held 111]- the exploitation nf his energies and luisiness acumen. 

Mr. Afutschler is a Democrat in politics, is athliated with the 
Knights of Pythias fraternit}-, and is a memher and trustee of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church and a leading worker in the Sunday school. 
Having resided in the county all his life, he is naturally deep!}- inter- 
ested in its welfare, and his public-spirited citizenship has been mani- 
fested on many occasions. 

He married, June to. 1897, ]\[iss lUizalieth Ulery. who is the 
daughter of John D. and Mary (Whitehead) Ulery. Three chiklren 
have been l)orn of their marriage. Mary, LaMar and Carlyle. 

GEORGE- W. tLAY. 

Few men are more widely or more favorably known in the enter- 
prising city of Goshen than George W. Hay, the buyer for the Sanders 
& Egbert Company. For a number of years he has been an important 
factor in bushiess circles, and his popularity is well deserved, as in him 
are embraced many characteristics which go to constitute valuable citi- 
zenship. As a member of this long established and well known finn 
he has done much to build up one of the leading industries of the city, 
and contributes in large measure to the progress and success of every 
movement which has for its object the general good. 

George W. Hay is a native son of Elkhart county, Indiana, his 
l)irth occurring on the qth of January, t86o, a son of Joseph and Hat- 
tie (Erbaugh) Hay, both natives of Montgomery county, Ohio. In 
1859 they took up their abode on a farm in Elkhart county, and there 
the father spent his remaining days, passing aw^ay January 4, 1890. He 
was of Penn.sylvania German descent. His widow is still living. Their 
son, George W., the second in their family of four children, two sons 
rmd two daughters, w'as early inured to the duties of farm life, and dur- 
ing his b(.!vhood days attended the c.)unty schools and also the city 
schools of'Cioshen. ' .\fter attaining mature years be engaged in the 
occupation to which he had been reared, and followed agricultural pur- 
suits until 189.2, when he engaged in buying timber, and at the -organi- 
.vation oi' the Sanders & Egbert Connpany he became a memher of the 
hrm, and is now their well known and efficient buyer. Tbrougiiout his 
entire business career he has been interested in farming, and he still 
owns the old homestead, a valuable tract of eighty acres located two 
miles west of Goshen. 

In 1887 Mr. Ha\- was tuhted in marriage to Ellen Miltenlierger, 
a dauohter of William and Elizabeth Miltenberger. and they have two 




J^i^, "i^. ^e^. 



HISTORY OF FXKHART COUNTY 41 r. 

sons, CloA'er and George W'., Jr. Mr. Hay is a life-long Republican. 
and for a number of years has taken an active part in political matters. 
His life has been one of industry and perseverance, and the systematic 
and honorable methods which he has followed have won him the sup- 
port and confidence of many. 

AMOS C. LEHMAN. 

A representative of those im])(M-tant mercantile interests which 
form an integral part of the material prosperity and resources of the 
town (if W'akarusa. ^Ir. A. C. Lehman is a young business man wIkt, 
a native of another state, has in recent years transferred liis energy 
and ability to the excellent field of commercial enterprise presented 
by Wakarusa, and here has built up one of the foremost mercantile 
establishments to be found in western Elkhart countv. The "Busy 
Store" is a first-class emporium which attracts the best class of cus- 
tomers from the town and surrounding country, and in its genial pro- 
prietor, up-to-date methods of conducting such a store, and the uniform 
excellence of the goods offered for sale the public has expressed its 
satisfaction and appreciation b}- affording a large share of its trade. 

]\[r. Lehman was born in Livingston county. Illinois. March 26, 
1873. being the sixth in the large family of seventeen children, nine 
sons and eight daughters, born to Peter Y. and Lydia A. (Good) 
Lehman. Thirteen of the children are li\-ing. as follows: David G., 
who is married and is a well known auctioneer residing at Goshen: 
Sarah, wife of Samuel L. Blough. a farmer of Marshall county; Isaac 
G.. who is married and is engaged in the manufacture of medicine at 
Elkhart: Noah .\.. married, and in tlie fmMiiture and undertaking Inisi- 
ness at Nappanee : Lizzie, wife of Harrison Miller, a farmer of Con- 
cord township: .\mos C. ; Susie, a resident of Goshen: Peter G., for the 
past six years a resident of San Francisco, \\here he is a barber : 
Reuben, a salesman at Nappanee: Rhoda. of Goshen: .\lpheus. in his 
brother's store in Wakarusa ; Luella. and Harrison, at home. 

The father wh<i was born in Ohio, is a minister and bishop of the 
Mennonite church, and one of the prominent citizens of this countv. 
where he has resided since 1873. He is a man of broad mind, of noble 
and unselfish ideals, interested from a practical standpoint in the human- 
izing influences which make mankind better, and has given much of his 
time and effort toward promoting the cause of temperance. His wife, 
a native of tiiis state, is still living. 

Being but a child when the family crime to Elkhart count}-. Mr. 
Amos C. Lehman was reared to manhood in this county, receiving his 
education in the common schools, and at the age of nineteen became a 
clerk in a store at Wakarusa. He possessed seven dollars and a half 
at the beginning, and In's salary was six dollars a month and laoard. 
His employer was \Villiam IMaurer. the general merchant, to whose 



416 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

\\iM.- (lirecliiiii'~ ami kindh' ccinsideraticin Mr. Lehman attributes much 
nt his sul)se(inent success. I le remained with this merchant fi\-e years, 
his salar\- having lieen advanced several times in the meanwhile, and 
in iS()7 ht engaged in merchandising on his own account at South 
I Send. .Vfter seven months' successful experience there he returned 
to Wakarusa and went into the buggy and bicycle business, which he 
continued two \ears. At the conclusion of that period he purchased 
the interests of William Yarian, of the firm of Freed and Yarian, 
general merchants, and in January, 1904, liought the entire control of 
the business. Since then he has conducted one of the best stores in 
town, carrying a full line of dry goods, clothing, shoes, men's furnish- 
ings, notions, groceries, and, having long since acquired the full con- 
fidence of the trading public, has extended his business so that the 
annual sales will now foot up to forty thousand dollars a year. Such 
an extensive trade makes it possible for him to change his stock entirely 
in the course of a sliort time, and thus his customers are certain of 
getting fresh and modern lines of goods at his establishment, which is 
well named "The Busy Store." Another business apliorism which he 
thoroughly believes in and practices is " Goods well bought are half 
sold." and to the application of this principle of judicious wholesale 
buying he attributes much of his large trade. He now employs six 
persons in the store, whicli of itself speaks much for the extent of 
his concern. Although a man of native modesty, as to matters concern- 
ing his personal success, it must afford him as well as his friends much 
gratification to contrast his present situation with his lot in 1892, when 
he Ijegan as a clerk at six dollars a month, and such steady and sub- 
sta'ntial progress could only result from the integrity of character and 
persistent industry and strict attention to business. 

Ttine 4. 1896. Mr. Lehman married Miss Bertha Ehret, and two 
sons have been born to them, Joyce, aged three, and Theodore. Mrs. 
Lehman was born in Elkhart county, September 16, 1874, a daughter 
of Jacob and Mary (Morris) Ehret, and received a common school 
education. She and her husband are members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church of Wakarusa. They have a comfortable and pretty cottage 
home on Elkhart street, and its interior and exterior show the taste 
and refinement of both Mr. and Mrs. Lehman. A Republican in pol- 
itics, casting his first vote for McKinley, he lias taken considerable 
interest in ])arty affairs and has been selected as a delegate to county 
conventions. 

J. O. KANTZ. 

J. O. Kantz, attorney, of the Elkhart county 1>ar and a well known 
resident of Nappanee, was born in Snyder county, Pennsylvania, No- 
vember 12, 1857. His paternal grandfather was Philip Kantz, who 
was likewise l^orn in the old Keystone state and who was of German 
lineage. |acob Kantz. the father, was a native of Penns}l\ania and 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTV 417 

was a cal>inet-niaker liy trade. He came to Indiana in iSdf), locatinti 
near Bristul in Klkhart cimnt)'. and his remaining days were liere 
passed, his death occurring in Bristol in 1904 when he had reached the 
\enerahle age of se\enty-nine }-ears. His wife hore the maiden name 
of Ehzabeth _\nmil!er and was also a nati\e of Pennsyhania. She 
was of English. Swedish and German lineage, and her death occurred 
in Elkhart county in 1903. Mr. and I\Irs. Jacob Kantz were the jiarents 
of ten children — seven sons and three daughters, of whnm twn died 
in childhond. 

j. O. Kantz, the sixth in order of liirth in this family, was lirought 
to Elkhart coimty by his parents in 1866 when a lad of eight years, 
and in 1867 he went t("> Michigan, where he remained until 1872. He 
jiursued his early education in the graded schools of Bristol and after- 
ward continued his stiulies at Goshen and at Hillsdale. Michig-an. 
Having completed his education lie engaged in teaching school for 
ten years in Elkhart county, spending about five years of that time 
in Nappanee. His leisure hours were devoted to the study of law 
and when he had largely mastered the principles of the science of 
jurisprudence he successfully passed the examination which secured his 
admission tri the bar. Since 1887 he has engaged in i)ractice, and a 
liberal clientage has been accorded him. for the ])ublic recognize his 
ability ti handle successfully in\ol\-ed and important btigatcil interests. 
He has made a close and earnest study of law. anrl his knowledge is 
broad and comprehensive, while his careful preparation of each case 
well prepares him for practice before the comets, but at all times urges 
compromise methods rather than litigation. 

In 188 1 Mr. Kantz was united in marriage to Miss b'lora F,. 
Truex, a daughter of Jesse and Susannah (Cotner) Truex. They have 
become the parents of three children — Thomas E., Grace M. and Ransv 
B. Mr. Kantz belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and in his 
political views is independent. He, however, adheres strongly to tem- 
jjerance princi]jles ancl he is well known in the county as a man nf 
honorable moti\-es. sincere and trustworthy, and he well merits the 
high esteem in which he is uniformly held. 

Attorney Kantz is an antiquarian of nn^re than jiassing ntJtice. 
-\s a conchologist. he has a rare and beautiful collection of shells from 
different countries. As a numismatist he has one of the most valuable 
collections of ancient coins, of tb.e foreign lands, as well as the rare 
coinage of the American mints, to be found in northern Indiana. He 
has two excellent sjjecimens of Roman coins, during the reign of lulius 
Caesar, one taken from the ruins of Pomjjeii and Herculaneum. and 
has a dollar of the United States coinage bearing the date of 1798, 
which coin he was offered .*35 for. He has a few excellent specimens 
of tlie olrl Continental script, which is very rare in the twentieth cen- 
tur}-. In pottery he has a few unique pieces of Mexican potter\-. In 
his office will be seen a collection of "ye olden time" relics, which 



418 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

would make glad the heart of a connoisseur of such rarities, among 
them an old flintlock musket, which saw service in the war of i8i2-"i4 
and the Revolutionary war — he has a sworn affidavit to the fact stated. 
One especial specimen which caught the notice of the writer was a 
Chinese scimeter, which is enclosed in a carved ivory scabbard, which 
shows such skill in car\-ing that one is led to think it was of the 
ancient Japanese or Hindoo skill in difficult carving. .\s to the stone 
age, some rare and perfect specimens Avere seen of battle axes, cleavers. 
darts, pestles, etc. This rare collection represents over twenty years' 
research by Mr. Kantz. 

JOSEJ'H A. FREED. 

Joseph A. Freed, whose business c(.)nnections in the tuwn of Waka- 
rusa have gi\'en him a prominent position in affairs, is one of the native 
sons of Elkhart county who, on growing to manhood, have assumed 
the robe of responsibility and have relieved the older generation from 
the weight of care and labor connected with the directiim nf the Inisi- 
ness and industrial interests of the county. 

Mr. Freed was born October i6, 1864, and was the fifth of se\'en 
children, four sons and three daughters, in the family of Andrew 
and Elizabeth (Moyer) Freed. .Ml the children are living, and resi- 
dents of Elkhart county. The father was born in Ohio in 1827 and 
died in 1889, having followed the occupation of a farmer, but the 
mother is still living. Avith her home in Wakarusa. 

Mr. b'reed was reared and educated in this county, and since 
he has made his own way in life he is justly tei'raed a self-made man. 
In 1884, at the age of twent\-, lie went to Illinois, and hired out to a 
farmer at the wages of twenty dollars a month, so that his subsequent 
prosperitx' has lieen- built up through his industry and good manage- 
ment. On returning tii Wakarusa he began work as a carpenter and 
continued that four years, was then engaged in threshing and in any 
line of occupation by which he could gain an honest living. In 1894 
lie entered the employ of Adam Domer as clerk in his store, and after 
the store was sold to C. .Stutz and Son a month later, he ciMitinued 
with the new firm for nine months, and then for a year was with 
William Maurer. the next owner of the business, so that Mr. Freed 
was identified with the same business under three successi\e owners. 
In the soring of 1896 Mr. Freed, in partnership with Willis O. ^'arian. 
opened up a general store. Eighteen months later A. C. Lehman ]nn- 
cbased the Yarian interests, and it was Freed and Lehman for four 
vears and a half, at the end of which time ,\. C. Lehman liecame sole 
proprietor. Mr. Freed then liought the shoe house of Jacob Fletcher, 
and after remaining in the old building on the west side of Elkhart 
street eight months the conditions of bis business warranted a remo\'al 
to better quarters. His present location shows one of the neatest and 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 419 

most aUracti^e shoe stores in the county, and he has built up a fine 
trade, which in the gross will amount to eight or ten thousand dollars 
annuall}-. He is accounted among the successful and progressive busi- 
ness men of the tOAvn, and his public-spirited influence is always felt in 
mo\-ements for the upliuilding of this community. His residence is on 
Elkhart street, where he has a pleasant cottage home. 

October i8, 1888. Mr. Freed married Miss Mattie Freed. Of 
their four children three are living: Hazel will soon enter high school 
and has also taken instrumental music; Edgar, who is an all-around 
student, is in the sixth grade; and Mar\% the youngest, is in the fourth 
grade. ]Mrs. Freed was born in Elkhart county, May 13. 1872, a 
daughter of Daniel and .\nna (Nusbaum) Freed, and received her 
education in the county scl-:ools. She is a member of the Mennonite 
church. Although as a rule he casts the weight of his influence and 
his ballot for Republican candidates. Mr. Freed maintains an inde- 
pendent attitude in political matters. He has been sent as a substitute 
delegate to state conventions. He affiliates with Tent No. 84, K. O. 
T. M.. at Wakarusa, and is sentinel in the local order. 

\V. F. STANTON. 

W. F. Stanton is vice-president and manager of the Warren Hill 
Company at Elkhart. This company controls the largest dry-goods em- 
porium bet\\een Chicago and Toledo, and since 1900 its business has 
trebled in amount and value. Mr. Stanton has had almost a lifelong 
career in mercantile business, and the success with which he has di- 
rected all his enterprises gave him prestige even among such merchant 
princes at Charles A. Stephens of Chicago. 

Born in LaSalle, LaSalle county, Illinois, April 16, 1857, Mr. 
Stanton inherits much of his executive ability and energy and enterprise 
from most worthy Irish parents. John and Bridget (Ratigan) Stan- 
ton, who came from their native land and were married in New York 
state, and in 1850 became early settlers of LaSalle county, Illinois. The 
father was a \-ery successful jobbing salesman and general business 
man. He was an officer during the war of the rebellion, and was ap- 
pointed l)y the governor of Illinois to look after the bounty-jumpei-s. 
He was well known in his community and state. 

The fourth of his parents" se\-en children. Air. Stanton was reared 
in LaSalle county and was educated in St. Patrick's College, at LaSalle, 
an institution under the control of the Christian brothers. Graduating 
in 1875. he then engaged with the firm of Fellner Brothers, and within 
two years' time became manager and had full charge of the business 
until the firm closed out in 1879. He then moved to Galesburg, Illi- 
nois, and went into partnership with R. Baskerville in the dry-goods 
business. Starting with a capital stock of forty-four hundred dollars, 
thev did fortv-six thnusand dollars" worth of luisiness in one year. Mr. 



420 HISTORY OF ELKHART COl'iXTY 

Stanton was one of the prosperous Imsiness men of Galesburg until 
1897, fci' seventeen years, and then sold out his mercantile interests 
and became associated with the life insurance Ixisiness in Cliicago. with 
headquarters in the Ashland block. The Warren Hill Company is a 
credit to the business activity of Elkhart, carries a stock of one hun- 
dred and sixty thousand dollars value, does an immense trade with all 
the surrounding country, and half a million dollars represents the an- 
nual trade of the firm. One hundred and eight persons are employed 
in the business, and the goods displayed and sold are of metropolitan 
variety and quantity. Mr. Stanton is essentially a biisiness man, and 
lias gained his success along substantial lines. He has a wide acquaint- 
ance among the dry-goods men of the country. 

Mr. Stanton is a Democrat in politics, and while a resident nf 
Galesburg ser\-ed six years on the county lx)ard and the same length of 
time in the city council. He has always been interested in public affairs, 
and his support has never been refused to anv enterprise undertaken 
for the true public welfare. 

Mr. Stanton married, in 1883, Miss Mai-y E. Sullivan, daughter 
of Mortimer and Ellen Sullivan, of Kewanee, Illinois. They have six 
children : W. F., Jr., who graduated froin the Elkhart high school 
and is manager of the cloak and suit department in the Warren Hill 
Company ; Ada May, who' is a graduate of St. Mary's school, Monroe, 
Michigan: Helen, in high school: and Harold, Frances and Warren G. 

FRANKLIN MILES. M. D., LL. B. 

Dr. iM-anklin Miles, president of the Dr. Miles Medical Company 
and proprietor of the Dr. Milts Grand Dispensary, both of which are 
among the representative institutions of Elkhart, has for many years 
l)een prominent before the American public, and his name is not unknown 
in many foreign countries. He has devoted his entire career to medi- 
cine : he began his preparation when a toy, spent many years in training 
and study before he took up actual practice, and throughout bis subse- 
c|uent busy years has been an ardent student of the great science of heal- 
ing. To few men has ."^uccess come in such abundant measure as t( > Dr. 
Miles, and from the restrictions which bound the work of a purely local 
practitioner he has extended his professional services to thousands all 
over this country and even to foreign lands. 

Born at Olmsted Falls, near Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Miles is descended 
from ancestors who were not only among the very first settlers of northern 
Ohio, but belong among the early colonists of the United States. The 
progenitor of his family in America was Richard Miles, whose connec- 
tion with New England history dates from 1637. He came from Hert- 
fordshire, England, and in this country took a prominent part in the 
affairs of Boston and Milford and New Haven, which were the successi\e 
place>' (if bis residence. His wife was Katherine Constaljle. The son 





fj) 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 421 

of this pioneer was Ca|itaiii Jolni Miles, whose lite liistory centers ahout 
New Haven, Connecticut, and whose wife, Elizaheth Harrinian, Lore him 
a son who was also called Cajitain John Miles, who was the father of 
John Miles who lived in W'allingford. Connecticut. The John Miles of 
\\'allingford married Sarah Ball, and had a son Daniel, who married 
Ann Daily. Charles Miles, the son of Daniel and Ann Miles, was a 
soldier in the Revolutionary war, and thus forms another prominent link 
in the ancestral chain. He married Ruth Thompson, and the line of de- 
scent from them is through their son Erastus, who married Laura Carter 
and was the father of Charles J. Miles, who married Electa A. Lawrence 
and had three children, Franklin, the suhject of this biography, and 
Katherine and Charles. 

In the maternal line Dr. Miles' ancestry is of ec|ual length. His 
mother, Electa A. Lawrence, was a daughter of Ralph Lawrence, son of 
Jonathan, son of Thomas, son of Joseph, son of Peleg, son of John, son 
of Robert, son of Robert, who lived in Lancastershire about 1150 A.' D. 
John Law rence was the jirogenitor of the family in America, having come 
from Wisset, Suffolk, England, and settled at Watertown, iVlassachu- 
setts. The Lawrence lineage goes teck to the dukes of Normand}-. 

Coming down to more recent times, we find several very prominent 
characters in Dr. Miles' ancestry. Major Lorenzo Carter, a great-grand- 
father, arri\e<l at Cleveland, Ohio, as early as 1796, established a trading 
post there, and built and owned the first hotel, a frame house, in the place. 
He was also part owner of the first lake vessel owned at that port, and this 
vessel formed a ]Dart of Commodore Perry^'s fleet which gained the famous 
naval battle on Lake Erie. Major Carter was a historical figure in the 
early vears of Cleveland, where for a long time his voice had the prestige 
and authoritv of written law . He wielded great influence among the 
Indians, and he captured and held prisoner in his own house the first 
man, an Indian, to be hanged in the state of Ohio. He was the owner of 
several burcdred acres of land on which has since risen the city of Cleve- 
land. 

Judge Erastus Miles, the doctor's paternal grandfather, moved to 
Newburg, now a part of Cleveland, about 1814. A successful merchant, 
then postmaster and later associate jud.ge. he was another figure that 
loomed large in the afifairs of Cleveland during the early half of the last 
century. 

Charles Julius INIiles. the father oi Dr. Miles, at the age of twenty- 
three was appointed clerk of the Ohio legislature, later entered merchan- 
dising, and after pursuing this vocation some years was apjx)inted super- 
visor or chief customs officer for the port of Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, 
a position which he honored for many years. 

Dr. Miles is deservedly proud of such distinguished ancestry, esyye- 
cially since his owm career has been in keeping with the records of those 
who have gone liefore him, and the facts of his own very successful life 
mav well be set down at this i)oint. 



i22 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

-\t the age of seventeen a student in ihe well knnwn \\'illiston Semi- 
nary at East Hampton, Massachusetts, later w ithin the walls of the 
equally famed Phillips Academy at Andover, his higher education was 
nbtained in Yale University, from which he graduated in the scien- 
tific course, and in Columbia College. New York, where he graduated 
with the degree of LL. B. Though his iM-qDaration up to this point 
had been for a career in the law. predilection led him to the study of 
medicine, his studies along that line Ijeing begun in the University of 
.Michigan. He later matriculated in Rush Medical College at Chicago, 
from which, after his graduation, he entered the Chicago Medical Col- 
lege. Determined to go to the limit of thoroughness in preparation for 
the greatest vocation to which man can turn his energies, he was next 
pursuing his investigations in the Illinois State Eye and Ear Infirm- 
ary of Chicago. 

After having spent the first twenty-seven \-ears of bis life in prep- 
aration for his life work Dr. Miles began the practice of medicine in 
Chicago, where he soon gained a large and lucrative practice and rose 
to fir.st rank among the physicians of that city. Since entering upon 
active wnrk- in his profession his constant devotion to all phases of his 
calling has never ceased, he has always been an ardent student and 
equally enthusiastic investigator along original lines. Soon after com- 
mencing the practice of medicine he was led to believe that derange- 
ments of the brain and nervous system exerted a much more important 
])art in the production of disease, toth acute and chronic, than was 
usually supposed. Impressed with this idea, he tegan a series of orig- 
inal in\-estigations which resulted in many important discoveries and 
brought him an immense practice in chronic diseases. Day and night, 
year in and year out, alike regardless of the allurements of pleasure 
or the laws of health, be applied himself to his ever increasing prac- 
tice and the prosecution of research into the mysteries of the nervous 
system. In 1873 he began a special study of the relations existing be- 
tween, the eve and the brain, and the brain and the heart, stomach and 
r)ther organs, and his investigations enabled him to effect many re- 
markable cures. Meanwhile, having developed the wonderful discov- 
eries in medicine which have made his name famous, he decided to 
establish a medical laboraton,- for the preparation of his remedies. 

In the year 1887 he founded the Dr. Miles Medical Company at 
Elkhart. Prior to this date his great remedies blessed only the people 
whose physician he was. Since then his remedies have become known 
throughiiut the United States. Canada, and manv foreign countries. 
Tens of thousands of suffering humanity ba\'e been benefited liv bis 
marvelous discoveries in medical science. The medical laboratory of 
the Dr. Miles Medical Company, at Elkhart, is xme of the finest and 
largest in the countr}-. The success and broad usefulness of this insti- 
lution led to another. In order to extend economical treatment nf 
patierts at their homes. Dr. ]\liles established, also at Elkhart, the Dr. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 4-23 

Miles Grand Dispensary. Mere skilled specialists sift evidence of dis- 
ease and prescribe treatment by mail according to the science of Neu- 
ropathy — the latest and most successful development of the healing art. 
Dr. Miles is the originator of the neuropathic method. His Grand 
Di.spensary has won a world-wide rejjutation for curing difficult and 
obscure classes of disease. 

Dr. Miles has also enriched the medical literature of his time, 
among" his valuable contributions being the following: "Nervous and 
Chronic Diseases;" "Diseases of the Heart, Stomach, Liver and Kid- 
neys;'" "Cure of Dropsy, Epilepsy, Hysteria, Insanity, etc.;'" "Neur- 
opathy, or Curing Diseases Through the Nerve Centers ; '" " Headache 
and other Nervous Diseases ; "" "The Cure of Headache ^Vithout Change 
of Occupation;"' "The Llse of Spectacles in the Treatment of Brain. 
Nerves. Head, Lungs and Stomach," and many other articles. 

Pre-eminently a specialist, and as such a notable figure in medi- 
cal circles, at the same time Dr. Miles has that breadth of character 
and catholicit}' of sympathies which draw men to him from e^•ery Avalk 
of life and enable him to wield great influence in diverse spheres of 
activity. ^Vith all his great success and ample learning he is kindly 
and simple in tastes, without a touch of aloofness, and has his friends 
by the thousands. He is the ideal physician, and his life work has spread 
its beneficent power to all classes and degrees of mankind. 

Of some points in the life history of Dr. Miles apart from his 
professional career, it will be of interest in this work to state that he 
iias been identified, more or less closely, with Elkhart since 1861. His 
father was a merchant in Elkhart in the early days, and died here in 
1864. Dr. ]\liles is a Master Mason, and is an e.x-president of the Cen- 
tury Club of Elkhart. He has been twice married, and has one son and 
two daughters. 

I. O.WOOD. 

I. O. \\'()cd, who lias been closely identified with the business and 
civic activities of Goshen for the past fifteen years, who twice in 
that time has held the oflice of county treasurer, who has been presi- 
dent of the Carnegie Goshen Library since its founding, and whose 
public-spirited citizenship is acknowledged throughout his cit)- and 
county, was born on his father's farm in Wabash county, this state, 
April 17, 1855. His parents were John J. and Elizabeth (Penrod) 
Wood, both natives of Ohio, and who were married in Indiana and 
.spent many \-ears as farmers of Kosciusko ciiunty, where the father 
died ; the mother is now living in Saginaw, Michigan. Of the family 
ancestr_\-. 'Sir. Wood's great-grandfather, William ^^VM)d, was born in 
England, emigrated to this country and settled in Kentucky and later 
in' Ohio, where was born his son W'illiam, the grandfather. 

'Sis. \\'(>(i<\. who was one of se\'en children, was reared on the home 
farm near \\'arsaw, attending the district schools and those at Leesburg. 



4'.'4 HISTORY Ol' ELKH.XRT COUNTY 

He attended tlie normal scliiuil at Warsaw and at tlie a.t;e of nineteen 
tan.f^lit scIkmi], wliicli he cdntinued \\\<i years. He was then in a drug" 
store in Leeshur,^-. after wliicli he went nn the road as a commercial 
salesman for a wlinlesale sncery tirni in Toledo, and for nine years 
sold o-ncds over Indiana and Ohio. hi iSgo lie came to Goshen and 
purchased an interest in the li'mher firm of l.esh, Penrod and Company, 
which was a reori^-anizatioii of the John H. Lesli and Company. A 
sliort time afterward he sold his interest and formed a jiartnership with 
John I 'ennui under the firm name of Penrod and Wood, who soon built 
u]i an extensi\e trade in hardwood hiin1)cr. selling and shipping to all 
))arts of the world. 

In 1898 Mr. Wood was elected to tlie office of county treasurer, 
entering upon his duties January 1, i8qc;. and in 1900 he was re-elected 
to this office, each time being :\ candidate on the Republican ticket. .A.s 
ha- been told in other parts of this history. Mr. Wood was a ]>rime 
:uo\er in the efforts which l-rought alraut the founding of the Go.shen 
liublic lil}rary. was one of the couimittee which went to New York and 
induced Mr. Carnegie to donate twenty-five thousand dollars for the 
enterprise, and since then, as president of the library board for five years, 
ha? been \er\- acti\e in making the institution one of wide-reaching in- 
fluence to his city. He is president of the Home Telephone Company. 
and is \ice president of the Elkhart County Trust and Loan Company. 
Tfe has recei\'ed thirty-two degrees in the Masonic order, being a mem- 
ber of the Mystic Shrine and, Knights Tem]:>lar, and his local affiliation 
is with Goshen Lodge No. 12, Tv & A. M. 

January 2, t88t, Mr. \\'o(id married Miss Effie Roberds. of War- 
saw, .-ind their one child, Elsie, is the wife of T. M. Hatch. 

W.XLTER S. HAZELTOX. 

Walter .S. Hazelton. ktvown throughout the count}- for his promi- 
nence in connection witii l)usiness and financial affairs, was born in Straf- 
ford. X'ermont, December 1. 1840. fie is a member of one of the old 
American families. John Hazelton. tlie jjrogenitor of the family in 
.America, came from Bradford. England, and was one of the founders 
of the town of the same name in Massachusetts. The farm on which 
Mr. Hazelton was reared had for fi\-e generations lieen occupied by his 
direct ancestors. His father. Thomas Hazelton, was born on the old 
homestead and followed farmmg as his vocation. He married Silva 
Kibbling, who was born on iiv adjoining farm, and li\- her he became 
the father of thirteen children. 

Walter S. Hazelton, who was the vourigest (if the-e childi-en. jjegan 
liis e(hication in the countr_\- schools of Vermont, and at the age of 
eighteen entered Norwich L^iiversity. spending the fall and spring terms 
there for two years, teaching during the winters and doing farm \\ork 
in the summer, which was the ])rocess liy which be gained his ad\-anced 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY -ii'S 

education. He soon laid aside his books to enter the service of his coun- 
try, enlisting in May. 1862, in the Rhode Island Squadron of Cavalry. 
He was in the army about a vear. and saw smne eventful experiences. 
At Martinsburg", Virginia, he was ])art of a detachment which inter- 
cepted Long-street's ammunition train and also captured one hundred 
and twenty-five men besides large quantities of arms. He participated 
at the battle of Antietam. and skirmishes and scenting exiieditinns were 
.almost daily routine duties. 

Returning home, he remained with his father and mother until the 
death of the latter in the spring of 1864, at which time he went to Cali- 
fornia, where he spent a number of years. At Cashville he clerked in a 
general store three years, was then in like business for himself five years, 
and on selling out moved to Sacramento and engaged in the same line 
of business there for five years. Mr. Hazelton established himself in 
business at Elkhart in December. 1875. ''^ '^''^t '" '^'^^ gnicerv line, then 
in dry-goods, boots and shoes, and lastly, ccjntinuing up to 1892, con- 
fined himself exclusively to dry-goods. On retiring from merchandising 
he became \'ice liresident of the St. Joseph Vallev Rank, rmd is now its 
cashier. 

As one of the Civil war \eterans nf the county, Mr. Hazeltmi is a 
member of Shiloh Post, G. \. R., at ]<"Jkhart. He is a charter member 
of the Masonic lodge at Elkhart, and has attained the Knight Templar 
degree in that order. He also belongs to the Benevolent and Protective 
Order of Elks and is a member of the Century Club, the Ijest known 
organization of business men in Elkhart. Politically Mr. Hazelton al- 
ways has been an ardent Republican and has served six years as a mem- 
lier of the Elkhart city board of education, one term as a member of the 
board of county commissioners of Elkhart county, and is now serving 
his fourth year as a member of the Elkhart city council. 

October 20, 1872, Mr. tlazelton married Miss Livonia L. White, 
who was born in the town of Middlebury, this county, being- a niece of 
Dave White of that town and a daughter of John White. They were 
married in California. Their only child is Eva M., the wife of Dr. H. 
B. Kurtz, -\\h(i is a rising vnung i;)ln'sicia;i and surgeon of Cleveland. 
Ohio. 

ADAM K. HARTMAX. 

Adam R. Hartnian. a prominent farnier and old settler of Locke 
township, li\-ing on section 12. was born in .Vshland county. Ohio. March 
25, 1847, and is the fifth child and fourth son in the family of Adam 
and Elizabeth Hartman, the former a native of (iermany, who came to 
this county at an earh- day, settling in Harrison township, where he 
remained for about two years. He then moved to Union township. 
where he improved a farm, but his last days were spent in Harrison 
township, where he died at an advanced age. As a pioneer settler he 
nx)i only witnessed the de\-elopment of the county, but assisted materiallv 



42t'. HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

in the changes that were w run gin and which brought about its present 
improved condition and prosperity. E\cry matter of progressive citizen- 
ship received his endorsement and in as far as possible he gave to it his 
materia! assistance. His wife, who in lier maidenhood was Ehzabeth 
Ramer ^vas laorn in Pennsyb.-ania arid passed away in Elkhart county. 
They were the parents of seven sons and three daughters, and with one 
exception all reached manhood or womanhood, namely : Samuel, who 
is engaged in dealing in produce south of Elkhart : Tobias, who was 
born in Ohio and is a member of the firm of Hartman Brothers ; Peter, 
of Louisiana; Adam R., of this review: Jacob, a merchant of Nappanee; 
John, who is also a member of the firm of Hartman Brothers : Emanuel, 
fleceased; Catherine, the deceased wife of David W. Bechtel: Elizabeth, 
the wife of Samuel Netrone. of Xevvton, Kansas: and one that died in 
infancy. 

Adam R. Hartman ^^■as but a bal;e when brought by his parents to 
Elkhart county, where he was reared and educated in Union township, 
pursuing his studies in a log schoolhouse such as was common in frontier 
settlements. His training at farm work was not meagre, for he early 
assisted in the work of field and meadow and continued tO' give his father 
(he benefit of his services until he started out in life on his own account. 
He began working by the month as a farm hand, and was thus employed 
up to the time of his marriage, which occurred December i, 1870, the 
lady of his choice being Miss Nancy Brenneman, a daughter of the 
Rev. George and Annie (Burkholder) Brenneman. She was born in 
Fairfield county. Ohio. March 6. 1847. <i"f' it was in the Buckeye state 
that the marriage was celebrated, after which Mr. Hartman brought his 
bride to Union township. Elkhart county. There they resided for a 
short time and then removed to Olive township, . where they lived for 
four \e;irs, after which they again resided in Union township and later 
in N;ippaiiee. where Mr. Hartman engaged in the livery business for 
two years. On the expiration of that period he removed to the farm 
on which he now resides and has here carried on agricultural pursuits for 
twenty-four years, having a good tract of land which he has placed under 
a high state of cultivation. Fie was also engaged in the milk business 
for seven years and at one time raised cattle quite extensively and his 
various business interests have been well conducted, bringing him a good 
financial return. 

The home of I\[r. and Mrs. Hartman has !)een lilessed \\ith six chiL 
dren : Annie, deceased: Amanda, the wife oi Amos W'eldy. a farmer of 
Locke township : George. w ho is engaged in the milk business in Chicago : 
Cora, the wife of W. H. Shaum, manager of Crystal Springs Creamery 
Company : Frank, a minister of the Evangelical church, located in Lan- 
caster. Illinois: and Irvin. who is assisting in the operation of the home 
farm. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hartman are meml)ers of the ^Nlenncmite church and 
.Sunday schciol. and bis political support is given to the Republican ])arty, 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 4'J7 

the principle? of which he has advocated since attaining his majority. 
Ahhough liis Hfe lias been quietly passed, largely in agricultural pur- 
suits, there are yet elements in his character that are worthy of emula- 
tion, for in his relations with his fellow men he has ever been straight- 
forward and reliable. 

F.LIA.S I'TSHER. 

Elias l-'isher is numbered among those who have long lixed in 
Elkhart countv. and as an early settler has been a witness of much of 
the de\elopment and progress of this section of the state. He lives on 
section 14, I.oclce township, where he has a good farm. He was born 
in Morrow county. Ohio, March 3, 1842. His father, Absalom Fisher, 
was a native of Virginia and when a young lad he was left an orphan, 
after which lie removed to Monroe county, Ohio, with a sister. Later 
he became a resident of Morrow county, that state, and in 185 1 came 
to Elkhart county. He was married twice in Morrow county, his 
second marriage being with Miss Charity Rush, a native of that county. 
On coming to Indiana they established their home in Locke township 
in 185 1, and the father carried on agricultural pursuits until his death, 
which occurred August S, 1866. There were four children, two sons 
and two daughters, by the second marriage, all of whom grew to adult 
ap;e, and there were three children of the first marriage. 

Elias Fisher is the eldest child of the second marriage and was 
nine vears of age when he came with his parents to Elkhart county. 
The (lavs of his boyhood and youth were spent upon the old homestead 
farm in Locke township and through the winter months he attended 
the pul)lic schools, while during the remainder of the year he assisted 
in the work of plowing, planting and harvesting. He was married 
September 30, 1865, to Miss Matilda Ann Ferguson, a daughter of 
George and IMary (Salsbury) Ferguson. She was born in Lake county. 
Indiana, her people having been early settlers of that part of the state, 
^[r. Fisher purchased the old homestead in Locke towmship and 
for a long period engaged in general farming there. In 1871 he turned 
his attention to the lumber business, buying timber which was sawed, 
and for four years his energies were directed to that line. He then 
added to his farm and he now has two hundred and twenty acres of 
land in Locke township, all in section 14. He still carries on general 
farming and dairVing and he likewise raises stock. Short ?Iorn regis- 
tered cattle and Poland China registered hogs. He is tlioroughh- 
familiar with all departments of farm work and his efforts have brought 
him very creditable success. 

In iqo4 Mr. Fisher was called upon to mourn the loss of his 
wife, v.ho died on the 2nd of July of that year. Thev were the parents 
of nine children but three of the number died in infanc\-. Those still 
living are: Edward E.. a farmer of Locke township, wlui married 
.\l\-a Etta Lockwood. the granddaughter of the first settler of Locke 



42S HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

tovvnship^ — Samuel Locke — in whose hoiK.ir the township was named; 
John L., who married Cora Sn\-dcr, and resides in South Bend; Joseph 
I)., wdio is living on the old homestead farm; Mar\- X'inla. the wife of 
William E. Overholser, a farmer and teacher of Lucke tdwnshi]); (leorge 
-Misalom, at home; and Harle\' Roscoe. also at home. 

Air. h'isher gives his political supjjort to the Democracy and has 
held a number of townshi]) offices, including those of assessor and 
justice of the peace. He has ever taken an actix'e iiiterest in jjuhlic 
affairs, and during the fifty-three years oi his residence in this county 
has rejoiced in what has heen accomplished and has given his stipport 
tO' many measures for the general good. He is a man wdiose personal 
worth has endeared him to many friends and as an early settler he 
deserves representation in this volume, for during more than a half 
century he has lived within the hordeizs of the county. 

Joseph B. Fisher, the third son of the family, was l>orn December 
19, iS^g, and pursued his education in Elkhart College and the high 
school at Nappanee. He engaged in teaching school for one term in 
Locke township and he is deeply interested in educational and chm-ch 
work and in all movements for the betterment of the community. His 
jjolitical vicAvs and lahors endorse Democratic principles, and he is a 
recognized leader in the local ranks of his party, serving at the present 
time as chairman of tlie township central committee. He is also an 
interested anrl zealous worker in the Union church, teaching in the Sun- 
day-school and doing all in his power to promote the cause of Christian- 
ity. He spent one year on the Pacific coast, visiting California, Washing- 
ton and Oregon, and he also went to New Atexico. Wyoming, and other 
western states. Travel has greatly hroadened his knowledge and he 
is to-day a voung man of hroad general information and marked 
capabilities, widely recognized in the community as an enterprising citi- 
zen and one whose worth has made him a valued factor in the political, 
business and moral de\'elopment of his conimimit}-. 

CH.XRLES \VESLEY iVllLLER. 

Charles \\'eslev Miller, attorne)' general of the state of Indiana, 
was born on a farm near the village of Galena, Floyd county, Indiana, 
February 4, 1863 and comes of one of the oldest families in the state. 
On the maternal side his ancestors, of English descent, settled at Cape 
May, New Jersey, about 1800. In 1817 his great-grandfather, Jacob 
Garrison, moved to Floyd county, Indiana, where he was a pioneer and 
]irominent citizen. Accompanying him on this early migration was his 
daughter. Experience Smith, Mr. Miller's grandmother, wdio was then 
seventeen years of age. Of great natural vigor and strength of char- 
acter, she was a remarkable w^oman in many ways, and was ninety-seven 
vears old wd:en her death occurred in Floyd county in January, i8q8. 
On the paternal side the family is of German lineage. Grandfather 




— '^ ^tf£-£:. J^^y,^^ ^ 





HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 429 

Jacob Miller moved from Pennsylvania to Floyd county, Indiana, in 
1807, and from the wilderness wrested a homestead on which was born, 
in 18 19, Jacob B. Miller, the father of Charles W. Miller. Both the 
father and mother are still living, having celebrated their golden wed- 
ding anniversary in 189 1. 

Reared on the homestead farm in I'loyd county, at an earl)- age Mr. 
Miller began his training in the school of useful endeavor. The country 
schools supplied his first educational equipment and by spending the sum- 
mers at farm labor until he was sixteen years old he was enabled at that 
time to begin his college career. This he also carried to successful com- 
pletion by teaching during the wnnter and selling books and fruit trees 
in the summer vacations. His higher education was obtained in the 
private school of Prof. VV. ^V. Pinkham at Paoli, Indiana, and in the 
Ladoga Normal School, and wdien he was ready to begin active prepara- 
tion for the law he entered the University of Michigan and graduated 
from the law department in 18S4. Immefliately taking up active practice, 
he formed a, partnership with John H. Binford at Greenfield, Indiana, 
and this continued until he cauic to (ioshen in January, 1885. In 1892 
he formed a law partnership with Francis E. Baker, and the firm of 
Baker and Aliller continued until the senior partner was elevated to the 
supreme bench of Indiana, on January i, 1899. At that date J. S. Drake 
became ]\Ir. Miller's partner, and later S. C. Hubbell was admitted, the 
firm thenceforth being Miller, Drake and Hubbell. As a member of 
these successive law firms Mr. Miller was interested in almost e\'ery law- 
suit of miportance in Elkhart count}-, and also had an extensixe practice 
in other counties of northern Indiana. 

Politicallv an ardent Republican, and a quiet though eft'ective worker 
for his party, Mr. Miller has given of his time and energies to political 
afifairs for many years. He has served as chairman of the Elkhart 
county central committee and for many years a member of the executive 
committee. In 1888 he was elected mayor of Goshen. ha\-ing- the dis- 
tinction of being the youngest mayor in the state of Indiana at the time, 
and he served two 3'ears w-ith credit. Tie has been a delegate to all the 
Republican state conventions since iSXj, ;\ui] was a delegate to the Re- 
publican national convention which nominated Harrison in 1892. His 
ability as a lawyer and prominence in state Republican circles brought 
him forward in 1902 as the logical candidate for attorney general, and 
election followed his nomination, and in 1904 he was re-elected. ^Ir. 
]\Iiller has als(-) made his influence felt in business affairs. He is presi- 
dent of the State Bank of Goshen, and is interested in several other 
business and industrial enterprises. Fraternally he is a thirty-second 
degree Mason and Knight Tenijilar. and a member of the Knights of 
Pythias. 

]\Ir. Miller was married in Goshen in June. 1S87, to Miss Sarah 
Elizabeth Perkins. 

Born without either the liandica]i or adxantages of \\-ealth. jjlaced 



430 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

at an early age face to face with the leaHties and difficulties on the road 
to success, largely self-educated and gaining his entrance upon a profes- 
sional career as a result of steady industry and unceasing application, Mr. 
Miller seems to have deserxed every advancement and reward which have 
come to him in professional and public life, since they have been won 
through force of character and eminent ability and are the fitting prizes 
for those who make obstacles of chance and circumstance but stei)]:)ing 
stones t^i the attainment of their laudable ambitions. 

CHARLES FRANCIS LALMITER. 

Cliarles Francis Palmiter. who carries on general farming tm sec- 
tion 14, Locke township, is a natixe of Wisconsin, his birth ha\ing 
occurred in Rock county. September 15, 1S40. His father, Silas Pal- 
miter, was a-nati\e of New York and emigrating westward established 
his home in Wisconsin when it was still a territory, arriving there 
about [S38. He cast in his lot with the earl_\- settlers and experienced 
the usual hardships and trials of frontier life. His death occurred in 
1844 when his son Charles was but four years of age. He left children, 
of whom the subject of this review is the youngest. 

When only twelve years of age Charles F. Palmiter started out in 
life on his own account, and whatever success he has achieved and what- 
ever privileges he has enjoyed are attributable to his own efforts. He 
first worked by the month as a farm hand, and removing from \\'isconsin 
to Iowa he settled in Chickasaw county, where he carried on general 
agricultural pursuits until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when his 
patriotic spirit was aroused and he enlisted in i86t as a member of 
Comjiany B, Seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was a private in 
that command and he served faithfully and loyally until July. 1865, 
wlicn the war having ended he received an honorable discharge. Fle 
participated in many important engagements, including the battles of 
Fort Donelson, Pitisburg Landing, Corinth, the siege of Atlanta, Savan- 
nah and the celebrated march under General Sherman to the sea. He 
afterward went with the Carolina campaign and on to Washington, 
where he jjarticipated in the grand review, the most notable military 
pageant e\'er seen on the western hemisphere. Following the close of 
the war he returned to Iowa and once more took up the pursuits of ci\'i1 
life as a farmer. There he resided continuously until 1894. 

In lune. 1894. Air. Palmiter was married to Mrs. Nancy Lockwood- 
Rush-b'isher, a daughter of Daniel Lockwood. Fler father was Ixirn 
in Vermont and \\as a son of Samuel Lockwood, who was the first set- 
tler of Locke township in Elkhart county, and it was in his honor that 
the township was named. Ali's. Palmiter was burn in that township, 
lanuarv jy, 1851. and lias alwavs li\ed upon the home farm there. She 
was first married to Jackson Rush and there was one child by that union 
wlio died in earl\- life. Following the death of her first husband she 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 431 

became tlie wife of John Fisher and they had five children, four of whom 
are yet Hxing; Charles. Elmer E., Junetta and Aragona Ophelia. Mr. 
Palmiter was also previously married, having in Iowa wedded Miss 
Lydia tiurle}'. by whom he had three children yet living. namel\- ; Mary. 
William and Charles. 

The home farm of Mr. and Mrs. Palmiter comprises one hundred 
and twenty acres of well unproved land on which is a fine nKxlern brick 
residence, good bams and other substantial buildings. These in turn 
are surrounded by the well kept fences, and everything about the place 
is indicati\e of the careful su])ervision and progressive spirit of the 
invner, who, following farming throughout his entire life, has the ex- 
jjerience and business capacity that make him one of the successful agri- 
culturists of bis community. Mr. Palmiter belongs to Wakarusa Post, 
(i. A. R.. and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army com- 
rades, in politics he is a Republican, having supported the party since 
age gave him the right of franchise, his first \'ote being cast for Lincoln. 
iTe has e\'er performed his public duties as a private citizen without 
hope of official reward m recognition of his party fealty. He has lived 
for many j'ears in this county and is one of its self-made men whose 
prosperity is the direct result of labor and enterprise, guided by sound 
business judgment. 

JO.SEPH X. FREED. 

Jose])h X. Freed, who is a practical and progressi\e farmer <if 
Locke township, li\ing on section 12, was born in Kosciusko ci unity, 
Indiana, January 24, 1853, his parents being Daniel and .Vnna ( Xus- 
baum) Freed, both of whom w'ere natixes of Ohio' and became early 
settlers of Elkhart county, casting in their lot with the pioneer resi- 
dents wild were reclaiming this district for the ])urposes nt ci\iliza- 
tion and were planting the seeds of its present prosperit\- and progress. 

Joseph X. I'reed was only about two years old \\lien be was 
brought to this count}- by his ]5arents and here he was reared on the 
home farm in 01i\e townslii]i, attending the district schools tlnvjugb 
the winter months, wliile in the summer seasons he worked with his 
father. His attention was gi\-en to the cultivation and improvement 
of the old homestead until be was twenty-seven years of age. when 
he was married in Decemlx-r. 1880. to Miss Sevilla Yoder. They be- 
came the parents of three children — a son and two daughters: Maud 
M. : Dora M.. now tlie wife of Lloyd Knowdton; and Francis E., at 
home. i'iie wife and mother passed awa}- and Mr. Freed has since 
wedded Sarah Davidhiser. wh.o is also deceased. There were three 
cliilflren by that marriage, but Manford A. is the onl\- rmc now li\-ing. 

At tlie time of his first marriage Mr. Freed located on a rented 
fa.rni in Locke township, after which he ]nu"chased the farm ujion 
which he now resides, com])rising eighty acres, and it has now been 
his home for t\vent\'-four vears. He has engaged in general aoricult- 



432 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

iiral pursuits and stock-raising and his fields are well tilled, while in 
the jiasfures are seen good grades of cattle and horses. His interest 
in political questions is manifest by the active support which is given 
to the ReiDublican party. He is a meml^er of the Mennonite church 
and advocates all measures for intellectual and moral as well as ma- 
terial development in this ]5art of the state. For fifty years he has 
lived in the county and is numbered among its early settlers, having been 
a witness of the great changes that have occurred and have made this 
one of the leading counties in the cnmmnnwealth. 

JOHN STAUl'FFR. 

John Stauft^^er, who is now li\ing a retired life in Xappanee after 
many years' connection with agricultural interests, and who is well known 
as an early settler of the county, was born in Columbiana county. Ohio, 
Deccrnber 15. 1S28, and has therefore reached the seventy-sixth mile- 
stone o'l life's journey at this writing in the summer of 1905. His 
father, Jacob Stauft'er, was a native of Pennsylvania, and when a child 
was taken to Columbiana county, Ohio, by his parents, ^Ir. and Mrs. 
Henry Stauffer. There he was reared and married, and while living in 
the Buckeye state he followed farming. He came to Elkhart county in 
1852, settling about three miles from Nappanee, and his remaining days 
were passed here, his death occurring when he had reached the age of 
eighty-one. His early political views accorded with Whig principles, 
and later he joined the ranks of the new Reptiblican party. Fie held 
local offices, the duties of which he discharged with promptness and 
fidelity, and his labors in behalf of pulilic progress were effective and 
beneficial. While in Ohio he married Elizabeth Floffman, a native of 
that state, who lived to be seventy-seven years of age. They were the 
]jarents (if two sons. Henry Stauffer living to be a1x)ut seventy-six years 
of age. his death occurring in Nappanee. 

John Stauft'er. the younger son, was reared in the state of his nativity 
and lived at dift'erent times in Columbiana, Portage and Stark counties, 
and from the last named came to Elkhart county in 1852. He had no 
capital when he arrived here, but he po.s^sessed what is far better — a de- 
termined spirit, laudable ambition and willingness to work. He and his 
brother farmed together, improving a farm one mile east and two miles 
north of Nappanee. The brother was married when he came to Elk- 
hart county, but Mr. Stauffer did not marry until 1854. when he wedded 
.\bigail ^^■inder. a native of Portage county, Ohio, and a sister of his 
brother's wife. They lived in common with his brother and family 
until sixteen years had passed without keeping a book account, and then 
thev di\-ided the property which they had accumulated and improved 
without an unpleasant word, John Stauffer retaining possession of the 
old farm while his brother took another farm. He continued to engage 
actively in' agricultural pursuits until 1884, when he took up his abode in 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 433 

tlie residence tliat he imw occupies in Xappanee. He jjurcliased eiglitx' 
acres of land now within tiie corpoi-ation hmits of tlie town, and lie has 
since divided a part of this into town lots, all of the eastern and northern 
part of Nappanee having- heen built upon his land. He has now laid out 
two additions, and his labors have proved an efifective force in the ma- 
terial impro\'ement and substantial upbuilding of the place. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stauffer have become the parents of five children : 
Florence E.. who is the wife of Charles Whitman, agent for the Balti- 
more & Ohio Railroad Company at Nappanee; Horace R., who- is mar- 
ried and lives in Indianapolis. Indiana, was a graduate of Rush Medical 
College and engaged in life insurance business: Wallace W.. who is 
conducting a grain elexator in Nappanee; Cora A., the wife of Charles 
Kinney; and Nellie I., the wife of Claud Stoops, ow'tier of the Nappanee 
Telephone Company. Tlie wife and mother died in 1893. ^i^i' death 
deeply regretted by many friends as well as her immediate family. 

Mr. Stauffer has been a lifelong Republican and is active in the 
work of the party, believing it tlie duty of every true American citizen 
to uphold and promote, to the best of his ability, the political principles 
in which he Ijelieves. Vov over a half century he has been a resident of 
Elkhart count}' and few are more widely known. He is numbered with 
the honored pioneers, and in the evening of life he receives the venera- 
tion and respect which should ever be accorded those who have advanced 
far on life's journey. In spirit and interests, however, he is not old. 
hut seems yet in his prime, and is a companionable gentleman, a prc>- 
gressive citizen and a delightful friend. 

TOBI.XS HARTMAN. 

The name Hartman has become aliiK'St synonyniDUs with the his- 
tory of commercial progress and industrial development in Nappanee 
for the firm of Hartman Brothers has lieen a moving spirit along many 
lines of business and the upbuilding of progress. Tobias Hartman as 
a member of this firm needs no special introduction to the readers o* 
Elkhart county's history. He was born in Ashland county. Ohio, Sei> 
teml>er 7. 1842, and is the third in order of birth in a family of nine 
children, whose parents were Adam and Elizabeth Hartman and wh'^ 
are mentioned on another page of this work in connection with the his- 
tory of Jacob Hartman. \\'heii about five and a half years of age 
Tobias Hartman was brought by his parents to Elkhart county and spent 
his boyhood days in Harrison and Union townships in a manner siniiln'- 
to that of most farmer lads of the period. He acquired his education in 
one of the old-time log schoolhouses such as were a familiar feature oi 
the landscape in every frontier settlement. He worked with his father 
in the fields during the periods of vacation, gaining practical knowledge 
of agricultural pursuits, and \vh.en he started out in life on his own ac- 



4;i4 HISTORY OF PXKHART COUNTS' 

cnuiit he secured empli.)vnieiit as a farm liaml. thus working;- up to tlie 
time of liis marriage. 

It was on the 14th of February. 1864. that ALr. Hartman was united 
in wedlock to jNIiss EHzabetli Brundage. who was l3orn in Canada April 
10, 1842. and is a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Gayman) Brundage. 
She was reared in the country of her uativitv and came to Elkhart county 
in 1862, when a young lady of twenty years. Mr. and Mrs. Hartman 
have become the parents of fou,r children : Daniel, w ho carries on agri- 
cultural pursuits in Union township : Mary .-\nn. the wife of H. L. Sny- 
der, of Weiser, Idaho: Sarah, the wife of F'"rank Walters, of Nappanee; 
and Henry, who is conducting a grain ele\'ator at Nappanee. 

Mr. Hartman, entertaining strong views on the temperance ques- 
tion, is giving his political allegiance to the Prohibition party. Local 
improvement and national progress are causes both dear to him, and in 
matters (jf citizenship he manifests a jjulilic-spirited interest. He is pre- 
eminently a business man, alert and enteiprising, and has wielded a 
wide influence in commercial and industrial circles. He is also a factor 
in agricultural life, for he is the owuier of two farms, one in Wabash 
countv. Indiana, and another in Union township. \\ ith his brothers, 
Jacob and John, he was also interested in a furniture manufacturing 
Ijusiness conducted rtnder the name of the Nappanee Furniture Factory, 
ha^-ing lieen one of the directors and trustees of the company for several 
years. Whatever he undertakes he carries forward to successful com- 
]>letion, knowing that a desired result in business can be obtained through 
persistency of purpose and guided bv commnn sense and supplemented 
by unabating energv'. 

J. A. COOK. 

J. A. Cook, of Elkhart, is the only representative of a family which 
iias been conspicuously associated with the history of Elkhart county 
fn)m the earliest pioneer times to the present. Elsewhere in this work 
are narrated many facts about the \-arious individuals of the Cook 
family, and without some reference to them no history of the county 
could be written. 

It is with Mr. Cook's grandfather, James Cook, that the annals 
tif this county have first to deal. Of English descent and a native of 
Maryland, he came to Elkhart county in 1830, little more than a year 
after the tide of immigration had touched the county, and from that 
time until his death at the age of sixty-three years he was prominently 
identified with the development of the county. He was a pioneer mer- 
chant and dealer in lands and real estate, his influence and actions being 
felt in many quarters of the count}'. 

.\ year or so subsequent to the arrival of this pioneer there also 
came to this county, from Ross county. Ohio, where he was bom in 
1826, a boy of seven years. John Cook by name, a son of the pioneer, 
and himself also a pioneer. Spending the remaining years of his boy- 




J. A. COOK 




MARTHA COOK 




JOHN COOK 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 435 

liodd in tin's cciiinty, ciliicated at While l'itie<in, Michigan, be l>ecame 
ideiititied witli the ci niimercial affairs nf huth (lushen and i-'lkhart as 
a general merchant, later entered the hirst National Hank nf h'lkhart 
as cashier and some time later heeame \^ice-presi(lent. was also inter- 
ested in paper manufacturing, and altooether was one of the foremost 
business men of the county up to the time of his death at the gooil old 
age of se\-enty-five years. Ha\ ing lixed in the county nearly seventy^ 
years and having been identified with nearly e\ery ])hase of its busi- 
ness growth and de\'eloi)nient. his death was naturally felt as a loss 
to the entire county. 

Mr. Cook's mother, who died in the tifty-fourth year of her life. 
likewise belong'ed to a famil\- which deserves prominent mention in 
the records of this county. Her maiden name was Martha Winder, a 
native of Ross county, Ohio, and her father, John W'inder. was one of 
the early settlers of Goshen and was one of the first men to conduct a 
store in that town. 

Mr. J. A. Cook, who was tlie ebler of two sons of his parents ancl 
the only one hving, was born at (ioslien. July 23. 1849, and has spent 
practically all his life within the limits of Klkhart county. He received 
his educational advantages in (ioshen. at Yonkers. New York, and 
in Hillsdale College. Miclu'gan. Entering the employ of the hirst Na- 
tional Bank of Elkhart in the capacity of errand boy, he was succes- 
sively promoted to clerk, to bookkee]3er, was cashier for a time, and 
since 1901 has held the office of vice-president, the First National being- 
one of the oldest and most substantial financial institutions of the 
county. His entire attention is given to the duties of this office and to 
the management of his father's estate. 

Mr. Cook married, in 1884. Etta Barger. who was horn in this 
county, a daughter of William Barger. P>y their marriage Mr. and 
Mrs. Cook have become the parents of two children. Martha and b'hu. 
but the daughter was taken from them by de.ath on .\])ril 1. 1904. when 
nineteen years old. just at the entrance upon a bright and beautiful 
womanhood. 

Having spent all his life in this county. Mr. Cook is \ery nuicli 
interested in all that concerns the general welfare and lends bis influ- 
ence to e\ery movement for the betterment of cit}' and county. Fra- 
ternally he is a member of the Benevolent and Pi-otective Order of 
Elks, and in ])olitics is a stanch Keiuiblican. 

SA^^riEL D. COPPFS. 

Samuel D. Copi^es. ])resident of the Farmers and Traders ISanlc 
and prominently connected with many other financial, commercial and 
industrial interests of Nappanee, at the beginning of his career had no 
other capital than the inherent powers of his own character. His his- 
tory is inspiring and exemplary of what the poor young American may 



43r. HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

accomplisli with the talents tliat are oi\en liim l>y nature and with tlie 
opportunities tiiat surround him in this repubhc. 

Born in ^ledina county. Ohio. Alarch 22, 1842, Mr. Coppes belongs 
to a fannh" of German descent which has resided some generations in 
this country and which has always been noted for the solid worth and 
integrity of its members, though nd. until this generation, distinguished 
for acquisition in material affairs. The grandfather. Rev. Samuel 
Coppes. who was also a physician l)y profession and followed the occu- 
pation of farming, was born in Philadelpliia and came to Elkhart county 
in I.S48. As a missionary of the JMennonite church he made many trips 
from Indiana to Ohio, and was one of tlie founders of the Mennonite 
church \vest of Goshen, and an elder and deacon in the same. He died 
in Medina county, Ohio, when about se\enty years old. 

Jacob Coppes w"as the father of Samuel D. Coppes. He. a native 
of Pennsylvania, moved to Medina count}'. Ohio, where he married 
Sarali Fravel, also a natixe of Pennsylvania. Berks county, and they 
came in 1848 to Elkhart count) and located on a farm in Harrison town- 
ship west of Goshen. He had lost his farm in Ohio and during the first 
years in this county was a renter, finally buying the farm in Locke town- 
ship where he lived until his death, at the age of sixty-four. He and his 
wafe had ten children, three of whom died in childhood, and those that 
grew up were named as follows : 'J'he oldest son, Daniel, was killed in 
the war of the rebellion while serving in Company K, Thirtieth Indiana 
Infantry, as lieutenant, having been promoted to that rank from a pri- 
vate ; Samuel D. is the next in the family ; Eliza and Saloma are both 
deceased: Lucinda is the wife of John C. Mellinger, of Chicago; John 
D."s biography will be found on another page: Frank is president of the 
Coppes, Zook and Mutschler Company of Nappanee. 

Mr. Samuel D. Coppes. who was the third child and second son. 
was five years old when he came to Elkhart county. Reared on his 
father's farm, with limited school advantages procured in the district 
schools, at an early age he began to contribute his part toward the sup- 
port of the famil}'. Along in. the fifties the neighbors quite often saw 
him hauling a load of wood to Goshen, for one of his first occupations 
was chopping and selling stove wood in the Goshen market, and when 
not Ixisied at this he performed farm duties and any other labors that 
afforded a means of honest support to himself and the family. He lived 
at home until he was tw-enty-two years old, and lent material assistance 
toward giving his younger brother and sister a start in life. 

He continued to farm in this county until 1869, in which year he 
went to ^Missouri and reniainefl four year*:. Returning tn this county 
in 187^. he bought a farm in Locke tdwnship for four thousand dollars,- 
"■ivino'his note at six i^er cent interest in iiayment. Industry and good 
management enabled him to clear of=f all incumbrances on this place 
within eight years, and from that time forward his material interests 
have increased at a siibstantial rate. Selling the farm and moving to 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 43T 

Nappanee, he entered the lirni kiiuwn as Mellinger and Coppes Brothers, 
lumber and box manui'acturers. On tlie withdrawal of J. C. Mellinger 
the firm became simply Coppes Jirothers, and about 1890 Mr. S. D. 
Coppes withdrew and in the following year bought the bank of Bechtel 
and Son. which was then, as it has since been, known as the Farmers 
and Traders Bank, one of the solid ruid conservative financial institutions 
of this count}-. Mr. Coppes is the owaier of four excellent farms, one of 
them being conducted by his son Frank. He built, in 1891, the well 
known Coppes Hotel in Nappanee. which holds a front rank among the 
jHiblic houses of this county. Its first cost was twenty thousand dollars. 
Mr. Coppes was also the ])rime mover in the building of the fine opera 
house in Xappanee. was interested in the flouring mills, and was one of 
the principal promoters of the water works and electric light plant which 
are among the improvements that ha\e placed Xappanee, in civic enter- 
prise and development, alongside the best cities of northern Indiana. 
Public-spirited as he is, and deeply interested in ever)' matter that con- 
cerns the welfare of his city and county. Mr. Coppes has never seen fit 
to aspire for public office and has accomplished most for the community 
in the capacity of a private citizen. He has been a lifelong Republican. 
March 12. 1864, Mr. Coppes married Miss Elizabeth Berlin, who 
was born in Ohio, a daughter of John D. Berlin. Nine children have 
been born of their marriage : Minnie is deceased, as is also Jesse, the 
fourth child, who died at the age of two years ; Harvey is mentioned at 
length on other pages: Frank, as already mentionefl, is a farmer: Clara 
is the wife of J. W. Rosbrugh, in the teot and shoe and men's furnishing 
goods lousiness at Nappanee : Delia is the wife of Charles Mutschler. of 
the Coi3pes. Zook & ilutschler Company: Lillian is the wife of Dr. 
Charles Inks, a practicing physician of N'appanee : Myrtle is the wife of 
Harley Rickert. of Nappanee: Fred is assistant cashier of the Farmers 
and Traders Bank. 

H.XRVEY E. COPPES. 

Harvey E. Coppes. wIk* was born in Elkhart county. Novemljer 20, 
1869, is the second child of Samuel D. and Elizabeth (Berlin) Coppes, 
the history of whose interesting lives has been narrated elsewhere. Com- 
ing of a family whose members through all the generations have lieen 
stanch and true to the highest principles of moral conduct and business 
integritv. and the son of a father whose influence and activitv have for 
many years been felt in business and civic affairs of southwestern Elk- 
hart county, it is but natural to expect in Mr. H. E. Coppes the same 
pre-eminent ability and executive force, and a brief re\iew of his career 
shows this confidence to I^e well founded. 

Educated in the common schools of this count\-. where he has 
lived all his life, he entered upon his business career as a bookkeeper 
with the firm of Coppes Brothers, manufacturers, later was head book- 
keeper for Copjies Brothers and Zook, and, having advanced in busi- 



438 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

iiess exjjerieiice and alreadx' prn\cil his mettle as a man of atTairs. in 
1891 he and liis father liought nf Mr. [Ieni"y Bechtel the Farmers and 
Traders Bank. Two years later he was made cashier of this institution, 
and har- held th.is position to the present time. This is a pri\-ate hank, 
with splendid resoin'ces of ahoiit two hundred and tifty thousand di.illars, 
and its reputation for soundness and stahilit\- has never heen assailed. 
.\lthough intiniatelv connected with the conduct of this institution anfl 
devoting most of his time thereto, ATr. Coppes has also identified himself 
verv prominently with man\- other enterprises in Nappanee. He was 
one of the organizers and ]5romoters in the erection of the splendid 
opera house in Nappanee and is a director in the company which con- 
trols the same. He is a director in the Home Loan Association, is city 
treasm'er of Nappanee. anil served as town clerk two years. A stanch 
Repuhlican in politics, he has interested himself in party affairs as well 
as in those things that concern the entire public life of his community. 
He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, and his life has heen well 
balanced, each interest, whether of business, civic or social nature, re- 
ceiving its proper share of altentio'n. 

Mr. Coppes married, in Septemlier, i8c}4. Miss Nellie L. Rosbrugh, 
who is a daughter of Fnos and Nancy ( Parker) Rosbrugh. Mr. Coppes 
and wife have one son. ^^^^rd R. 

DR. J. C. IT.EMINC. 

Dr. |. L. I'deming, plnsician and surgeon of Flkhart, in which cit_\- 
he was born December _>. 1873, has made the liest of the opjjortunities 
which ha\e crowded into his life and at an early age has reached a 
prominent pl;ice in liis professional career. Dr. Iteming is a modern 
practitioner, thoroughly trained in the systems which comprise the pres- 
ent-day sciences of medicine and surgery, and equipped with all the 
skill and ahility which spell success in the profession. Having enjoyed 
the highest advantages in preparation, he has in actual practice demon- 
strated his talent for real accomplishment in his high vocation. 

Dr. Fleming is a son oi M. F. Fleming, a native of Rome, Mich- 
igan, who- now resides in Flkhart and is an engineer on the Lake Shore 
Railroad, being one of the oldest and most trusted employes of that 
road. The mother, who is also living, was i:iefore her marriage Rosetta 
.Smallwood, born in this county and of one of the pioneer families. 

Dr. Fleming, w^ho is the older of his parents' two sons, obtained 
his preliminary education in the Elkhart public schools, from which he 
was graduated in 1891. and soon thereafter entered the medical depart- 
ment of Northwestern University, at Chicago, where he was graduatetl 
with the degree of M. D. in 1895. He enjoyed the exceptional honor 
and advantage of being chosen a resident physician at the Cook County 
Flospital. Chicago, a jxisition which he filled during 1895-96. In Janu- 



HISTORY OF KLKHART COUNTY 439 

ar\-. 1897, he located in Elkhart and since that date lias lieen caring for 
a pruiitable and increasing practice in this cit}'. 

Dr. Memino- has membership with the Elkhart County Medical 
Society, the Indiana State Medical Society, the Tri-State Medical Asso- 
ciation, and the \n!erican Medical Association. Fraternally he affil- 
iates with the Royal Arcanum and the Benevolent and Protective Order 
of "Elks. In politics he is a Tveiiuhlican. He is a member of the board 
of trustees oi the Clark l-Iospital in Elkhart, and is owner of the well 
known Fleming Block in this city, Nos. 11 5-1 17 Marion street, an office 
li'lock which he erected in iqo2. He enjoys an excellent practice in sur- 
gerv, of which he makes a specialty. 

Dr. Fleming married, in Octolier, i8g6. Miss Nellie M. l-lby, daugh- 
ter of the Rev. J. W. and lilizabeth Eby. They have one son, Mil- 
lard, who is hve \'ears old. 

JOllX M. BRUMBAUGH. 

John Af. Brumbaugh, whose career as a man of affairs and varied 
interests ])resents some points of unusual prominence from a biographical 
standpoint, \\'as born on a farm in Kosciusko county, Indiana, June 16, 
1849. f^s 's a son of William and Catherine (Miller) Brumbaugh, 
who were marrietl in 1844. and the father died .\ugust 21, 1856, and 
the mother, in California, June 16, 1900. The father was born May 23, 
1819. and the mother December 6, 1825. They were the parents of 
two sons and three daugiiters, but one of the sons, Henry C, died in 
California, September 22, 1885. The daughters are Mary E.. Annie 
E. and Emma. 

Mr. Brumbaugh spent the first sixteen \-ears of his life in his 
native county, living there after his father's death until his mother sold 
the farm and with her children moved out tO' iMarion, Marion county, 
Kansas. Mr. Bnnnbaugh spent twenty-seven years of his life in Kan- 
sas, and was identified quite prominently with the official life of the 
state. He was a clerk in the Kansas state treasurer's of^ce at Topeka 
two \-ears. He lived five years at Concordia and during that time served 
two years as Kansas state fish commissioner. During his residence in 
the Sunflower state he was known as one of the stanch and steadfast 
Republicans, unshaken in his allegiance by the populistic movement 
which swept into its ranks so many members of both of the old parties. 
In 1891 Mr. Brumbaugh met the noted Mary E. Lease in joint debate 
on the topics of land, finance and transportation, and also' took prom- 
inent part in many other phases of the campaigns of those years, ap- 
pearing frequently in joint discussions with Populist orators. In this 
connection he established a reputation as a debater and fluent speaker 
and showed himself <". master of many of the important problems of the 
day. Mr. Brumbaugh is a well educated man, although the common 
schools furnished his early ad\'antages, his native intelligence and prac- 



440 HISTOR\' OF ELKHART COUNTY 

tical stud) of e\-erv-da_v affairs snpplyin^;^- many deficiencies whicli are 
often ■il)ser\ed e\-en in cullege graduates. He taught school for ten 
years of his career. ]\[r. Brumbaugh took up his residence in Elkhart 
on April 22. 1892, and has lived there e\'er since. Eor three vears he 
was engaged in farming in Osolo township, and also filled out an 
unexpired tern: as trustee of that township. Well versed in econo«nic 
subjects and in political affairs, it was but natural that he should turn 
his attention to the law. He pursued his studies as opportunity offered 
and was admitted to the bar of this county in 1898. He was apjiointed 
justice of the peace in 1899. and still holds that ofiice. 

Air. Brumbaugh married, in 1879, 3,Iiss Lora M. Johnson, a daugh- 
ter of (ju)- C. Johnson, deceased. She died February 22, 19CK), leaving 
two daughters, Frances E. and Kathleen, who are both members of the 
Presbyterian church and ver_v pojndar members of society. In Novern- 
ber, 1904. Air. Brumliaugh marrie<l for his jiresent wife, Marie Engle. 
Fraternally Air. Brumbaugh affiliate.s with the Alodern Samaritans of 
the World. 

HON. JAMES S. DODGE. 

James S. Dodge, circuit judge of the thirty-fourth judicial district 
of Indiana, having been elevated to the bench by the votes of the people 
at the November election of 1904, has spent most of his life within 
the limits of Elkhart county, where native ability and intense applica- 
tion to duty and rugged honesty have raised him to a place of com- 
manding influence among his fello\\- citizens. 

Born in Morrow county, Ohio, August 24, 1846, at the age of 
three years he accompanied his parents to this county. A year later, 
in 1830, be was deprived of the tender care of his mother, who tefore 
her marriage was Mellissa Shaw, a native of Pennsylvania, and in 1856 
death took away also his father, Charles Dodge, who was a native of 
New York state. Thus left an orphan when ten years old, he returned 
to his mother's people in Ohio, and during- the remainder of his boy- 
hood remained with relatives, working on a farm and attending the 
common schools. The quiet course of early youth was broken by the 
Civil war, and unable to withstand the promptings of his patriotic spirit 
when the armies of Lee were l^eginning their great campaign into the 
nortli, in June, 1863, he enlisted as a private in Company M, Third 
Ohio Cavalry, for three years' service or till the close of the war. He 
joined his regiment at Chattanooga, Sqitember 17, on the day before 
General Bragg attacked Rosecrans at Chickamauga, and, finding him- 
self in the midst (.f all the stress of war but without the drill or prac- 
tical knowledge of the soldier's life, thereafter, beginning with his par- 
ticipation in the battle of the i8th of September, he gave continuous 
and faithful service to the cause as a member of the gallant Third 
Ohio Cavalrv until the close of the war. Among the subsequent bat- 
lies in which he participated with his regiment were those of Mission- 





'^a^^6^(&,^^D^J^ ^:^ 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 441 

ary Ridge, Rocky-faced Ridge, Snake Creek Gap, Big Shanty, Kenne- 
saw ]\Iountain. Peach Tree Creek, and the battles around .-Vtlanta. 
\Mien the latter place was lost to the Confederacy the A'ictorious brigade 
of which the Third Ohio was a part was ordered to follow Hood back to 
Nashville, where it took part in the decisive battle of December 15-16. 
1864, at which the Federals under Thomas defeated the Confederates 
who were making a last stand under Hood. The Third Ohio was em- 
ployed in the pursuit of the scattered southern forces, taking part in 
Wilson's raid to Selma, thence to Columbus and Macon, Georgia, and 
at the latter place the regiments forming the brigade were disbanded 
in July, 1865, and at Nashville the men were given their honorable dis- 
charge. Mr. Dodge participated in the raid and liberation of Union 
prisoners at Andersonville. and also' in the i>ursuit and capture of Jef- 
ferson Davis. He did not escape the dangers of war altogether, and 
saw his full share of hardships. At Chickamauga he received a sabre 
wound, and while in the rear of Atlanta a yet more severe wound, but 
his youth and rugged constitution caused him to sufifer onh' a brief 
disability from these wounds. At Farmington. Tennessee, a horse 
was shot from under him, Init he at once jumped upon a riderless 
Confederate steed and kept up with his regiment. Enlisting as a priv- 
ate, he became an orderly sergeant toward the close of his martial 
career. 

In September, 1863. returning tn Elkhart, at which time he was 
still under ago. ]Mr. Dodge attended the city high school one term. and. 
having obtained a teacher's license in November, for the two follow- 
ing winters taught school in Penn township, St. Joseph county. In 
the early part of 1866 he began the study of medicine under the direc- 
tion of the late R. J. Haggerty, of Elkhart. By alternate attendance 
:it and teaching school for three years, his ambition reached its first 
goal on March 31, 1869, when he graduated from the medic^ll depart- 
ment of the University of Michigan. At once entering upon his pro- 
fessional career in Elkhart, he was known as a very successful medical 
practitioner there up to 1884, in which year, having previously carried 
his studies into a new field, he was admitted to the bar. He soon rose 
to prominence in this new profession and also in the realm of political 
activity. In 1892 he receiAcd the Republican nomination for congress, 
but in that year of Democratic landslides all over the country he also 
suffered defeat. Subsequently proposed as a proper nominee for gov- 
ernor, geographical location ]ilaved against him in the convention and 
he failed of the nomination. In 1904 his party ]5laced his name on the 
ticket for the office of judge of the thirty-fourth judicial district, and 
he was elected November 8. A man of earnest convictions, of broad 
learning, with the dignity and aplomb- which preclude bias or neiti- 
ness from his character. Judge Dodge holds the confidence of the people 
to an unusual degree and has alreadv justified the wisdom of his choice 



44'J HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 

to a ])cisitii;n mi Ihe hencli. An el(i(|uent and iDi^ical speaker, he has 
also jjarticipated effectivel\- in mimerons campaigns. 

jNIr. Dodge has long lieen verv acti\-e and prominent in (i. A. R. 
circles. He is affihated with Elmer Post No. T,y, (i. A. R., at Elkhart, 
and has aided in estaljlishing man}- other posts. He is a past depart- 
ment commander of the Indiana (i. A. R. He and his family worship 
in the English Protestant Ei>iscop;d chnrcli. 

In May. 1S75, Judge Dodge married Aliss Jeannette J. Peck, a 
natixe nf Xew York. They ha\e two children. James S., Jr., and 
Bernice i' .. now a student at the I'niversity of Chicago. The son, who 
was horn in Elkhart. July j. \'t<y(>. and was reared here, graduated from 
the citv high school in i8()(). then entered the University of Indiana, 
where he completed a scientific coinse and graduated in iqoo. and then 
took ;i technical and jaractical C(.5urse in liydraulic engineering in the 
L'ni\ersity <if the State of Washington. Studying law under the direc- 
tion (if his father, he was admitted to the bar in igoi, and has since 
heen in active legal practice in Elkhart. . He was married in 1903 to 
Miss ^Vinifred W., daughter of Dr. A. L. Fisher, of Elkhart. 

JOHN ENDERS. 

Industi'v. frugality and thrift, coupled with strictest h<inesty. are 
the cardinal characteristics of the ( ierman- American farmer who has 
attained prosperit\- in this land nf n])])ortunit\-. There are nimierous 
examples of this well-to-dn cla.ss nf citizens in Elkhart county, and 
in nine cases out of ten such men. when the_\' came to this country, 
hrought next to nothing as far as cash capital is concerned, but many 
times com]>ensated for this lack by the sturdiness and independence of 
their characters and their .ability to take hold nf life in a new country 
and accommodate themselves to all the circumstances of a rapidly grow- 
ing industrial and business world. Such a man is Mr. John Enders of 
Olive township, whose career from the beginning to its present-day suc- 
cessful culmination it is the purpose of this sketch briefly to delineate. 

Born in Hesse-Darmstadt. September 17. 1842, he was the fourth 
of six children, two sons and four datighters. born to Coiu-ad and 
Mary (Stumpf) Enders. His brother and two sisters are still li\-ing: 
Conrad is married and a farmer in the native fatherland; Elizal)eth is 
the widow of ^^'illiam \\'arner, a former agriculturist of Union town- 
ship, this countv : Mary is the wife of Christ Eisenach, a carpenter and 
'oiner living in the city of Elkhart. The father and mother both died 
in their native land, the former at the age of sixt\-eight and the latter 
when eighty-three years old. The longe\it_\- of the nrnther's family 
was quite remarkable, her father attaining the great age of ninety-nine 
vears and her mother living to be ninety-two years old. Pioth parents 
were meml^ers of the derman Li'theran church. 

Reared in his native h.nd tn the aire i)f sexenteen. Mr. E.nders 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 443 

then I.iade adieu t<i his home and friends and on March 4. 1860, took 
passage on a sailing vessel at Bremen, whence after a Noyage of thirty- 
five days die vessel landed him ai Baltimore, Maryland. Without 
more than twenty-five dollars in mone\- when he set his fool on Amer- 
ican soil, among a strange people where he had decided to make hoth 
home and fortune, he was thenceforth compelled to rely upon his own 
resotn'ces and those elements of solid and honest training which he had 
received while under the parental roof, llis sister Barbara (now de- 
ceased) bein.g then a resident of Canada, he made her home his first desti- 
nation, and after remaining with her and her husband three months they 
all came to Clkhart county, where they arri\-ed in July, i860. On his 
arrival here voung F.nders was in debt tO' his sister and -brother-in-law 
to the sum of Siy.84. and it has always been a matter of satisfactory 
memory that he liquidated this debt with some of his first earnings in 
this cotmtw That has been one of Mr. Enders' worthy characteristics 
— to pav c\er\- obligation, whether of mone\' or dutv — to the last far- 
thing, and this trait is not tlie least among those f|ualities which ha\e 
made Mr. I-'nders unixersalh" admired and res])ected in his countw 

.Mthough amjily educate<l in his own tongue, he realized that he 
must acqiu're facilitv in the use of the luiglish language before be 
could make the substantial progres-^ which he desired. Therefore he 
entered the public schools, but since the meth(jds of instruction were 
hardly fitted for his special needs he soon left the schoolroom and 
entered upon the practical career of daih' work and contact with the 
affairs of life. Mr. Enders is a man of thought and obserwitiou, and 
while not schooled accrirding to the modern methods one almost imme- 
diately feels the strength of his character and his lireadth of mind when 
coming into his presence. 1 )uring th.e first two \'ears spent in this countx' 
he took successive jobs of clearing laud, at first a fi\-e acre tract, then 
ten acres, then fifteen, for two }'ears. and in addition to accompli shing 
this laborious task after his characteristic thoroughness and adroitness, 
he spent the few hours of the day not devoted, to this strenuous toil 
in studyuig an English-German dictionary ;md regular grammar and 
with its aid reading all the books he could get his hrmds on. 

The f:rst jiurchase of land which he made in this count\- was fort\" 
acres, but he had to go in debt for most of this. Bersistent industr\- 
paid off this obligation bv 1872. His first home was a primitive log 
cabin, which he erected in 1867. a.nd he has exi^erienced man\- other 
pioneer C(Miditions that are now no longer a part of life in this part of 
the world. On selling his first forty acres he purchased his present 
eightv acres in section 12 of 01i\'e to\vnshi]x The development which 
this estate has undergone through the work and management of Mr. 
Enders is almost inconceivable at the present time. Near his beautiful 
two-stor^• brick residence stands a small. weatherl)eaten frame house 
and also a little barn, which were the "impro\-ements in the wa\- of 
buildings when be bought the jilace in 1877. and the clifference Ijetween 



444 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

these structure-^ and the preseni: large and cnnifi)rtahle l)uil(hni;s which 
make up his homestead tell in a most graphic manner the stoi")' of his 
materia] progress and prosperity. His large -hank harn is seventy-two 
by forty feet in ground dimensions, with eighteen-foot posts. Fences 
are in excellent condition, a thousand rods of tiling drain his land, 
there is a splendid orchard, and general appearances in \vhate\er way 
you look speak of thrift, good management and solid worth. 

Mr. Enders shows his interest in the progress of the )ears with 
their panorama of events and his desire to make permanent record 
i)f the fleeting scenes of life by keeping a diary of his o\vn affairs and 
experiences and also some of the things which happen in the world 
about him. Fie has followed this custom faithfully since 1872. and. 
in his wonderfull}- neat penmanship, has recorded all his business trans- 
actions, the state of tlie weather and manv other matters of interest 
to himself and family. The keeping of such a record is of itself an indi- 
cation of the system and co-ordination of details which ha\'e figured so 
prominently in his attainment of success. 

On September 16. i8'^6. Wr. Enders married Miss Xancy Fink, and 
in the years since that hapiiy event their home has been blessed by the 
advent of seven, children, three sons and four daughters. fi\-e of whom 
are still living: ]N[ar_\- is ihe wife of Abram Hunsberger. a ]>r<.sperous 
farmer of Olive township, and they have three children, Clem, Ray and 
Feme • iVIrs. Hun.sberger was a successful teacher five years, .\lbert, a 
farmer of Olive townsh.ip. married Miss Ellen E1)y and has three chil- 
dren. Oma. Florence and Ruth. Clara is the wife of Charles Shutts, 
a farmer of Olive township. John, wdio completed his literary education 
at the Xorthern Indiana College at \'alparaiso and who taught four 
years in his home district and is now a successful teacher in the city of 
Elkhart, carrying a thr«e years' license, is, in addition to his other 
w'ork, reading law and contemplates taking up acti^■e practice in the 
near future: he married Miss Helen Dod.son. Clapton, who is likewise a 
well educated voung man, has directed his energies to farming in Olive 
township : he niarried ]\Iiss Myrtle Boose of 'XA'akarusa. 

Mrs. Enders was bom Alay i, 1849, her birthplace being in Olive 
township onl}' a mile east of where she and her husband now reside. 
.She was reared and educated in this county, and since her marriage has 
proved an admirable helpmate to her husband in the making of a model 
home .and also in the proper rearing of her fine family of children. ]\Ir. 
Enders ruid wife are members of the German E\'angehcal society. He 
identifies himself prcminentlv -with all matters of local, township and 
countv jjnigress. and the weight of his influence can always be counted 
upon in the prosecutinn nf a wnrthy cause. By fulfilling conscientiously 
and fairlv all the duties which a lifetime brings. l)y standing firmly on 
the fotmdation of lus own character and keeping himself independent 
so far as ]iossilile frum chrmce and circumstance, by maintaining all 
his relations \\\ti\ family and society on the highest ])lane of honor. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 445 

he has earned the respect ami esteem of all who know him, and the hfe 
career of John Enders deser\-es enduring record in the history of his 
count}'. 

EDWARD LIENHART. 

Ivlward Lienhart, a self-made, successful husiness man and influ- 
ential citizen of Wakarusa, has in the Cdurse of ten years, Ijeginning" 
even on horrowed capital, huilt up a Ijusiness enterprise which is well 
on a par with any similar estahlishment in the larger cities of northern 
Indiana and which is recognized as the leading furniture and undertak- 
ing house in this part O'f the county. Conservative in business, having 
learned through wide experience to make each step carefully and surely, 
but in regard to public advancement and progress most liberal-spirited, 
I\'Ir. Lienhart is a typical representati\-e of the class who- are winning- 
success by judicioijs and most creditable methods and who are the power- 
wheel in eveiy up-do-date community. 

Mr. Lienhart was born in Perth county, Ontario, Canada. March 
9, 1861, teing second in a family of four cliildren, three sons and one 
daughter, horn to George and Eve (Baker) Lienhart. He has a Ivrother 
and sister living, ,-\dam, who is a blacksmith of Ivalamazoo, Michigan, 
and Lizzie, who is the wife of Irving Welsh, of Grand Rapids, Michigan. 
The father, who was born in Canada and died in KalamazoO' at the age 
of si.xty, was a skillful blacksmith, for twenty years being foreman o'f 
a large establishment in Kalamazoo, and was very successful in his 
business afifairs. Politically he was a Republican, and he and his wife, 
who was born in Germany and died in 1865, were members of the Ger- 
man Lutheran church. 

Having been brought to lilkharl county at the age of three years, 
his parents coming here before locating at Kalamazoo and living a1x)ut 
three years in Wakarusa, Mr. Lienhart has been identified with the 
county for the greater part of his life. Losing his mother when four 
years old and his father not man}- years later, as an orphan boy he had 
to face the world alnne. After his cimimon-school days were over he 
took a course in the norn-ials ru Wakarusa and at Fort Wayne, and 
when he began earning his own way at the age of sixteen he was entirely 
w-ithout capital. Entering- upon his career as teacher, he taught in one 
township' (Madison) in St. Joseph county for thirteen years, and for 
two years in Elkhart county, one year in the town school of AVakarusa. 
He concluded to enter the medical profession, and for that purpose spent 
eighteen months studying under the ijrecept-orship of Dr. Sensenich, the 
well kufnvn physician of Wakarusa. By that time, however, he had 
decided on a business life, and he went into the Ixisiness of an under- 
taker. He has two diplomas, one from the Massachusetts College of 
Embalming and the other from the Barnes School of Embalming at 
Chicago, and also holds his state license as embalmer issued on examina- 
tion. In the spring of 1896 he erected a small frame structure on West 



446 IllSrom- Oi'- I'.LKHART COUNTY 

Waterfonl street, and iliere l)eL;an with a small e(|uiiinieiu cimipared to 
liis present day eslalilishnient. Iiaxiii!:; hnrniwed ni< mev Ivolli for building 
and for ])urchasing his iirst stock. In iS()- he added a stock of furniture, 
and each succeeding _\-ear has witnessed a steadiK" increasing success in 
ever}' (le])artment of his enterjirise, indicated ni the erection of new 
Iniildings and broadening out along all lines. To-da}- his business is 
housed in a brick structure one hundred and forty by twenty-two feet, 
two stories, with cemen.t floor, containing a n.iost complete stock of fur- 
niture, I'.onse furnishings, kitchen ranges, ijianos, and a fine line of 
caskets. In i()04 he purchased an elegant $r,8oo Cunningham hearse 
and erected a large l.arn fortv-ti\e In' thirtv-live feet, with galvanized 
iron root". Out of deht, with .'i gilt-edged credit established, with an 
annual -^'olume of trade reaching twenty thousand dollars, Mr. Lienhart 
may well be proud of his successful career, for it was without a start 
based on capital and by dint of industry and ajnservative management 
and business uitegrit}' and fair treatment that he has gained and merited 
his present condition. In addition to his princi]?al business, he is owner 
of a cottage home, a well imijroved fa.rm of one hundred acres in Madi- 
-son township. St. Joseph county, and also a half section in Da\'ison 
county. South Dakota, two miles from Mitchell, the county seat. He 
is thus one of the most substantial business men of his part of the county. 
Imminently public-spirited, he has always taken much interest in his town 
and countv as civic communities, and his influence is found on the side 
of progress. He is a Republican in politics and cast his first presidential 
vote for James G. Blaine. 

March 26, 1882. IMr. Lienhart married Miss Annettie Shaum. They 
ha\ e a large and hapjiy family, who have always been under the Ijest of 
home influences and those who have entered practical careers are .show- 
ing good abilitv and j^jrospects of fine success. The children named from 
oldest to voungest are as follows: Calvin Irving, who is a graduate of 
the \A^akarusa high school and also attended Elkhart high school, is now 
a successful teacher in Olive township and intends to embark in the real 
estate business, being already owner of a section of land in Colorado; 
Lizzie L'rsula. who was educated in the home high school, is a modiste ; 
Emma Elnora. \\'ho will enter high school in 1906; Mable May, in the 
seventh grade: Edna Ruth, in the fourth grade: Dewey, also in school: 
and Albert Karl and Goldie Marie, the youngest. Mrs. Lienhart was 
lx)rn in Wayne county, Ohio, l"ebruar\' 15. 1863. was reared to the age 
of thirteen in her native state, and thereafter in Indiana, receiving her 
education in the public schools. I ler father, Josepli Shaum, lives in St. 
Toseph countv and is a prosperous farnter. She is a ineniber of the 
Women's Relief Corps and one of the esteemed ladies of ^^'akarusa. 

ALl'IlA c. cit;i'. 

Alpha C. Culp, of Wakarusa, a native son of Elkhart count\' and 
resident here niost of the years of his life, has made himself conspicu- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 447 

ously useful as a factor for the upbuilding of his community, and busi- 
ness and industrial affairs have felt the impulse of his activity in and 
about W'akarusa for a numlier of years. 

Mr. Gulp was lx)m in Elkhart county, ^lay 25. 1862. being the 
third in a family of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, whose 
parents were Josiah and Susannah ( Gulp) Gulp. Of the ten. five are 
iiving. Amos is a carpenter of W'akarusa; Reulsen is a farmer living 
in Olive township; Lydia is the wife of A. L. Moyer, a farmer of St. 
Joseph county; Sarah is the wife of Andy Matz. of Marshal! county, 
Indiana. The father, wlio was a native of Ohio and now resides in 
^larshall count\ . this state, icjcated in Elkhart county about 1857, and 
was a successful agriculturist here for a number of years. He is an 
ardent Republican, and he and his wife were Mennonites. The mother 
died at the age of forty-one. 

Mr. Gulp lived on a farm until attaining his majority. A common 
sch<y3l education, since supplemented by close observation and appli- 
cation to all matters connected with his advancement in the world, 
has sufficed him for his career. As early as the age of thirteen he \)c- 
gan learning the carpenter's trade as apprentice under his uncle, and until 
1893 followed with little l)reak his trade in \Yakarusa and vicinity. He 
began taking building contracts at the age of twenty-one. and as one 
goes al out this part of the county numerous beautiful residences may be 
pointed out as the result of Mr. Gulp's skill and workmanship. 

July 19. 1884. Mr. Gulp, who was then twenty-two years old and 
at the auspicious beginning of his career, married Miss Emma Kronk. 
Mrs. Gulp, whose father is one of the leading citizens of W'akarusa. 
was born in this county and was educated mainly in the Wakariusa 
schools. After his marriage Mr. Gulp spent one year in Elkhart, but 
then returned to W'akarusa and resumed his career as contractor. It 
is with considerable satisfaction that Mr. Gulp can point, from the 
viewpoint of his present condition, back to the time when he was 
twenty-two years old and with a cash capital of less than one hundred 
dollars, and it is due entirely to his industrs" and skill that he has be- 
come a substantial and well circumstanced citizen of the county. Dur- 
ing those first years of his career he worked at his trade during the 
open seasons and during the winter was in the lumber business. He 
has made considerable furniture, lieing a skilled cabinet maker, and 
he posses.^es and trea.sures dearly some of the first pieces which he 
made. 

The handsome Ghristian church at W'akarusa. which was dedicated 
in JanuaPi-. 1905. is perhaps the most conspicuous monument to Mr. 
Gulp's skill as an architect as also to his excellent executive ability and 
management displayed through all the chapters of the church's history. 
This beautiful edifice was built at the veiy low figure of S7.314.12. and 
i« one of the buildings to which the citizens of W'akarusa point with 
commendable pride. Mr. Gulp was a prime mover among the people '^f 



448 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

his denoniinatitni in securing' the erection oi a ne\v church hnnie. made 
the first proposition for its construction, and, when this was rejected, 
persisting in his plan, and with the constant co-operation of the Sunday 
school and other pubHc-spirited members of the congregation, he final!}- 
consummated the erection of a church which will long be among the 
most credita!)le of this town's architectural ornaments. 

A stanch Ivepublican when it comes to politics, Mr. Gulp cast his 
first presidential vote for James G. Blaine, and has never since wavered 
in his support of his party. He has often l>een selected as delegate to 
countv conventions, btit ftn'ther participation in practical politics has been 
denied him because of his busy career. 

in 1893 Mr. Cnlp became connected witli the Schafer and Misbler 
Lumber Compan\' of Wakarusa. Two \ears later he followed the com- 
pany to .South Bend, where he remained eighteen months, until the dis- 
solution of partnership, and he then accepted a position with Sanders 
and I^gbert of Goshen. He has been ^■ery successful in business affairs, 
and be and his wife are now just in the ])rime of life where they can 
most enjoy the fruits of success. 

Fraternallv he and his wife attiliate with the Knights anil Ladies 
of Columbia at South Bend. They are members of the First Christian 
church at Wakarusa, and Christian ideals and influences have always 
permeated their home life. He is chairman of the board of trustees, and 
was chairman of the building committee during the erection of the 
new church building. He has been superintendent of the Sunday school 
Five vears, and takes es]iecial interest in Christian work among the young 
people. 

Mr. and Mrs. Culp ha\-e no children of their own, Init in the 
goodness of their hearts ha\e adopted their little niece Flossie. She is 
in the public school, bright in her studies and with fondness and talent 
for music, so that her foster parents have recently purchased a piano 
for her delectation and musical culture. Mr. and Mrs. Culp are people 
of aspirations, with desires reaching beyond their local confines and lim- 
itations and arc constantly seeking to broaden their lives. In line with 
such ambitions they made a trip to the Pacific coast in 1902, visiting 
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Ogden, Salt Lake City, Grand Canyon, 
and other points of interest included in their three months' itinerary. 

FRANK W". BROWN. 

Frank W. Brown, who was admittetl to the bar and located for 
practice at Wakarusa in June, 1899. ^^^s during the subsequent six years 
built up a most gratifying business in his profession and in real estate, 
loans, insurance, etc. A man of fine executive ability, an organizer as 
well as a manager, a good representative of the profession which has 
been most potent m shaping the civic and political destinies of our re- 
nuljlic. commanding the highest esteem among all classes of his fellow 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY U'J 

citizens, Mr. Bruwn. tiiough still young in years, iills a prominent place 
in \\'akarusa and this county. 

It is also a pleasure to list Mr. Brown among the native sons of 
Elkhart county, for he was born on a farm in Olive township June 28, 
1869, being" the third of eight children, three sons and five daughters, 
born to William and Anne ( Bell ) Brown, and six of the children are 
yet living. The father, who was born in Lancaster county, Pennsyl- 
vania, April II, 1838, is still living in this county,, although retired from 
active affairs. During earlier years lie followed the trade of carpenter 
and joiner, at which he was a skilled workman, and has also' farmed a 
large part of his life. Educated in the common schools, the father re- 
mained in his native state of Pennsylvania until he wasnineteen years 
old. \\'hen he began his career he was without a dollar, and has made 
all his worldly possessions by industry and judicious economy and man- 
agement. After coming to this county his first purchase of land was 
forty acres in Olive township, and he went in debt for most of this, but 
he was favored by prosperity until at one time he owned two hundred 
and sixty acres, while his present estate consists of one hundred and 
forty acres and is one of the handsome and well improved farmsteads of 
the township. He is a Republican in politics and has supported those 
doctrines since casting his first vote for Lincoln. He was a soldier of 
the Civil war, .serving thirteen months with Company C, Thirteenth Li- 
diana Volunteers, being in the engineering corps, and was under General 
Terry at the capture of Fort Fisher. ^Irs. .Anne Brown, the mother, 
was born in Indiana and died in 1876. 

Mr. Brown spent the first eighteen years of his life on a farm. 
Well advantaged from an educational standpoint, he received his diploma 
from the common schools at the age of fifteen, and at nineteen was 
graduated from the Wakarusa high school. He also got a teacher's cer- 
tificate, but has never been an active member of the profession. In the 
spring of 1889 he left Indiana and located near Sterling, Illinois, spend- 
ing a short time on a farm there, and then went out to California, where 
he employed himself as farm hand, teamster and in various sorts of work 
for three years. On his return to his native county he took a position 
:n a clothing store in Wakarusa, and for the following three years sold 
clothing, groceries and flry goods. In 1896 entering the law department 
of the University of Michigan, he pursued the full course there and 
graduated in the class of 1899. In June of the same year he located in 
his home town of Wakarusa, where he has been steadily climbing the 
road to legal success. He is a member of the Elkhart Count}' Bar .\s.so- 
ciation. 

A loyal Democrat, he cast his first vote for Cleveland and has been 
an effective worker in his party. In 1900 he was candidate xm his 
party's ticket for state representati\e, and in 1904 was candidate for 
prosecuting attorney. l-"raternally he is a member of the Maccabees tent 
at \\'akarusa. 



450 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

JNIr. Brown married, August ]_', i8o4- ^liss Dora E. Letherman. 
They hme two little sons. Vance ]\1. and Donald. Mrs. Brown was 
Ijorn in this county December 21, 1873. was educated in the common 
schools and graduated from the Wakarusa high school, became a teacher, 
teaching in St. Joseph county three years and in one of the grades of 
the \Vakarusa schools for three years, and is thoroughly at home in all 
departments of social and domestic life. Her father is still living, but 
her mother is deceased, and she is the ynungest of eleven children, all 
(if whom are living. She is one of the active members of the Ladies' 
.\id. and of the Search Light Club, v.hich is a social and literary club 
with high aims and like accomplishments and is one of the imjXJrtant 
organizations of its kind in the county. 

\h-. Brown has been an active factor in the business enterprises of his 
town ever since locating here. In iqoi he organized the local telephone 
company known as the Wakarusa Telephone Exchange, which has al- 
ready over two hundred subscribers and has connections with Nappanee. 
South Bend. Goshen. Elkhart. Millersburg. New Paris and other local 
points, liesides the surrounding country. The com])any is cajiitalized at 
ten thousand dollars, with the following officers: C. W. Miller, presi- 
dent : C. C. Piatt, \ice president ; and Frank W. Brown, secretary, treas- 
urer and manager. Mr. Brown's office is located over the Exchange 
Bank. He has a nice law library, and is in every -way ecjuippefl for the 
successful conduct of his profession and his Ixisiness enterprises. 

WILLIA^l B. HILE. 

William B. Flile. the well known attorney of Elkhart county, and 
prosecuting attorney for the thirty-fourth judicial district, has by sheer 
force of will and persistent energy and industiy worked his way to a 
leading position at the Elkhart county bar. Strength of mind and 
body, power of concentration, and general executive ability have been 
distinguishing points in Mr. Hile's career, and his associates often 
refer to him as a " hustler." which in its definiteness of application is 
the liighest compliment that can be paid to a man of enterprise. 

Born in Ransom. Hillsdale county. Michigan. June 23. 1871, he 
comes of an excellent family and ancestry. His parents are George W. 
and Marv A. ( Stanffer ) Flile. his father a native of Summitt county. 
Ohio, and his mother of Center county. I^ennsylvania. His paternal 
grandfather, \Villiam Hile, who was born in Pennsylvania and was ot 
German lineage, settled near Akron, Ohio, where he was a blacksmith, 
and then a sh(5rt ume before the Ci\il war moved to Hillsdale county, 
^lichigan. His wife's name was Sarah Zerbe. who was born in .\ms- 
terdam. Holland. 

George W. Hile, the father, is a veteran of the Civil war, having 
served three and a half years in the Sixty-fourth Ohio \'olunteer Li- 
fantrv. until he was severely wounded, losing an eye at tlie liattle of 




fHhu^/S^^J^ 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 451 

Missionary Ridge, after which lie was honorably discharged from serv- 
ice. He has Hved in Hillsdale county, Michigan, since his marriage, 
and has had a successful business career, for many years having been 
traveling salesman for the Walter A. Wood Machinery Company. He 
is an active Republican. He was married in Ohio, and his family con- 
sists of four sons and one daughter. 

Spending his early years of boyhood on a farm and acquiring his 
preliminary education by attendance at the district schools, Mr. Hile 
even then had made a beginning of serious occupation, working for 
his father or the neighbors by the day or month. He left school at 
the age of fifteen and took charge of his father's farm, which he man- 
aged about four years. Coming to Elkhart in the fall of 1889, he be- 
gan work in the bakery of Hile and Chamberlain, his uncles, continued 
at that during the winter and for the following summer drove a de- 
livery wagon in and around Elkhart. For over four years, until Sep- 
tember, 1895. he was in the office of the engine dispatcher of the Lake 
Shore Railroad. Having' in the meantime made up his mind to follow 
the legal profession and having carried on his studies to this end while 
at other employment, on leax'ing the railroad office he entered the law 
department of the University of Michigan, and by working his way 
through to pay expenses he graduated in 1898. prepared to enter upon 
the active practice of his profession. He came back to Elkhart and 
opened a law office in partnership with E. A. Baker, who had been his 
classmate anfl roommate in college, and they soon came into possession 
of a large practice. A stanch Republican in politics, in 1900 Mr. Hile 
was nominated and elected prosecuting attorney for the thirty-fourth 
judicial district (Elkhart and LaGrange counties) and was renomi- 
nated and elected for the second term in 1902. 

In 1903 Mr. Elile married Miss Esteela M. Stone, of Elkhart. 
Fraternallv he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Felli)ws. 

FK.WK P. .\BBOTT. 

Prominent in the business circles of Goshen and esteemed in every 
relation of life, Frank P. Abbott was Iiorn in Essex county, Massachu- 
setts, and is of English descent. His grandfather, Benjamin F. Abbott, 
was a native of Providence, Rhode Island, but spent the greater part of 
his life in Massachusetts. His son and the father of our subject, Will- 
iam W. Abbott, was b.orn in the last-named commonwealth. In 1862 he 
came to Elkhart county, Indiana, and five years later, in 1867, took up 
his abode in Goshen, where he engaged in the manufacture of piimps. 
When about forty-five years of age his health began to fail, and he re- 
tired from the active duties of business, his life's labors being ended in 
death when he had reached the sixty-fourth milestone of earth's pilgrim- 
age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan B. Rand, was a 
native of Massachusetts and a daughter of Parker Ranfl of that state. 



452 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

She, too. was of English descent, and her death occurred at the age of 
seventy-five years. In their family were six children, three daughters 
and three sons, but one of the number died in infancy and the youngest 
daughter died at the age of eighteen years. Those living are: Frank 
P., whose name introduces this review: Mrs. Fannie Chamberlain; Will- 
iam H., a resident of New York citv; and Mrs. Ruv Stockton, of New 
York. 

I'rank P. Abbott was about six years of age when brcjught by his 
parents to Elkhart county. Indiana, and to its public schools he is in- 
debted for his early educational privileges. He remained at home until 
his marriage, which occurred on the 27th of October, 1880. when Jen- 
nette Hascall became his wife. Slie is a daughter of Chauncey S. Has- 
call. one of the early settlers and pioneer merchants of Elkhart county, 
having been one of the first to engage in that line of trade in Goshen. 
Mrs. Abbott is his eldest living daughter, and was born in Goshen Au- 
gu.st 29. 1854, and she, too, received her education in its public schools. 
.She has become the mother of ten children, and the eight now living are 
Ruby, Ellis, Florence, Frank, John, Jennette. Dorothv and William. The 
two who have passed away are Nellie and Gertrude. 

After entering upon his business career Mr. Abbott spent three 
years as a clerk and in driving a delivery wagon, and for several years 
also worked for his father in his pump manufactory. In 1881 he went 
to the south and in New River, Tennessee, was superintendent in a 
pump manufacturing plant, which he conducted until 1884, in that year 
entering the employ of John H. Lesh & Company, buying logs and selling 
lumber. In 1890 the Lesh. Prouty & Abbott Lumber Company was 
organized at East Chicago, of which Mr. Abbott became the manager, 
and at the death of Mr. Lesh became the president and general manager 
of the company. In addition thereto he also has interests in several 
large lumber companies in the south, and is vice president of tiie State 
Bank of Goshen, also a director in -the Elkhart County Loan & Trust 
Company, of Goshen. Throughout his entire career his business ability 
has been constantly manifested in one phase or another, showing unlim- 
ited possibilities, and the extensive concerns of which he is now the 
head are monuments to his wonderful power. He is a stanch and life- 
long Republican, and has ever taken an active interest in public afi^airs. 

FRANK JACKSON. 

Perhaps no character stands out more conspicuously in the early 
history of Elkhart county than that of the famous old Indian fighter, 
pioneer, landowner, farmer, man of affairs and public position. Col. John 
Jackson. Rugged and forceful in character, picturesque in per.sonality, 
a man of action and influence, he has left the impress of his life and 
deeds upon this county in a way that challenges studied attention and 
brings one again and again to the ct)nsideration of his career. His per- 



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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 453 

sonal histoi}- and ihe results df his wdrk in this Cduntx" have been de- 
scribed at length in otlier i.'urtions of this \ohinie. and are referred to 
here onl)' as an introduction to tlie life liistorj' of his grandson, Frank 
Jackson, whose own career has lieen replete with the activity and success 
which has marked the Jackson family throughout, and who, further- 
more, deserves particular mention and interest from the citizens of this 
county from the fact that he resides on the \eritable old Jackson home- 
stead which was settled by Colonel John o\-er seventy-five years ago. 

Frank Jacksf)n was bcirn in Jaclcson t(i\\nshi]i — named after Co-lonel 
John — March 13. 1847. l''"^ father was Ira Jackson, a son of the pio- 
neer, and his mother was Susan A. (Smith) Jackson, he being the third 
in their family of five children, three sons and two daughters. He is 
the only representative of this branch of the family now living. 

Ira Jackson, the fatiier. was born in Ross county. Ohio. Noveml3er 
18, 1819, and it was m)t until October 16. 1903. that this county was 
deprived of this venerable citizen. He had accompanied his parents to 
this county when ten years old, his father bringing the familv in covered 
wagon and in true pioneer .style across the swamps and through the dense 
forests which interposed all the way between their Ohio home and their 
destination in the not yet organized Elkhart county. At the edge of 
Elkhart prairie, in what later became Jackson townshii). Colonel Jackson 
entered a hundred antl sixty acres of government land. This was the 
limit of the amount which could be taken up by one indix-idual, but the 
Colonel acquired a great block of land in that vicinity by having his 
friends make entries which he later purchased. Frank Jackson lives on 
the original one hundred and sixtv, and his home is on the identical 
spot where stood the log cabin erected in 1828. One of the valuaWe 
souvenirs in his possession is a walking cane, carved from a log which 
once formed a side of the 1( ^g cabin, and on which is the following in- 
scription : 

" Col. John Jackson. 
Settled on Elkhart prairie 
Feb.. 1829." 

Among the other interesting relics preserved at the Jackson home 
is a long sickle bar from, one of the first McCormick machines ever used 
in the county. .\ notable collection of old deeds such as can hardly be 
duplicated anywhere forms another feature of the historical archives 
which Mr. Jackson is zealously preserving. There are ten of these 
parchment deeds, seven of them executed under the hand and seal of 
President .Andrew Jackson, being dated in 1831 and 1832. and the other 
three deeds were executed in the years 1837-38 by President Martin 
Van Buren. These documents are the first titles ever drawn to a large 
area of land in this part of the count)-, and their historical interest and 
value will increase from \e:iv to year. Mr. Frank Jackson has some of 
his father's old transcribed books in arithmetic, which were all written 



•154 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

with a goosequlll pen and are dated in 1838-40. This was in the days 
when the pounds, shihings and i^ence signs were used in the examples 
instead of dohars and cents. 

Indians and wild animals and game were equally plentiful during 
the first years that the Jackson family lived in this county, nearly all 
their land was turned over by the old-style wooden plows and ox teams, 
grain was threshed out by the treading process or the flail, flax skutching 
and the use of spinning wheels were familiar customs, and all the 'various 
modes of life described elsewhere in tliis volume were experienced and 
witnessed to by the Jackson family. 

Ira Jackson was throughout life one of the stanch and e\-er-ready 
supporters of old-fashioned Democracy. Fraternally he affiliated with 
die Masonic lodge, No. 12, at Goshen. He and his good wife were mem- 
Ijers and active supporters of the Methodist church. The mother of 
Frank Jackson, who' was born in New York state January 16. 1823, and 
who came to Elkhart county when a girl of fifteen years, died Septemlier 
JO, 1889, after a happy wedded life of forty-eight years. 

Mr. Frank Jackson accjuired his education in the common schools 
and frt)m one term in the Goshen high school, and from youth up has 
won his way by strenuous application and hard labor. He li\'ed at home 
until his majority, at which time he entered the employ oi his lirother, 
a merchant in Ligonier, as salesman, and four years later invested his 
capital in Imsiness and was for twenty years one of the enterprising and 
successful business men of Ligonier. At the request of his father he 
returnefl to the old homestead and resumed agricultural pursuits, to 
which he has dex'oted his energies up to the present time. 

October 6. 1875, Mr. Jackson married ]\[iss Emma Dunning, and 
the ti\ e children born to them are all living. \\'illiam C, who completed 
his education in the Ligonier high school and who is now connected w itli 
a large clothing house of Chicago, married Miss Harriet Andrews and 
has one child, Stanley. Ira B., who was educated in the Ligonier 
schools, is also connected with a large clothing firm, but makes his home 
with his parents. Clara, who received her education in the Ligonier and 
Goshen high schools, graduated as professional nurse from the Baptist 
Hospital at Chicago and is now on constant duty as one of the successful 
nurses in that city. John R., a mechanic and resident of \\'aterford 
^lills, married Miss Pearl Castetter and has a little daughter, Virginia. 
Arthur D., the A'oungest of the home circle, is in the fifth grade of the 
public schools and is one of the brightest students, his grades always 
averaging o\-er ninety. 

\[rs. Jackson, who was Imrn in b'airlielil dainty, Ohio, January 20, 
1854. is a daughter of Louis J. and .\nna (Huber) Dunning. There 
were six children, two sons and four daughters, in the family, and the 
four still living are: Jesse L.. postmaster at Ligonier. and is married: 
Lucinda, who resides at Goshen and is the widow of \\'i!liam .\. Jackson, 
a brother of Frank: Mrs. Frank bihnson : ami Flizab.etli. a resident of 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 455 

Ligonier. Mrs. Jackson's fatlier. wlm was Ijoni at Millerlon. Dutchess 
county, Xew York, in 1815, ar.d died April 23, 1900, was one of the 
a1>le men of this locaHty and came from an old New York family whose 
antecedents and record are of the best. His grandmother was a sister 
of William Cullen Br\-ant. and the family was represented by several of 
its members in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Jackson's father was a 
Repulilican in politics. Her mother, also a native of Fairfield county, 
Ohio, died October 31, igoi. and the}- were both members of the Pres- 
byterian church. Mrs. Jackson came to Noble county with her parents 
when she was five years old and was reared there, receiving- her educa- 
tion in the Ligonier schools. 

jMr. Jackson is a Denioci-at in politics, and has fraternal affiliations 
with Lodge No. 185 of the IMasons at Ligonier. His wife is a member 
of the Methodist church. The Jackson farm contains one hundred and 
forty-three acres, and their frame residence is, in part, one of the oldest 
if not the oldest house in Elkhart county. 

J. S. INKS. M. D. 

Dr. J. S. Liks, engaged in the jiractice of medicine in Nappanee, 
where his capability has found ready recognition in a large patronage, 
was born in Columbus, Franklin coimty, Ohio, April 14. 184S. His 
paternal grandfather, Jehu Inks, buih near Iientun. Indiana, a sawmill 
and com cracker — the first of the kind in the locality — and thus con- 
tributed tn the earlv material development of the county. Thomas Inks, 
father of Dr. Inks, w-as likewise a native of F'ranklin county, Ohio, and 
w-as brought to Elkhart county in 1820, when he was a young lad. Here 
he was reared amid the usual surroundings and conditions of pioneer 
life. He learned the trades of stone and marble cutting and later he 
engaged in merchandising. Fie made his home for some years in or 
near Wakarusa and built the first house in that place. In 1848 he re- 
moved to Ohio, but after a short time returned to this county, where he 
remained until 1862. In response to the country's need, he then enlisted 
for service in the L'nion army and for three years followed the stars and 
stripes upon the battlefields of the south. Willi the exception of seven 
years his entire life was spent in this county, and he was numbered 
among the pioneer settlers of Elkhart count)-, who ever manifested a 
sincere and helpful interest in its progress and improvement. His polit- 
ical allegiance was given the Deniocratic party. In early manhood be 
married Elizabeth Moore, whose faniily came to Elkhart countv about 
1838. ^Ir. Inks passed away at the age of seventy-seven years, while 
his wife died at the age of sevent}--five years. Tlieir family numbered 
four sons and three daughters, and with the exception of one who died 
in infancy all reached adult age. 

Dr. Inks, the second child and eldest son. was a ]>ui)il in the public 
schofjls of Elkhart co^nt^■, also attended the first normal scbon] of Elk- 



456 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

hart oouiity. in Elkhart City, and cMmipleted his more specifically literary 
education in the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso. Choos- 
ing the medical profession as a life worlc. he prepared for practice by a 
course in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago, the med- 
ical department of the Illinois Uni\-ersity. and was graduated with the 
class of 1884. He practiced through the succeeding four years at W'aka- 
rusa, Elkliart count}-, and then came to Nappanee. where he has since 
remained, his practice growing with the passing years until the extent 
of his business indicates in unmistakable terms the large measure of 
confidence reposed in him by the pulilic. 

On the 9th i>f ;\Jay. iHji). Dr. Inks was married to Miss Maiy 
Yant. " daughter of Andrew and lAelinc { 'j'ower ) ^'ant. Three chil- 
dren ha\-e been born to them: l^lla, the wife of Elmer Core, of Elk- 
hart county: Charles A., a ph\sician. wh.o is associated with his father in 
]3ractice; and Nellie, who died in childhood. 

1 )r. and ]\Irs. Inks hold membership in the German Bajitist church 
and are deeply interested in its work and the extension of its influence, 
lie gives his political support to the Democracy, and under President 
Cleveland served as United States examining surgeon for six years. He 
is also surgeon for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and he belongs to the 
County, State and American Medical Associations, wherebv he continu- 
ally broadens his knowledge and promotes his usefulness through the 
interchange of ideas and experiences in the meetings of those organiza- 
tions. Dr. Inks was the first health officer elected in Xappanee and is 
still the incumlient of this office. 

GEORCiE STUCKMAX. 

George Stuckman. for many years an honored and respected citizen 
of Elkhart county, was born in Union township, I'ebruaiy 22. 1838. 
His father, Martin Stuckman, was a nati\-e of Pennsylvania and in early 
manhood came westward to northwestern Indiana, establishing his home 
in Elkhart county when Goshen contained only a few log cabins and 
when the work of impro\-ement and progress seemed scarcely begun. 
His was the first marriage celebrated in Union township, and he cast 
the first vote in the township. In fact his name is closely associated with 
the early history of the cnunty. and is now found uixjn the roll of honored 
dead. He took a hel])fnl jiart in promoting early improvement and 
aided in laying bmad and devf, the foundation for the present upbuild- 
ing and prosperitv of this portion of the state. He passed away at the 
\-ery \-enerable age of ninety-seven years. 

George .Stuckman \\as 1»rn. reared and educated in Union town- 
shij) and taught school for twenty terms, following that profession suc- 
cessfullv through the winter seasons, while in the summer months he 
engaged in farming. He had the aliility to impart clearly and concisely 
to others the knowledge that be had ac(]uired. and he did much tn ad- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 457 

vance tlie standaril of education in this part of the state. He has for a 
number of years been extensively engaged in bee culture and now has 
one hundred stands of bees, making- a specialty of the raising of queen 
Iiees, which he ships to all parts of the United States and tO' Canada. 
He has made a close study of the business and has comprehensive knowl- 
edge connected with the apiary and of the best methods of caring for the 
bees and the honey. 

George Stuckman was united in marriage to Miss Emma Mc- 
Laughlin, who has made a notable record as a teacher. She has taught 
more than one hundred terms, and in addition to her educational work 
that has co\e-.'ed more than a half century, she has reared a family of two 
sons and a daughter. She began teaching at the age of fourteen years in 
1 85 1, in a little l(jg schoolhouse about three miles from jNIilford in 
Kosciusko county, the building being fourteen by sixteen feet. Nearly 
all of her teaching since that time has been in Elkhart and Kosciusko 
counties. She was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, and removed 
to Milford with her parents in 1845. She did not have the privilege of 
attending school after she was fourteen years of age, and she took ad- 
vantage of county normals such as w-ere provided for teachers in the 
earlier days, and in later years she availed herself of the advantages of 
the Northern Lidiana Normal School, living for twelve years at Val- 
paraiso and attending school there between terms. She has always kept 
abreast with the best thought of her profession by reading the educa- 
tional periodicals and keeping in close touch with those whom she knew 
to be efficient in the work. .\s a result she is to-day in demand by 
trustees who seek the best instructors, ^^'hile in Valparaiso she wrote 
monthly articles on government and school discipline for the college 
school journal. She has also traveled quite extensively throughout the 
west and has thus broadened her knowdedge and experience. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Stuckman were born seven children, of whom four have passed 
away. William was one of triplets, the other two having died. He 
was quartermaster in the regular army and is now in New York city. 
Edwin D. is engaged in the practice of medicine in Nappanee. Ethel is 
the W'ife of Melvin Strycker, of Chicago, and is a musician and teacher 
of music of considerable note. 

George Stuckman is now practically living retired. He is a strong 
temperance man and is a stanch supporter of the Prohibition party. He 
has never used either tobacco or liquor in any way. but has kept his life 
clean and pure in thought, puq^ose and conduct. He belongs to the 
Progressive Brethren church, and his Christian principles have been a 
])ermeating influence in his relations with his fellow- men. He has been 
a life-long resident of Indiana, having spent almost the entire time in 
Elkhart county, and he is well known in this portion of the state. 

Dr. Edwin D. Stuckman. the younger son of the family, and now 
an active and successful physician of Nappanee. was born in Locke town- 
ship. Elkhart county. March 10. 1868. He was reared at the place of 



458 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

liis nativity, and after attending- the C(iinin<in scIkikIs he ]jnrsued a conrse 
of instruction at Mount Morris, llhnois. He afterward engaged in 
teaching for seven years, sjjending two years of that time at Lesterville, 
South Dakota, alxnit sixteen miles northwest of Yankton. Entering the 
Xorthern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, he was graduated in 
pharmacy in 1892. and then iireparin.g for the practice of medicine and 
surgery he completed a couise in the Indiana Medical College at Indiana- 
polis hy graduation on the 29th of March, 1895. He located at New 
Paris, where he remained for three years, and since that time has been 
in Nappanee, wdiere as a general practitioner he has built up an e.xtensive 
practice that is profitable and creditable. He is continually adding to 
his knowledge through research and inxestigation, and his efficiency is 
acce])ted b}' general consent throughout his community. 

In .September. 1892, Dr. Stuckman was married to Miss Sayilla 
Ncff, a daughter of \\'il1iam and Mary (Flory) Neff and a native of 
Elkhart county. Indiana. Dr. and Mrs. Stuckman now have one son — 
Edgar. Since proudly casting his lirst ])residential vote, the doctor has 
been an advncate of Ixepublican principles, and has taken an active in- 
terest in the work of the party. He is a member of the Elkhart County 
Medical Society and is well kmiwn throughout this part of the state as 
a gentleman of strong purpose and laudable ambition, who in his chosen 
calling has already demonstrated his right to rank with its foremost rep- 
resentatives. 

DANIEE J. TROVER. 

Daniel J. Tro\er. for several years city attorney of Goshen and 
recenti}- appointed probate commissioner of Elkhart county, was born 
on his father's farm in Clinton township of this county, May 20, i860, 
and throughout his career he has lieen identified closely with his native 
community. Of a family which has numerous honorable connections 
in various jjarts of the countr\-. c<intaining names of some early settlers 
of Elkhart county, he was a son of John D. and Catherine ( Egli ) Troyer. 
The father, who was liorn in Holmes county. ( )hio, was a son of 
David and Elizabeth ( I'lank ) Troyer, both natives of Holmes a>unty, 
where David Troyer died at the age )f nearly eighty-five years. Go- 
ins.; bark st'll another remove in the ancestry, there was Joseph 
Trover, who was of Swiss lineage, and from his native state of Penn- 
sylvania had become an early settler of Holmes county. Ohio. Cath- 
erine (Egli) Trover, the mother of Mr. Troyer. who was horn near 
Canton. Stark county, Ohio, was <if (ierman parentage, and her father. 
Christian Egli, settled in Clinton township of Elkhart county along in 
tlie e.arh' forties, where be continued to make his home until his death 
about t\ventv-fi\e \ears ago. John D. Troyer, the father, came to this 
(•(iunt\ . a single man. in 1858, was married soon after, and settled on 
a fami in Clinton townsbij). In 18S1 he moved to Michigan, and ten 




<=-<J^ vw^^^^^ 



HISTORY OF ELKllAUT COUNTY 459 

years later nioxed to Milfnrd. Xeliraska. wliere he is iidw engaged in 
the contraeting" l)iisiness. 

Reared on a farm and obtaining- his prehminary edncation in the 
conntry schools. Mr. Troyer enjoyed excellent educational privileg'es 
and is one of the thoroughly learned men in the legal profession of 
this county. He attended the Indiana State University and later the 
Normal College at Dan\illc, Indiana. Securing a teacher's certificate 
when seventeen years old. for twentv-fonr ^•ears he was known as one 
of the |jrominent educators of this county. He was principal of the 
Benton schools two years, was one year in the North Side school in 
Goshen, and for a number of years a member of the faculty of Goshen 
high scliool. \Miile teaching he took up the study of law, studying 
with A. S. Zook and then with E. A. Dausman, and was admitted to 
the bar in 1899. j\t the death of Llewellyn Wanner he purchased the 
law library of the estate and opened his office in Goshen. For two 
years he was associated with the firm of Miller. Drake and Hubbell, 
but in January, 1905, he again engaged in practice alone. He was a 
member of the Goshen city council two years, and since May. 1902, 
has served as city attorney, having been twice elected to the office. In 
the fall of 1904 he was appointed probate commissioner for Elkhart 
county. In politics Mr. Troyer has always ^•oted and advocated the 
cause of the Republican party. 

One of the pniminent fraternitv men in Goshen, Mr. Troyer has 
aftilialions with the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Macca- 
bees, the Knights and Ladies of Columbia. He has taken an especially 
active part in Odd Fellowship, having for the past four years served 
as member of the legislative committee of the Grand Lodge of Indiana, 
and for some time has been secretary and a trustee of the subordinate 
lodge at Goshen and treasurer of the encampment. He is a member 
of the Reformed church in Goshen. 

In 1881 Mr. Troyer married Miss Etta Brown, of Clinton town- 
shi)!. Their living children are two daughters. Myrtle M., the elder, 
wIki was formerly principal of the W'akarusa schools and taught one 
\ear in the Goshen schools, is now the wife of V. V. Swartz, Goshen, 
Indiana. Miss Pearl is a stenographer in her father's office, and the 
only son, John, died at the age of six years. Mrs. Troyer is a daugh- 
ter of Amos and Ann (Evans) Brown, who were early settlers of Clin- 
ton tfiwnship. where they both died in 189J. 

JACOB H.\RTMAX. 

The firm of f-Iartman Brothers is well known in Nappanee. and of 
this business combination Jacol> Flartman is a reiiresentative. He was 
l)orn in Elkhart county, September 6, 1849, ^"c^ i* '^ S"" "^t Adam Hart- 
man, a native of (lermany. who came to this county at an early day. set- 
tliiig in Harrison township, where he remained for about two years. He 



4(50 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

then removed to Union township, where he improved a farm, but his last 
days were spent in Harrison township, where he died at an advanced age. 
As a pioneer settler he not only witnessed the development of the county, 
but assisted materially in the changes that were wrought and whicli 
brought about its present improved condition and prosperity. Everj- 
matter of progressive citizenship received his endorsement, and in as far 
as possible he gave tO' it his material assistance. His wife, who in her 
maidenhood was Elizabeth Rainer, was Ijorn in Pennsylvania and passed 
away in Elkhart count} . They were the parents of seven sons and three 
daughters, and with one exception all reached manhood or womanhood, 
namely : Samuel, who is engaged in dealing in produce south of Elk- 
hart : Tobias, who was born in Ohio and is a member of the firm of 
Hartman Brothers; Peter, of Louisiana; .\dam R., a representative 
farmer living about three and a half miles west of Nappanee; Jacob of 
this review ; John, who is also a member of the fifm of Hartman 
Brothers; Emanuel, deceased; Catherine, the deceased wife of David 
W. Bechtel ; Elizabeth, the wife of Samuel j\Iette\'er of Newton, Kan- 
sas; and one that died in infancy. 

Jacob Hartman, the se\-enth child .-md tiftli son of this faniil}-. was 
reared upon his father's farm in Uninn township and continued to assist 
him along agricultural lines until t\\enty-one years of age, when he 
started out to make his own way in the world, following" 1:)0th farming 
and carpentering for a year. (In the expiration of that period he Ijegan 
business on his own account at Hapton, Kosciusko county, joining his 
brother Sanmel in the ownership and conduct of a mercantile store. 
This was in 1871 and they conducted the business until 1873, when they 
removed to Locke, where they carried on a similar enterprise until 1875. 
In that year Samuel Llartman sold his interest to his brothers, Tobias 
and John, the firm name of Hartman Brothers being retained. .Soon 
after they established a branch store at Nappanee when the town was 
organized and carried on both stares until 1883, when they removed 
the stock at Locke to Nappanee. Here they have since continued as 
Hartman Brothers. This was one of the first stores in the town and is 
now the largest enterprise of tlie kind at this place. They conduct a 
general mercantile establishment, carrying clothing, groceries, dry goods, 
l)oots and shoes, notions, carpets and queensware. In fact their store 
is well equipped with a large line of goods and the business has grown 
to gratifying proportions. Hartman Brothers are recognized as leading 
and influential men of the town and in connection with their store they 
own an elevator and are largely interested in shi]iping grain. They 
furnish emplovment to from fifteen to twenty men and their enterprise 
has been an ini])ortant factor in tlie niihuilding and inipro\-ement of 
Nappanee 

Jacob Llartman was married in 1877 to Miss .\lwelda J. Earring- 
ton, a daughter c)f William and Calissa Farrington. Mrs. Hartman 
was liorn in the Empire state and became a resident of Kosciusko county 



HISTORY OF ELKHART LOL'XT\- 461 

in lier girlluxid (la}'s. Slie dieii in I'eljruar}'. J 895, leaving two sons and 
two daughters: Arthur F.. who married Cinderella Jimmdns and is 
engaged in the hanking hnsiness in Nappanee; Melvin F., who wedded 
Sarah Bellman and is in the em])loy of Hartman Brothers; Iva I., wh(j 
is engaged in clerking in the store; I)iana B., who is engaged in hook- 
keeping in the store. On the 1 ith of Septeniher, 1896, Mr. Hartman 
was again married, his second union heing with Osa E. Heckaman. a 
daughter of Samuel and Sarah Heckaman of Kosciusko county. There 
is one child hy this marriage. Russell H.. now five years of age. 

Jacob Hartman takes no active part in political affairs hut is a 
Prohihitionist in principle. He is well known in the cnuntw hax'ing 
?pent his entire life here, and his hnsiness prominence is the result of 
carefullv directed effort, unfaltering diligence and strong and <leteniiine(! 
])ur]K)se. He has become well-to-do. }et the accpiirement df a com- 
petence has not alone lieen the gf)al for which he was striving, for he 
belongs to that class of rejiresentatixe American citizens who promote 
the general pros]5erit\' while ;id\ancing indi\'idual interests. 

JOH.X H.\RTM.\X. 

John Hartman. ot the firm of Hartman Brothers, general mer- 
chants at Xappanee, is a native son of Elkhart county, who has found in 
the business conditions here all the opix^rtunity necessary for successful 
accomplishment. He was born in Union township. December 11, 185 1, 
and in a family of nine children was the sixth in order of birth. He early 
became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the ag- 
riculturist, for upon the farm he was reared and at an earl}- age he began 
assisting in the work of the .fields. His education was olitained in the 
public schools and he continued to render his father aid in the work of 
the farm until twentv-one vears of age. He then began working for 
his brother in a store and nliout a -vear later was admitted to a ])artner- 
ship under the firm style of Hartman Brothers. The\- ha\e one of 
the largest department .stores in the county and lia\e been \erv pros- 
perous since instituting this Inisiness. Theirs is now tlie oldest estab- 
lished enterprise of X'appanee. and in volume and ini])i.)rtance their 
trade has kept pace with the growth, of the town, fliex' are also inter- 
ested in the grain business owning an elevator and shipping grain. 

In July. 1879, Johii. Hartman w^ts married to Miss Rebecca 
Peters, who was born in Pennsylvania and is a daughter of William 
Peters. Thev have three children: Ldlie. Barnetha and Horace. Mr. 
Hartman exercises liis right of franchise in support of the Democratic 
part}- and its princi])les and he served for t\vo terms or four }-ears as 
tow-nship trustee in Locke to\\nshi]i. He was also a men-iber of the 
tow-n board for ahout six \-ears and is now occupied in that capacity. 
His interest in the general welfare is manifest in tangihle effort for the 



402 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

public iji'ood. He is an active, wide-awake man. furthering \vorthv pub- 
lic measures, and at the same time conducting" pri\ate business interests 
with an aliility that has insured success. 

SUMNER ARTHUR EDMANDS, M. D. 

Suiuner .\rtbur Edniands, ]\l. D.. who has within the past few 
years added himself to the number of able medical men of Elkhart 
county, is a young- physician of thorough training in his profession, of 
broad and expert experience, and his skill and knowledge have already 
advanced him to a place where he is recognized among the l.iest of 
Goshen's physicians and surgeons. 

Born Novemljer 21, 1870, during a brief residence of his parents 
at Buchanan. Berrien count}-, Michigan, he is a son of John and Funma 
( White ) F.dniands, both natives of the state of Massachusetts and mar- 
ried in that state. The paternal grandfather, Samuel Sumner Edmands. 
v-as a shoe manufacturer and banker at North Brookfield, and was also 
connected with the Boston and Albany Railroad. The maternal grand- 
father, A. J. White, of English and Scotch descent, followed the occu- 
pation of horticulturist and was also a music instructor. The parents 
of Dr. Edmands, leaving Massachusetts, w-ent to Michigan, locating 
first at Buchanan and then at Kalamazoo, where the father still lixes. 
Tlie mother died w-hen lier son Sumner was three years old. and the 
father afterward married again. 

Dr. luhuands w-as reared in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he at- 
tended the high school and then spent two }-ears in the Baptist college 
at that place. For iiis professional education he matriculated in Rush 
Medical College in Chicago, and was graduated from that institution in 
1896. For the followdng fi\-e years lie practiced at ^Mention, Michigan, 
and came to Goshen in 1901. Progressive in his ideals, he has never 
been content witbi his attainments, and since leaving school has taken 
tw-o post-graduate courses to fit him n-iore thoroughly for his w-ork — 
one in g\necology in Chicago under Dr. A. R. Martin and one iii bac- 
teriology in Rush Medical ("ollege. He gives some special attention to 
surgery, although his practice is of a general i-iature. He follows his 
profession closely and is connected w-ith various professional organiza- 
tions — the Elkhart County Medical Society, the Indiana State Medical 
.Society, the Kalamazoo Academy of Medicine, Michigan State Medical 
Society and the .\merican Medical Association, l-'raternalh- be is affil- 
iated with the Knights of Pythias. 

Dr. Edn-iands has achieved his ow-n success, and. having been de- 
])endent on his ow-n resources and labored for his self-support since he 
was ten vears old, he should be classed among the self-made men of our 
countrv. Circumstances, however, .have not handicapped him to any 
great extent in his career, for he has always succeeded w-ell in bis under- 
takings. In bis graduating class at medical college, numbering two bun- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTS' -im 

dred and Uiirty-li\e, he was honored Ijy election as jiresident of the 
class and his scholastic standing- made him valedictorian. 

Dr. Edmands married Aliss Elettie Essig. Dr. Edmamls' hrother 
Samuel is a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute and is ww an 
electrical engineer and a jirofessor in Pratt Institute, lirooklyn. 

BEXJ.\M1X C. BENDER. 

Benjamin C. Bender, one of the young and progressive citizens of 
Cioshen, where he has spent jjractically all his life, now ser\'ing his 
second term as city clerk, was Imni in this city July if). 1H75. His 
parents were Jacoh j. and .Mar\- ITleu ( Crary ) Bender, His father, 
though now a resident of Chicago, lix-ed for a number of years in ( loshen, 
and followed the vocation of traveling salesman. 

Mr. Bender was reared and educated in Goshen. luitering upon 
his business career at the earl}- age of eighteen, he then began as a 
commercial tra\'eler in the interests of .\. E. Kent and Sons, of James- 
town, New York, manufacturers cf hosiery, and later Sdld silks fni- 
Brainerd and Armstrong Compan}-. of New York. While on the road 
he became afllictetl with rheumatism and was ill for several years. He 
then held the ]5osition of bookkeeper and cashier for the (losheu Milling 
Company until his electinn to the oltice nf city clerk, which took place 
at the s]iring electicjn of i()02. and t\v(i years later he was re-elected. 
He is an excellent otficial and has discharged his duties with a jjains- 
taking care that is satisfactory to all concerned. 

Mr. Bender is a stanch Republican, and fraternally is affiliated 
with the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of 
Elks, the Knight Templar Masons. Pie was married in kjoj to Miss 
INIaud C. Divine, of Reading. Michigan. 

CEORGE \\'. ELLIS. 

George \\ . Ellis, who for over fifteen vears has lieen the efficient 
incumbent of the office of coi-,nt>' superintendent of schools for I-'lk- 
hart county, has de\-oted almost his entire active career to educational 
•work. 

Born in Berlin, Holmes county, Ohio, September 15, 1830, Mr. 
Ellis was ihe third eldest of the eight children who comprised the fam- 
ily of James and Mary ( Thomp.son ) Ellis. This worthy cou])le. who 
were ])orn in Pennsyl\-;'nia. nf Scotch-Irish lineage, and were reared in 
that state, w-ere married in Ohio and manv years lived at ^Vilmot, where 
the father died in 1871 aged forty-eight, and the mother in 1897 ai the 
age of se\-enty-four. Vwo of their children are no\\- deceased. The 
father, who was a blacksmith l;y trade, entered the L'nion ser\ice as 
first lieutenant of Com])aii_\- K. (^ne Hundred and Sixtv-third Ohio In- 
fantry, but after four montlis" service was sent home with health ]5er- 
manently impaired, and he never regained his full strength. In politics 



4t;4 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTS' 

lie was a Re)_nil;ilican, and was a man of influence and known for his in- 
teority in his h^ume community. 

Reared at W'ihiiot. Ohio, where he flrst attendeil school, later study- 
ing at Smithville and at Alt. Union (Ohio) College. Mr. Ellis procured 
his educational ;md i>rofessional eqtiipment hy alternately teaching and 
attending school, so that he is really a self-educated man and has won 
liy his own efforts the place he occupies as an educator. Air. Ellis 
has been a citizen of Goshen since 18S4. Soon after coming' here he 
liecame principal of the South Fifth Street school, and held that place 
four years, until elected, in June. 1889, to the office of county superin- 
tendent, where successi\'e re-electi(ms have maintained him ever since. 

Mr. Ellis is a Republican in jjolitics. and fraternall_\- is a Master 
Mason and a Knight of Pythias. He was married in Ohio in 1874 to 
Miss Ella Brey, and their family consists of four children, one son and 
three daughters. 

M.\RTIX HEXRV KIXXEY. 

Martin Henr\- Kinney, prominent for a number of years in the 
]>ublic affairs of the county, is now serving as clerk of the Elkhart Cir- 
cuit Court, The third generation of the family to reside in this county, 
he himself was born near the town of Bristol on May 27. 1862. a son 
of Benj.imin F. and Catherine (Layton) Kinney, the former a native 
of Penns)dvania and the latter of Ohio. His father accompanied his 
parents to Elkhart countv when he was tweh'e vears old. the family 
being one of the first to cast in their lot with this portion of northern 
Indiana, and both father and mother have lived nearly all their lives 
in the county, being farming ]ieo]ile anrl still living near Bristol. There 
were just two children, and the voimger. Charles L. Kinney, is ex- 
ci:unt\- sur\e\'or and is nn\\- a contractor and sur\evor residing at 
l!rist<T 

It is a circumstance worthy of note that both the father and mother 
and Charles L. Kinney as well as Mr. Martin Kinney himself have 
all. at dift'erent times, taught school in the same schoolhouse in this 
county. Martin Henry Kinney first attended the ];ublic schools of the 
town of Bristol, and later took a scientific course at the X^orthern Indi- 
ana Normal School at Valparaiso, where he also studied law. He has 
had eight vears of school teaching- experience, his last teaching being 
as principal of the Bristol schools. He was admitted to the bar on 
March 4. 1897, and has been more or less actively identified with the 
legal profession ever since. He resigned his place in the Bristol schools 
lo become deputy clerk under George H. Eister. clerk of the Elkhart 
Circuit Court, and continued as deputy under Clerk Louis A. Dennert. 
being deputy for eight years. In the fall of 1902 he was elected to his 
present position of clerk of the Elkhart Circuit Court, and has most 
capably filled the office to the present time, his present term to expire 





iiAAyW] 



i^T^yi^i/l 



1J- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 4t!.-i 

on January i. igoj. He lias always been a standi and active Repub- 
lican. 

Mr. Kinnev married <in leap-year day, February 29, 1888, Miss 
(iertrude Swinehart. of this county. They are the parents of three 
children, Joyce, Clare and Paul. Mr. Kinnay afililiates witli the Kniqhts 
of Pythias, the Maccabees and tlie order of Elks. 

\\1LLL\M I'.ARCER. 

William Barger retired a few years ago from a life of well sjient 
activity ami usefulness and is now one of the men past the age of 
threescore and ten who liave given the best years of their careers to 
the business and industrial development of Elkhart and who may be 
considered tlie founders and autlmrs of much of the present stability 
of tlie city. 

Born in Columliia county. Pennsylvania, May 12. 1831. the next 
to the youngest child of Ceorge Barger. who was of German stock, and 
.Margaret (Shock) Barger. whose nine children all grew to maturitv. 
at the age of three years the son William went with his parents to 
Seneca count v. Ohio, and spent the years of his boyhood and youth in 
that coinitv. i-eceiving his education in the country schonls. .\lthough 
reared on a farm, he learned the carpenter's trade and followed it for 
some years. In 1856 he located in .St. Joseph coimty. Indiana, and 
fluring the three years of bis residence there he gave his efforts to the 
clearing up of a timber farm. In 1859 he identifiefl himself with the 
citv of Elkhart, and for twentv-five years thereafter was a well known 
contractor and builder. -During that period he erected his full share of 
the ])rivate and business houses of this city. In 1885. in partnersbi]) 
with hi'- sun. be began the manufacture of iiaper boxes, and his connec- 
tion with this ver^• successful enterprise continued until 1900. when 
he withdrew permanentl}- from active lusiness and has since lived re- 
tired. His Inisiness career lias been very successful, and in the forty 
vears during which he was so ])rominently identified with the business 
life of this citv he accumulated a large amount of property. He assisted 
in the organization of the FZlkhart Building and Loan Association, which 
later became the St. Joseph Valley .Association. In this and in many 
otlier wavs be has promote<I the development and uiiliuilrling of Ellc- 
liart. 

j\lr. Barger married, in 1855. Miss Cvndiia J. Cherry. Their 
wedded life has lasted over forty years, and in these years seven chil- 
dren were born to them, namely: Olinda B.. Etta, Clementina, Frank- 
lin. William H., James R.. and Adelbert, who died in infancy. Mrs. 
Barger died in 1896. and in 1898 Mr. Barger was married to Mrs. Car- 
rie AT. Castetler of Elkhart. 

Reared in Democratic n])inions an.d casting bis first vote for those 
])rinciples. in i860 Mr. Barger b.ecame a Re]niblican. and, voting for 



460 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

.-\liraham Linrnln. f'lr hi^ --L'CdiKl term, has e\er since cast liis liallut 
for Repuljlican cani!i(lait>;. He has serx'ed un the cit}- cmmcil of Elk- 
hart. .\ loyal Methodist, the first church of that denomination in Elk- 
hart \vas partly Iniilt by him. and he is now a trustee and class leader in 
the cluu'ch and lias been treasurer of the .Sunday school e\'er since cnni- 
int;' to the city. 

(iliORlib: W". HALEXSTEIX. M. 1). 

(jeorge W. Hauenstein. M. D.. has been successfully engaged in 
the ])ractice of medicine and surgery at Elkhart since 1893. Since first 
opening an office be has never lost ground in bis profession either from 
the standp(.)int of skill or patronage, and tlie sphere of bis work is 
continually getting broader. 

Dr. Hauenstein was born on a farm in Baugo township, January 
20, 1866. His parents were Rudolph and Anna (Myers) Hauenstein, 
Irath of whom were born in Switzerland and were brought to the United 
.States m childhood. The father, who had passed all his years from 
boyhood in this county, died in 1SS8 .at the age of seyenty years, while 
the mother, who was reared in Ohio, is still living on the old homestead 
in Baugo township, being in good health despite her eighty- four years. 
They bad eight children, of whom a daughter died at the age of twaity. 

Reared on a farm. Dr. Hauenstein obtained his early education 
in the rountr\- schools, and for a few years he taught school. Having 
chosen medicine as his jirofession he entered the College of Physicians 
and Surgeons at Cbicag'o and on bis graduation from that well kno^yn 
school in 1803 be at once located for practice in Elkhart, where he has 
found a fruitful field for his labors and has made full use of bis ample 
o])15ortunities. He is a member of the Elkhart City a:id the Elkhart 
County medical .societies and also of the Indiana Medical Society. 

Dr. Hauenstein married, in 1802, Miss Efifie Funk, and to them 
has beeni born one child. Russell F. They are members of the Metho- 
dist church, and are among the well known and highly respected cit- 
izens of the city of l^lkliart. 

NXDRIAV TACKSOX CARPER, M. D. 

.\n(lre\\ Jackson Carper. M. D.. is noted all over northern Indiana 
not only as one of the foremost among the general medical practitioners 
of this section of the state byt more particularly as a specialist, who for 
\ears has treated with remarkable success cancers, eczema, and various 
chronic and habitual diseases. A man of intense convictions and with 
a correspondingly broad personality, thoroughly skilled in his profes- 
sion. Dr. Carper lias gained a deservedly high reputation for ability and 
among the ]3eople of Elkhart county in general has infused a complete 
confidence in his )«)wers as a s]>ecialist and general practitioner. 

Dr. Cari)er was born November 2. 1844, on a farm in DeKalb 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 467 

county. Indiana, a son nf Adam and I'llizabeth (Cnbler) Caqier, hotli dI 
whom were born in IViins\ l\ania nf ( iernian descent and. cumins; fn un 
Ohio, settled as pioneers in Deivalb county al)out 1840. Tliey remained 
there the rest of their lives, the father being a farmer. 

The seventh in a family of six sons and four (lan,t;hters. Dr. Car- 
per spent th.e hrst twenty-six years of his life on the home farm. 
After attending the coimtry schools and later the high schools of 
.\uburn and Butler, at the age of twenty-two he ol:tained a teacher's 
certificate, and for the folIo\\ing ten years was a country school- 
master. In the meantime lie was ])reparing for a nvn'e extended career 
by studying" metlicine, and in 1873 he began practice at Roan, Wabash 
countv, V here he continued fo\ir _\'ears, was then located at Liberty 
Mills ten years, followed by live yeai's at Niles, Michigan, and in 
J891 he located in Klkhart. lie graduated from Fort Wayne .\le<l- 
ica! College in i88j. Dr. Carper has given study and attention tn his 
sjiecialties for the last twenty-five years, and the cures which he has 
affected, notably in carcinomatous cases, all of which are treated with- 
out the use of the knife, ha\e been such as to place his fame be\(in(l the 
reach of envy or cavil. 

Dr. Car]5er affiliates v.dth the Modern \\'t)0(lmen of America, and 
to whatever cause he gives his adherence he offers support w itli tlie 
same earnest zeal that characterizes all his professional work. 

He married, in 1S70. Miss Hattie S. Steele, and they are the ])ar- 
ents of three children, two sons and one daughter. 

H. C. FILLER. 

H. C. Fidler. proprietor of a drv goods store in Xappanee. was 
born in Lebanon county, Pennsyhania. January i. 1848. and traces 
liis ancestiy hack to Gotlieb Fidler. wh.o came to America in 1710, 
landing in New York. He was the progenitor of the family in the 
United States and his descendants are now numerous. Henry Fidler, 
father of our subject, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and by 
occupation was a farmer, engaging in the tilling of the soil through- 
out the period of his active business career. He married Miss Han- 
nah Chall, who was also a native of Pennsylvania and was descended 
from German ancestry. He died in the Keystone state at the age of 
sixty-two years, while his wife passed away at the advanced age of 
eighty years. In their family were ten childrai — six sons and four 
daughters, all of whom reached years of maturity. 

H. C. Fidler. the fourth child and second son in that famil\-. is 
indebted to the public school system of his native state for the educa- 
tional privileges he enjoyed and which prepared him for meeting life's 
practical and responsible duties. He continued upon the homestead 
farm until eighteen years of age and at that time secured a ]5osition as 
clerk in a little general store in the coal regions of Penns^'l\•ania. There 



468 HISTORY' OF ELKHART COUXTY 

he remaiiic'l fm" a year, after which he returned home and two years 
attended sclinoh He then aci'epted a clerkship in a general store in 
Alinersville, Pennsyh-ania, where he remained for four )ears, on the 
expiration of whicli period he again returned home. In 1S72 he started 
for the west, locating at Sotith Ilend, Indiana, where he hecame a 
salesman in the ilvv goods store of .\. S. Lei|) & Brother, remaining 
in their employ until the fall of 1S74. \t that time he once more took 
up his ahode in 1 'enns_\ hania, where he continued to reside until the 
spring of 187N. In that year he again located in South Bend and for 
one year clerked for 1). M. Shirley. In the spring of 1879 he went 
to Elkhart City, where he acted as salesnian for Broderick Brotliers 
& Hazelton. continuing with that house until the fall of [SSj. when 
he emharked in husiness on his own account at \\'akarusa in partner- 
ship with William Maurer. That connection was maintained for a1»ut 
nine years or until the spring of jSqi. In the fall of 189J he estah- 
lished liis husiness at Nappanee as a dealer in dr_\- goods, and for 
thirteen vears has conducted his store here with a tair measiu'e of suc- 
ces.s. He carries a large and well selected line of dry goods and has 
always studied the wishes of !he puhlic so that hy his earnest desire 
to i)lease. his reasonable jDrices and his honorahle husiness metlKuls he 
has secured a gratifying patronage. 

In August. 1892. Mr. Fidler was married to Miss Clara E. Leih, 
a daughter of Daniel and Peary (Doane) I.eih and a native of La- 
grange count\-. Indiana. The two children horn of this marriage died 
in infancy. 

Mr. Fidler has now heen a resident of Elkhart comity, for twenty- 
six years and has manifested a keen and zealous interest in the wel- 
fare and progress of this ]>art of the state. In his jjolitical views he 
has lieen a life-long Republican. He holds membership with the Chris- 
tain clu':rch and his career has heen actuated by honorable moti\-es and 
determined purpose. Those who know him intimately gi\'e him their 
friendship and those whom he has met in business and ])ul)lic life enter- 
tain for him respect and esteem 

A. ELMER M.W'XINC. 

A. Elmer Manning, the i>resent sTitsriff of Elkhart county, was 
horn on a farm about four miles east of the city of Elkhart. February 
22. 1863. FTis father. Anthony C. Mann.ing, a native of Ohio, came 
to this count\' during its pioneer e])och, leaving his home in the Buck- 
eye state when a voung man and taking up his abode within the borders 
of JefYerson township, there Ix'ing at that time no railroads in the 
countv. and he with other earlv settlers would float flour on rafts down 
the Elkhart ri\er to St. Joe. Micliigan. He took an acti\-e and promi- 
nent part in the de\'elopment of this jiart of the state, aided in trans- 
forming it"^ wild lands into ])roducli\'e f.avnis, anil in other ways pronioted 






"~^ 



HIS'i"()R^■ Ol" I'.l.KllART COrXTV 469 

■lie ijriii^reh.s ;in(l advancement which made a once wild regidn the home 
lit a ])r()sperv)us people. After nian\- years uf hard lahor on the farm, 
however. Mr. Manning retired from agriciiltiu-al pursuits and removed 
to Elkhart, iri the council of which city he served several years, and in 
addition also serxed his townshi]) of Concord as assessor two terms and 
his comity as sherifl' from i8f)i to 1S62. He was twice married, be- 
coming the father of two daughters by his first wife, while to the second 
union, wdien Sarah Stcckdale, the mother of our subject, became his 
wife, live children were liorn, four of whom arc still living. She, too. 
preceded him in death. ])a:-sing away at Elkhart, where he also was 
called upon 'o la}- down life's laliors. ;it se\'enty-eight vears. dying in 
the faith of the Methodist church. }]is political support was gi\-en to 
the Ke])ublican ])art\ . 

When but ten or tweKe years of age A. I<!lmer Manning acconi- 
])anied Ins parents on their removal to Elkhart, where he grew to vears 
of niaturity and received his education in its public schools. On reach- 
ing the age of eighteen years he b.egan work for the Western Llnion 
Telegrajih Company, in their construction dejjartment, where he re- 
mained for eighteen years, and for the two following vears was a 
member of the police force of Elkhart, Eor a similar ])erio(l he was 
in the employ of C. G. Conn, of the band instrument factor}-. On the 
expiration of that time, in 1902, he was elected sheriff of Elkhart county, 
by a majorit}- of 701. t(^ which position he was re-elected in 1904 by 
2.325 majority. He takes an active interest in ]5olitical affairs, as a 
representative of Republican principles, and with a full a]>preciation of 
his duty and a patriotic love for his country. kee]is well informed on 
the issues of the day and gives his sup]>ort to all measures which he 
l>elieves for the public good. 

Mr. Manning was married in 1S83 to Eillie B. Metzger. of Elk- 
hart, where she received a ]jublic school education. Mr. Manning is 
a memter of the Knights of I'}-thi.'iS fraternity and of the Benevolent 
and Protective Order of Elks. 

ETHAN L. .\RNOLL). 

Ethan L. .Arnold, of Elkhart, a young attorney who has alreafly 
made his way int(j ]irominence at the bai' of the county, and who is one 
of the influential and active memliers of the democratic part\- in the 
count}-, was born on a farm in Cass county. Michigan, Januar}- 18, 
1875. He is a grandson of an early settler of ]\[ichigan. (jeorge .Arn- 
old ha\-ing come with a brother from Vermont and located in Michi- 
gan along in the carl}- days. On his jiioneer homestead was born 
Ahin 1-". .\rnold, tlie f;Ulier of the hdkharl atlornc}-, who was reared 
in his n<iti\-e state ;u-id continued the occu]iation of fanning until he 
moved to Elkhart about 1883 and took u]) the business of construc- 
tion contractor. He and his \\ife. Sarah .\. (Keene) .\rnold, who is 



470 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

also a native ■>£ Michigan, are well known and highly esteemed resi- 
dents of Elkhart, Ethan L. arul anntlier sun lieing' their only children. 

Ha>'ing li\-ed in Elkhart since he -was eight years nld, Mr. Arnold 
naturally feels as much at home in the city as though he were a native 
son. He was educated in the city schools, after which he tonk a com- 
mercial course in the Elkhart I'.usiness College, and in :S()i lie entered 
the law office of Chamherlain and Turner, where he remained, as an 
employe and student, until lyoJ. .\dmitted to the liar in igoo, he has 
since heen in the active ])ractice of his jirofession. he and Eorest E. 
Hughes being the meml^ers of :i well known and iirosperous law firm. 

As has been mentioned. Mr. .\rnold i> one of the \igorous ex- 
ponents oi Democracv in this conntv. He has ser\ed as chairman of 
the Elkhart city central comnnttee. and as \ ice chairman of the Demo- 
cratic connty committee. April 17, 1905, Mr. Arnold was a])pointed 
a memlier of the Elkhart board of public works, and 1)\ the hoard was 
elected its president. He affiliates with the Modern Samaritans of 
the World and is a meml>er of the Century Club of Elkhart. 

Ry his marriage. .Vpril 28, 1900, to ^Miss Lotta W. Rhoades, of 
W'liite I'igeon. Michigan, he lias two children. Elizabeth an<l Leon. 

JACOB H. DELL. 

Jacob H. Dell is one of tiie citizens of W'akarusa who wnuld lie 
most tjuickly selected in answer to a request hn- the names of the rep- 
resentative men of affairs and influence in the communit}-. .\ man 
of stren.gth of character and high ideals, he has not only achiexed a 
high degree of success and prosperity in material affairs, but has gained 
a place of eminent usefulness and esteem in' his comnmnity. 

Mr. Dell is one of the best informed men in W'akarusa concern- 
ing the history of this part of the count w He is so not only b\' long- 
personal experience and ol.)ser\-ation but also liy praiseworthy interest 
in those details of life and ])rogress which mark' the course of e\er)- 
locrditv from its beginning to its attainment of distinct dignity in the 
ci\ic and business centers of a county or state. Hax'ing lived in the 
county from ]iioneer times to the present, and haxing identified him- 
self so thort.ughly \vith the county's affairs. .\lr. Dell is ]-;nown and 
esteemed not only in Wakarusa and \icinit_\- but throughont the county. 

Horn in this county !<"el;ruar\' _' 1 . 1S44. Mr. Dell was tlie third 
of the nine children, five sons and four daughters, of jacoli and Mar\- 
(Cripe) Dell, the names of lioth parents heing familiar in the earl\- as 
well as later annals of the county. I he tamily is ^lf Scotch-Irish and 
(lerman lineage. Mr. Dell is now the oldest of the si.x living children, 
his brothers and sisters being as follows: Xancy, wife of Daniel Cul|). 
of Nappanee; \\'iiliam, a resident of W'akarusa: Marw wife of J. E. 
Roose, a farmer near Wakarusa; .Solomon, a rural mail carrier at 
W'^akarusa ; Catherine, wife of Da\id H. Moyer. a carpenter ami joiner. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 471 

The senicir Jacoli l)ell was linni m ilie slate of Pennsyhania, was 
a carpenter and joiner 1)\- trade as well as a practical farmer, ami in 
1834, when northern Indiana was little lietter than a wilderness, came 
out and cast his lot in with the ])ioneers of hLlkhart connty. puttini^' np 
his first log cabin near the village of (ioshen. Politicall}- first a Whig 
and then a Repulilican. he was an ardent snpporter of the principles 
lie stood for, and was a man of more than ordinar}' infinence in his 
commnint}-. He and his wife were members of the (lerman Baptist 
church. He attained tlie adxanced age of sevent}'-six years. His wife, 
who was also a native of Pennsyhania. and who also lived in ()hio 
to her ninth year, was a dan.ghter of one of the first men to he men- 
tioned in connection with the early settlement of this county. Her 
father located near (ioshen in iSj(j, when the red men were more 
numerous than the whites in this comitry. 

Mr. Dell s])ent the lirst twenty-one \ears of his life on his father's 
farm, and in that tune he laid a good foundation for a useful and suc- 
ces.sful career. He well remembers and can give a good description 
of the little log-cabin school that he attended, a structure exactly typi- 
cal of those th.at are \ei-\- nnnutely described in the general Iiistory 
of this work, and be had many of tlie experiences in gaining an educa- 
tion that are there narrated. He used a goosequill pen fashioned out 
by the i-choolmaster's band, and an I'llenientary speller and McGuffey's 
reader were the books from which he gained the principal sources of 
his early training. ne\'er hawing had an arithmetic and securing his 
ready arid practical ac<|uaintance with the principles of that branch of 
knowledge almost entu'el}- In- personal application and stud}-. The 
school that he atterided was sup])orted by subscription. A character 
well grounded on industry and intelligent ambition was the onl\- capi- 
tal on which Mr. Dell made his start in life. Thirty-se\-en cents a day 
for hard manual labor is a very small reward, but that was the size of 
his first wages. Mr. Dell, who has been identified with the sawmill 
and lumber industry since early days in this county, is an authorit}' on 
the oontlitions of forestry as they were fifty years ago. He. like man}- 
others, recalls with regret the frightful (le\-astation which has been 
wrought in the once great forest areas of this countx', and bow the 
magnificent lumber trees were either destroved purposelv in order to 
clear up the ground for agriculture or were sacrificed at ridiculously 
low prices. 

■Mr. Dell toi.k jobs at clearing the forests, and after his marriage 
went into partnersbi]) with C'bristian W'eriilz in the sawmill business. 
That was in 18C1S. and their null \\;is located on the present site of 
W'akarusa. no village existing here at the time cxceiit the Old Salem 
])ostoffice a mile .)r s<5 to the northeast. The entire territory of OIi\'e 
and Harrison to\vnshi])s was densely wooded with the finest kind of 
lumber trees. INIr. Dell has lived in the \-icinity of \\'akarusa since 
1834, tiius s])ending the princi])al ])art of his Ijovhood as well as man- 



472 HISTORY OF ELKHART COL'XTV 

hoiKl tlicre. and from an incipient community d insisting at best of 
three or four "shacks" has witnessed tlie town " Knee-deep-in-the- 
mnd " attain a population of eleven hundred. His enterprise and capable 
business management have lirought their reward in material welfare. 
His sawmill is one of the best equipped in the county, having a capac- 
it\- of fourteen thou.sand feet per day. and he has had as many as 
seventeen teams and ten men in his em]:)U>\'. During the month of 
Fel>ruar\-. 1905, be paid out a thousand dollars for lalxir. 

October 25, 1865, Mr. Dell married Miss Barbara Fletcher. l{ight 
children ha\'e iieen born of tlieir marriage, only three of whom are 
living. W'illiam .\.. who was educated in the common schools of 
Wakarusa and is now a capable carpenter and joiner, married Miss PAa 
Boose and has fi\e children. Xora, .Mma. Ira. Jacol) and .\lma. 
William A. Dell is a stanch Rejiublican. Rosa F.. who is a graduate 
of the Wakarxisa high school and taught fi\'e terms of school in this 
town, is now a student in Christian College at Meriam. this state. Hat- 
tie was one of the graduates of the \\'akarusa high school in 1905. 
Mrs. Dell, who is one of the most esteemed home-lovers and home- 
makers in the town of Wakarusa, was born in the state of Ohio, was 
brought to Indiana when a child, and recei\'ed her education in the 
common schools. She and her husband are members of the Ijeautiful 
Christian church which is one of the most recent additions to the pub- 
lic architecture of Wakarusa, and they have always done their share 
in all the work of the societ\-. 

.\ «tanch Republican in political affairs, having cast his first vote 
for .\liraham Lincoln, Mr. Dell has not onl\- firmly supported his politi- 
cal ijrinciples but has been one of the ablest upholders of civic im- 
])ro\-ement and ad\ancement in communit}' and county affairs. His 
fellow citizens ha\'e sent him as dele.gate to \arious county conventions. 
As trustee of Olive townshiji for live years he eflfected many notable 
improvements, erecting two schools in the country and the major part 
of the excellent pul>lic ^choo! in Wakarusa. He was treasurer of 
the school board four years, flaving been a pupil of the log-cabin 
school davs, he is the more thoroughly able to appreciate the changes 
that mark the present school system, and his entire influence is always 
thrtjwn for the continued ad\ancement of education. Mr. and Mrs. 
Dell reside in a Ijeautiful and comfortable cottage home on \\'aterford 
street. 

DAXIEL DOFRIXG. 

Daniel Dotring is one of the ])ublic-spirited and enterprising young 
business men of Elkhart county, was born and has lived in this count)- 
liractically all his life, and since arriving at mature years has identified 
himself in a ])eculiarlv efllcient and beneficial way with the life and 
affairs of bis communitv of Wakarusa. FTe was born in Union town- 
ship. .Xu.gnst 10, 1864, and was the fifth of twelve children, whose 



HISTORY OI'' ELKHART COUNTY 473 

parents were John A. and Anna ( Heimerich ) Doering. l'^le\'en of 
the children are still li\in,t;': .VK'ina. wife of John E. Sloat. a harness- 
maker at \a])]ianee; (leorge, whr> is married and living at Wakarusa. 
being also in the harness business: T-lnima. wife of Enos Newcomer, a 
jeweler i-l Xappanee; William, married, a jeweler in Nappanee; Daniel; 
jVnna. wife of George Miller, a teacher and carpenter at Goshen; John 
H.. married, who is' a dealer in vehicles at XA^akarusa; Henrw who is 
married and is a hreman on the Lake Shore Railroad; Sarah, wife of 
William Bigler. who is a mail clerk on the Lake Shore and resides in 
Goshen: Calvin, in partnership with his brother in the Ixiggy business 
at Wakarusa; Paulina, a student in the business college at South Bend. 

John A. Doering, the father of this family, was born in Hesse- 
Cassel, Germany, July r6, 1830, and is now living in Nappanee. For- 
merly a tailor, he turned his attention to farming, at whicli occu]3ation 
he gained unusual success. He came to America when sixteen vears 
old, and after living in Columbiana c<iunty, Ohio, three years, came 
to Elkhart county In this count\ he was one of the earlv settlers, and 
he purchased eighty acres of land and iDy industr\- and careful atten- 
tion to details paid off all indebtedness against it and in time was in 
comfortable circumstances. In politics he is a Democrat, and he and 
his w'ife are members of the ( iernian Reformed church. His wife was 
born in Germanv in 1836 and died in 1897. 

Mr. Doering was reared, on his father's farm in L'nion townshi]) 
and li\-eil there till he was twent\-twii \ears old. Iia\ing in the mean- 
time acipiired his education in the common schools with some high 
school w'liri-:. He had two lumilred dollars when he began his inde- 
pendent career, and he has made a fine showing in his business career. 
Learning the trade of carpenter and joiner, he followed it acti\xly two 
years, tlien for two years earned a living as (lri\-er of a milk wagon, 
and in .\ugust. 1889. entered upon a seven years' business connec- 
tion wiih Mr. Newcomer, at first as apprentice and later as ])artner 
in the jewelry business. In 1896 he established a jewelrv store in 
^\'akarusa. and daring the subsequent years has built u]) a fine trade 
in this line. 

December J3. 1894, Mr. Doering married Miss Chloe McCloud, 
and they are the parents of three sons, namelv : Clio, a bright little 
fellow who is in the third grade of school and has ne\er missed a day's 
attendance or been tardy; Ward, also in school; and Dwiglit. Mrs. 
Doering was born in Kansas. Januarx' 9. 1874. being a daughter of 
Mitchell and So])hronia (Clyde) McCloud, ;ind was educated in the 
Nai)i:)anee high school, also baxin.g studied music. She is one of the 
enthusiastic religious workers of her community, being a member of 
the Methodist church, secretary of the Home Missionary Society and 
of the Ladies' .\id Society and also a teacher in the Sunday school. 
Mr. Doering and famil\- reside in a |3leasant little home on Elkhart 



474 HISTORY OP^ ELKH.\R'I" COUXTY 

street, and the_\" enjoy the liig"liest esteem of all their many friends and 
acquaintarices, 

Mr. Doering oAyns ime hundred acres of the old homestead, and 
his ])resent material circfmstances are a "reat honor and credit to the 
ahihty and management he has displaxed in the transaction.s of a hii.s}' 
career. .\s a stanch Democrat and having cast his first yote for Cleye- 
land, he has lieen a delegate to the county cony'ention and has also 
ser\ed as chairman of the Democratic county committee, heing one of 
the ])roniinent and influential Democrats of the count\'. He has served 
two terms as a memher of the town council, and in 1904 was elected a 
memher of the W'akarnsa hoard of education, heing at present secre- 
tary of the hotird. He is jiresident of the W'ak-anisa Improvement As- 
sociation, which was organized in Januar\'. 1905. for the promotion 
of the :ndir-.trial and commercial interests of the town. h^"aternally 
he arliliates with Lodge Xo. 2S7. K. of P.. at Xapjjanee. He as well 
as his wife is a loyal and acti\-e worker in the Methodist church, and 
has heen identified officially with the Wakarusa church for many years. 
He has served as superintendent of the Sunday school four years. He 
has the unusual record of never ha\-ing missed attendance a single Sun- 
day in seven years, which is e\'idence enough that he displays the same 
interest and attention in religious work that he does in connection with 
husiness affairs. And it is due, wdthout douht, largely to this zeal in 
hehalf of any cause which he may espouse that his life has heen pi"o- 
ductix'e of such excellent results. In the church ])roper he is a mem- 
her and secretary and treasurer of the hoard (-f trustees. 

tho:mas s. y.\tes. 

Thomas .S. \ ates. now retired from a career of most successful 
acti\it\- as a huilder and contractor during a period of over half a 
centm"\-. ])ractically all of it in Elkhart county, is one of the men of 
mark, of great usefulness and worth in material and civic life, who hy 
no means sh'iuld be omitted from a history of the county. 

Horn in Miami county. Ohio, .\pril jj. 1826, so that he is now 
in the shadow of his eightieth year, he comes of a family noted for its 
\-it:ilit\-. its i)rominent participation in the aft'airs of husiness and indus- 
tr\-. and the integrity and personal wurtli of iis indi\-idual members. 
His father was Xezer \'ates. who was horn about four miles from 
Ca])e ^.Tav. X^ew Jersey, at the age of fotu" years was taken ]>y his 
])arents to Clermont count)'. Ohio, where he was reared to the age 
of nineteen, then moved to ]Miami county. Ohio, was married, settled 
in a log caliin home. whei"e he made the beginning of a. very successful 
career, imi'ro\-ed an excellent farm, and died when se\-enty-three years 
and ten days old. having been born in iSoi and passing away in 
187 I. ''"racins' the family history to other generations, there is Thomas 



HISTORY OF F.LKHART COUNTY 475 

^'ates. !.hc fatlKT of the last-nieiiticmeil. who was also linrn in New 
Ierse\' and was a son of W'ilhani ^'atcs. who descended directly from 
an English emigi'ant that Incated in this cotintr_\- sonie time in the 
sex'enteenth centnrv. Priscilla Sabres, the mother of Mr. \'ates. was 
horn and reared in Pennsylvania, later came to Miami county, Ohio, 
wliere she died at the age of fort\-. Her father, Th<inias Sayres,- was 
a X'irginian h)' hirth and of English descent. Xezer and Priscilla 
Yates had eleven children, two, of the sons dying young, the rest grew 
to mature ^•ears and eight of them married. The father married a 
second time and l'\- that union had one daughter. 

Mr. Tiionias S. ^ ates. the oldest of his parents' children, was 
reared and educated in his native county, and at the age of eighteen 
Ijegan learning the carjienter rmd builder's track, whicE he followed 
continuousl\- for lift\-four years. He has been a resident of Elkhart 
coultt^■ over half a centurv, having located in the southern part of Jack- 
son township near Milford in Se]iteml_ier, 1853, liringing his family 
there in the following December, and on April 4th of the next year 
tocik uii his permanent abode in doshen. Xo one else in the county 
has a building record that can compare with his. Dwelling" houses and 
other classes of building all over the county attest his diligence and 
skill, and in his time he has seen many changes in the methods of con- 
struction as well as in the tools and equipment for conducting his work. 
The Presbyterian, P>aptist, Methodist, Episcopal churches in Goshen 
are monuments of his craft: also the old Jackson house; the remodel- 
ing of the court house and iail was intrusted to him; he superintended 
the building of the countv asylum; remodeled the Elotel Hascall ; Ijuilt 
the old high school that was Inirned in 1875. and the woolen mill, be- 
sides a great number of private resiflences. Many of the elegant homes 
out on Elkhart prairie were constructed l)v him. among them those of 
John A^iolett, John Smiley, Jacob Yoder. which were the finest private 
homes of their day. .\s may be inferred from the preceding, Mr. 
Yates has had a busy and very successful career ; at the same time he 
has had misfortunes, having lost all his jiropertv in i8')j and begin- 
ning the struggle of life all over again. 

In 1849 ^f''- ^'^ites married Miss Jane \\yland. a daughter of 
Daniel \\'}'land. whose brother Jonathan built and was the projirietor 
<:if the Wyland mills in Jackson townshiii. which are mentioned at the 
]iroper place in the general historv of the countv. Mrs. Yates was 
born in Greene countv. Ohio, in 1830. and was reared in Miami county, 
where she married. The five children of their marriage are as follows : 
Miss Frances, vvho is at home; George, of Elkhart; Alice, wife of 
Henry Smith, of Cliicago; ^Maggie, a trained nurse in Recloak. Iowa; 
and ]Mau(I, wife of Harve\- Smith.. Mr. Yates is a lifelong Republi- 
can. ;mil in the Piaptist church of Goshen has long been a ven- active 
member having filled ;ill the h\.\ offices in the same. 



476 HISTORY OP' ELKHART COUNTY 

CHARLES A. WEHAIEYLR. 

diaries A. W'elimeyer. whose name is alwavs mentioned in connec- 
tion with tlie leading lawyers of Elkhart county, is one of the men of 
self-achievement of whom this history furnishes several conspicuous ex- 
amples. To his own initiative, to his diligence and perseverance, com- 
bined with his native ability, is due his success in life and in a. profession 
which demands unusual talents of mind and character. 

Born on an Elkhart county farm in 1867, .so that lie has been 
throughout his life identified with the county, he was thrown on his own 
resources at the age of fourteen, and since that period of incipient youth 
has been winning his own way. At the age of sixteen he transferred the 
scene of his activities from the countrv to Goshen, and Iw dint of much 
effort gained an education in the high school of this city. He was only 
sixteen years old when lie was granted a certificate to teach in the co-unty, 
and thus e(|uip])e(l he taught two terms in one of the district schools of 
the county. Beginning his law studies under Baker, Defrees and Baker, 
ht ol)tained admittance to the bar in 1889. and since that date has been 
engaged in actix'e ])ractice in Goshen. He is now a member of the firm 
of Vail and W'ehmeyer. anrl besides his strictly legal work he discharges 
the duties of fire insurance inspector for Goshen and \icinitv. In politics 
lie is a Re]niblican, and his fraternal affiliations are with the Elks and the 
Maccabees. 

]Mr. Wehmever married. December 31. 1891. .Miss Kate .V. Myers, 
who is a daughter of Jesse H. Myers, one of the ]iioneers of this county. 

CH.VRLES .\. D.WLS. 

Charles .\. l)a\is. for ove'- thirtv years ideritified w illi the business 
and maiiufacturing interests of Goshen, where he has resided practically 
ever since he was fourteen years old, is senior proprietor of the well 
known firm of C. .\. Davis and Son, whose lumber yards ha\e for 
nian\' vears sujiplied much of the Iniilding industry of this county. 

F)orn ( )ctober 4. 1846, mi a fariii in Concord townshiji just two 
and a half miles east of the city nf Klkliart. mi the banks of the St. 
fiisepb. he is the son of Ci:loncl Henry G. and CxiUiiia ( Tibbits ) Dax-is. 
his father a natixe of Massachusetts ;nid liaxing e.anied bis title during 
the war of the rebellion. 

His \-ounger \-ears si;eiit mi the farm, where he attended country 
schools, in i860 Mr. Davis came to Goshen to make it his permanent 
home, and with the e-xcejition of three vears, 1878-79-80, sjient in the 
lumber business in Chicago, he has lixod here ever since, lie attended 
school at Xotre Dame University one year and took two years in the 
college at Kalamazoo, Michigan. .\11 his ambitions for a Inisiness ca- 
reer lia\e centered in the lumber industry, and while _\et on the farm 
he ]3referred getting out log> from the timlier to any other form of 
farm labor. On beginning his active career he established a sawmill in 




'^.'^,^04^ 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTV 477 

Jefferson township, but four years later came to Goshen, where for 
about twenty-five years he operated a sawmill on the hydraulic canal, 
cutting- all kinds of hardwood luml:er that grow in this vicinity. In 
1890 he became connected ^vith the retail lumber business by purchas- 
ing an interest in the lumber yind of Smith Brothers, and when this 
business was sold out in 1898 Mr. Davis started a yard of his own at 
his present location. He carries all grades of lumber and manufactured 
building supplies, and his flourishing trade makes him one of Goshen's 
most substantial business men. Among his business associates in the 
past have been John B. Drake, now deceased, Charles W. Niedig for 
two years, and more recently his son Clyde H. 

A Republican in ix>litics and long known as a public-spirited citi- 
zen, Mr. Davis has served two terms in the city council and in No\em- 
ber, 1900, was elected a county commissioner, taking his seat in 1901, 
and in 1904 was re-elected for another period of three years, and dur- 
ing 1904 w^as president of the board. Fraternally he is a Master Mason 
and is a demitted member of the Knights of Pythias. 

Mr. Da\-is married, in 1871. Miss Henrietta Crider, who is a 
daughter of the late Benjamin H. Crider. Three children haxe l>een 
born of their marriage: Blanche, Clyde H., and Donald B.. who died 
when twelve years old. 

ISRAEL IMMEL. 

I.srael Immel, one of the enterprising. ]jractical young men of New 
Paris, whose progressive spirit lias been an element in the upljuilding 
and growth of this section of the county, was born in Elkliart county. 
February 22. 1870, and is the ninth in a family of ten children — four 
sons and six daughters, whose ]3arents were Israel and E. ( Kaughman) 
Immel. The father was born in Ohio, April 30, 1819, and passed away 
November i::. 1873. He was reared in Ohio, spending the early part 
of his manhood in that state, after which he came to make his home 
in Elkhart county, Indiana. He followed the occupation of farming 
and he gave his political support to the Jacksonian Democracy. Suc- 
cessful as the years passed, his lalwrs enabled him to acquire a valuable 
property and at his death he was the owner of four hundred acres of 
rich land in Jackson township. He was one of the honored ]>ioneers 
of the locality, arriving here when the red men still roamed through 
the forests and when deer and other wild game was to be had in abun- 
dance. Hardships and trials fell to the lot of those who^ established 
liomes on the frontier, but the Immel family bore all cheerfully and 
bravely in the endea\'or to secure a good farm and obtain through its 
cultivation a sulistantial financial reward. Mrs. Immel was born in 
Qiillicothe, Ohio. March 2T, 1837, ■''•'''^1 passed awav December 25, 
1902, when sixty-five years of age. She was a member of the Ger- 
man Baptist church and was laid to rest V>y tlie side of her husband, 
l)eautiful stones marking their last resting place. Of tlieir familv five 



47S HTSTOR^" OF ELKHART COUNTY 

are yet li\ing: Delilah, who is the wife of Lewis McClure, an agricul- 
turist of Jackson townshi]): Matikla. the wife nf Joseph Kaughman, of 
Jackson township; Da\-id L, who is lixing in I'llkhart Cit_\- ; and Minnie 
E.. who is engaged in dressmaking in (ioshen. Indiana. Lewis, who was 
married and an agriculturist of New I'aris. died August 8. 1905. 

Israel Tmn^el \vas reared in h'^; nati\e township, early Ijecoming 
familiar with the lahor of the home farm and in the jinhiic schools he 
oljtained his education. He is well known in Elkhart county and that 
his life has heen honoraljle and straightforward is indicated \)y the 
large circle of friends which he has. He remained with his mother 
until twent_\-three _\ears of age. carrying on agricultural jjursnits after- 
ward on his own account for ten years. He inherited a tract of land 
of sixtv acres in [ackson townshij) after ])a}'ing to the other heirs the 
sum of ti\e hundred dollars. In his farmir.g ojjerations he has always 
heen practical and systematic. ])lacing his land under a high state of 
cultix'ation and carr^•ing mi his wurk in a most careful and successful 
manner. 

Mr. Inimel has been twice married. He first wedded Miss Elva 
Sheline. who lived but a short time, and he married Miss Ota Clayton, 
on the 29th of April. 1896. She was born in Kosciusko county. De- 
cemljer 2^. 1873. and there largely s])ent lier girlhood days. Her par- 
ents were Samuel and Hannah Clayton, who are still residents of ]\Iil- 
ford, Kosciusko county. 

Mr. Immel votes with the Democracy and he cast his first presi- 
dential ballot for Grover Cleveland. He is recognized as one of the 
local leaders in the ranks of the party, doing all in his power to ])ro- 
mote its growth and insure its success. In 1900 he was elected a 
trustee of Jackson township, and during his service he did much to 
advjiuce material improvement of his locality. He favored the employ- 
ment of good teachers and thie erection of good schools and during 
his incumbenc_\' five iron bridges were built and three st(ine bridges. 
He watched carefully the interests of the general public and often 
through personal sacrifice promoted the welfare of the community. In 
T900 he erected on the north side of New Paris a pretty, modem cot- 
tage, surrounded by thirteen acres of land. The lawn is well kept and 
everything al)out the place indicates the thrift and enterprise of the 
owner. Mr. rmd Mrs. Immel are voung jjeojile worthy the regard that 
is uniformlv extended them and they certainly deser\c mention in this 
volume. 

VALENTl N E BERKEV. 

\'^alentine Berkey, for fifty year< ]jrominently identified with the 
business, industrial and ci\ic affairs of Elkhart county, at this writing- 
being chairman of the county council, known as one of the oldest and 
most acti\e lumbermen in the count}-, .-is well as a very successful farmer, 
was born in .^onierset count}-. lVnnsy]\-ani;i. Ma}- 29. 1833. The famil}-. 



HISTORY ()!• ELKHART COl'XTY 47'.' 

of Dutcli stock, has l^een long establislied in Pennsylvania, his grand- 
father. Peter Berke\-. being also native to that state. His father. Daniel 
P. Berkey. who was born also in Somerset county, was a farmer by \'oca- 
tion. and after retiring from active pursuits came tO' Elkhart county, in 
1866. where he died in his eighty-sixth year. He was an active menil^r 
of the German Baptist church. His wife. Fannie Huffman, was born in 
the same county of Pennsylvania and lived to te about eighty years old. 
Five of their children reached adult age: namely. David, deceased: An- 
drew, a resident of this county: Valentine, Marv, wife of Lewis Berkey. 
of Elkhart count\'. and Peter D., another well known citizen of this 
county. 

Reared in his nati\e ccuntv and receiving his education in the dis- 
trict .schools. Air. Berke}' was about twenty-two years of age when he 
came to this county, in 1855. Locating in Elkhart township, for alxnit 
two years he was best known as a practical threshernian, after -which he 
followed the carpenter's trade for some }'ears. In 1857, after his mar- 
riage, he located on a farm in Llarrison t<;wnshi]) antl was engaged in 
famiing there until 1880, in which year he mo\e(l to a farm in Elkhart 
township, and from there, in 1890. came to his ])resent home in West 
Goshen, and has not been actively engaged in farming since that date. 
]\Ir. Berkey is perhaps best known to the people of the county through 
his connection with the lumbering interests, having carried on his oper- 
ations in this line, in connection with farming, for the past forty years. 
Tn a single season he has transacted business invoK'ing two million feet 
of lumber. He is now a Inner fur the Sanders- Egbert Company of 
Goshen, and for some years he was with John Lesh, the lumber king of 
Elkhart county. He still owns a farm of one hundred and se\'enteen 
acres in this county, and also has real estate interests in Kansas. 

A lifelong and active Republican, Mr. Berkey has filled various 
civil offices in this county. He was townshi]) trustee for eight successive 
vears in Flarrison township, was township assessor and the incumbent 
of other local offices, and at the present time is member and chairman 
of the county council, the important administrative body wdiich by recent 
act of legislature has been given a prominent place in the civil go\'ern- 
luent of the count) . 

Mr. Berkey was luarried in 1857 to Miss Hetty Miller, and they 
luue spent a happy married life of nearly fifty years. She was born in 
Montgomery county, Ohio, October 14. 1835. being the only daughter 
of [(iiias and Barbara (Hay) Aliller, who were born in Pennsylvania 
and were both reared in Montgomery county, Ohio. Mrs. Berkev's 
father died at South Bend, and her mother married again. Ten children 
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Berkey. Those still living are as fol- 
lows: Austin: Ida. wife of O. S. Compton. of Pasadena. California: 
Ira, married and located in South Bend: Ella, wife of Jesse Heefner. of 
Gnshen: Nettie, wife of Elijah Brakes, of Goshen; Floyd V., in Logans- 
nort. The deceased children were Monroe ].. vho died at the age of 



480 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

forty years; Nora Belle, who died aged four years; Alvin, who died at 
the age of twelve; and Clermont, who was seven years old at the time of 
Iiis death. 

-AlELVTN URl.vM DE.MAREST. 

Melvin Uriah Demarest, in the real estate and hrokerage business 
at Elkhart, has been intimately identified with the financial and business 
affairs of this city for a number of years. But not alone as a merchant 
and an ofiicial in one of the leading banks of the city is he known to 
nearly everycme of his fellow citizens, but also in public, fraternal and 
other affairs has his great interest been shown, and without doubt he is 
one of the broadest-gauged men of Elkhart. 

Born in Broadalvin. Fulton county. New York, December 14, 1852, 
he was a son of David U. and Lucy C. (Johnson) Demarest. When he 
was but a lad his parents located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but soon 
returned to their old New York home and remained there till the close 
of the Civil war, when they once more sought a home in the west, set- 
tling at Coldwater, Michigan. The parents still live at Coldwater, where 
the father followed his trade of cooper until advancing old age compelled 
him to forego the activity upon which he so long depended for his living 
and which served as the basis for his comfortable circumstances. 

The career of M. U. Demarest is that of a man who has made his 
own way since he was eleven years old, and who is therefore a self-made 
man in tire best sense of the term. In 1874, when a little past the age of 
majoritv, possessed of a fair common school education and with an am- 
l)ition whicli meant success, though confronted with all obstacles, he came 
to Elkhart and took a clerical position with the dry-goods house of Will- 
iam Proctor. Three years later he became a partner with J. B. Daven- 
port in the dry-goods business at LaGrange, this state. In the fall of 
1880 Mr. Demarest accepted of Mr. H. E. Bucklen the position of adver- 
tising agent, and for the following ten years traveled in the interests of 
that great proprietary medicine company, Elkhart being his home and 
headquarters. His business connection with the Bucklen house was sev- 
ered on account of the serious illness of his only daughter, who has never 
been fully restored to health, and on whose account he tliought it best 
to give up the life of traveling man. He took this step in September. 
1891, and has since been actively associated with the business and finan- 
cial affairs of Elkhart. During the following winter, with Charles N. 
White, he purchased three bankrupt stocks of groceries and participated 
in one of the liveliest mercantile wars ever known in the grocery trade 
of Elkhart. Then in August, 1893. he inaugurated a successful coal 
business under the name of the Independent Coal Company, and energy, 
faultless business methods and full public confidence characterized this 
flourishing business during the eight years in which he was connected 
with it. He finally sold out the business. In Septeml:)er, 1893, coinci- 
dent with the inception of the coal business, he was appointed receiver 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 4M 

for the Eagle Knitting Company, and his executive abihty enabled him 
to make a prompt and most satisfactory settlement of the matters of this 
company. Another enterprise which he organized, but which was barren 
of profitable results, was the Elkhart Bridge Company. In May, 1904, 
Mr. Demare.st organized, together witli Col. Thomas Snell. of Clinton, 
Illinois, and others, the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Elkhart. Those 
in control of this institution saw fit to continue its existence only a brief 
time, when they went into voluntary liquidation, and the stockholders 
having secured a controlling interest in the St. Joseph A'alley Bank, of 
which he was formerly a director, they effected a reorganization of the 
latter institution, of which he was a director and was elected cashier. 
This is one of the strongest banking houses of the county. Mr. Demarest 
resigned as cashier in March. 1905. 

A lifelong Republican, Mr. Demarest has taken more or less active 
part in local politics, and has been especially interested in the welfare of 
his city. From 1894 to i8q8 he ser\'ed in the common council from the 
third ward. In June, 1899, he was elected a memlier of the school board 
of the cit}- schools, and at this writing is president of the board. Mr. 
Demarest is one of the best known Masons of northern Indiana, being 
now past eminent commander of Elkhart Commandery No. 31, K. T. 
For years he has been a leading member of the well known Century Club, 
of which he was secretary from 1897 to 1899, and is now a member of 
the board of directors. 

Mr. Demarest married, in April, 1876, Miss Ida Belle Gore, of 
Elkhart. Their daughter and only child is Minnie Belle, A\ho is one of 
the popular young ladies in the social circles of this city. 

J. L. HIVELY, D. O. 

J. L. Hively, D. O.. represents the osteopathic school of medical and 
surgical practice, and though a recent resident of Elkhart he has gained 
a large following and is one of the successful osteopaths of northern 
Indiana. 

Dr. Hively is a native son of Elkhart county, having been lx>rn on 
a farm in Concord township, February 4, 1866, a son of Peter S. and 
Elizalieth H. (Cowan) Hively, both now deceased, the mother having 
passed away only about two years ago. The name Hively is of German 
origin, and Cowan is Scotch, which is a good admixture of races. Dr. 
Hively was just four years old when his father died, aiul he is the young- 
est of the nine children born to his parents. 

Reared on an Elkhart county farm, he attended the country schools 
during his boyhood and later was a pupil in the Elkhart city schools. 
Leaving the farm at the age of twenty-three, he thenceforth for eight 
years followed railroading, and then applied himself to preparation for 
the medical profession. In January, 1901, he graduated from the Amer- 
ican School of Osteopathy at Kirks\il!e, IMissouri. with the degree of 



482 HISTORY Ol'^ ELKHART COUNTY 

D. O. For a while he was located at Idaho Springs. Colorado, was a 
year at Denver, and on January 8, 1903, located permanently at Elkhart. 
where he ha.s gained professional prestige and a very satisfactory prac- 
tice. 

Dr Hively affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
and he and his wife are members ot the Presbyterian church. He was 
married in 1892 to Miss Ruth Hart, of Elkhart, and thev are \ery popu- 
lar in the social circles of this city. 

CH.KRLFS L. A10X(;ER. 

Charles L. Monger, of b^lkhart. has won success in business from 
a start without capital or ir.Huence. He is one of the prosperous men 
of the city at this time, owns a considerable amount of j^rofitable real 
estate, cares for a large wholesale lumlier trade on the road, and in 
general is known as a man of enterprise and abilit}- and of excellent 
public spirit. 

Born in Rockingham county. \'irginia. Septemljer 25. 1867. a son 
of William H. and Margaret ( Vauters ) Monger, both of old Virginia 
families and i)oth now deceased. Mr. I\Ionger at an early age gained ex- 
tensive experience in the lumber business owing to the fact that his 
father ojierated a sawmill and manufactured large ciuantities of lum- 
ber. F'or education he enjoyed the advantages of countn- schools and 
the public schools of Mt. Crawfonl. Starting out f(ir In'mself at the 
age of twenty-one. he left Virginia and came to the city of Elkhart in 
the s]:!ring of 1889. He became assistant blacksmith in the Elkhart 
Carriage and Harness Manufacturing Company, and during the six- 
teen months that be was thus employed at manual labor he attendeil 
evening classes in the business college, and later this was supplemented 
liy a three months' course in tlie commercial department of Lebanon 
Xormal at Lebanon. Ohio. With this equipment for a ctjmmercial 
life added to his native ability in that line, he became bookkeeper for 
Newman Brothers, manufacturers of sash, doors and blinds and house 
furnishings, and was with them two years and a half. While with 
them he had lieen given the opportunity to go out on the road for the 
firm, and this opportunity ha\ing been well improved, he thus began 
his career as a traveling salesman. In 1894 he began selling lumber 
to the wholesale trade on commission, and he has continued this with 
increasii'ig success to the present time. He has achieved his own stic- 
cess, for when he came to Elkhart some fifteen or si.xteen years ago he 
made the tri]> on borrow'ed money, and his own efforts have been the 
basis for his business prosperity. A firm believer in the material pros- 
];eritv of Elkhart, he has been willing to invest his capital in this city, 
and in 1904 completed the Lexington building, a handsome business 
block on Lexington a\enue. and in 1905 erected the elegant ^Monger 
l>uilding, a four-stor}' and basement office Iniilding. occup\-ing ground 




MONGER BUILDING 



HISTORY' OF ELKHART COUXTV 483 

space fifty-six by one lumtlred and seventeen feet and which is thor- 
oughly modern in all respects. 

December 27. 1893, Mr. Monger married Miss Anna Titus, and 
at once mo\'ed into the residence which he had built in preparation for 
this event. They have two children. Ral|)h L. and Ruth. They are 
members of the Methodist church. 

CHARLES W. I'RLNK. M. D. 

Charles \V. Frink, M. D., the son of a man who has cast distinction 
on the medical profession in Elkhart county, and himself one of the most 
prominent members of the medical fraternity in this county, was born 
over in LaGrange county, on a farm, January 20. 1863. a son of Char'es 
S. and Anabel ( Vermilye or V'ermilje ) h'rink. 

On his mother's side Dr. Frink is of pure Dutch descent, represent- 
ing the present generation of the family which Johannes Vermilye. of 
Holland, established in this countrv during its colonial epoch, and it is 
a matter of record that this Johannes Vermilye was one of the twenty- 
three original grantees of the old town of Harlem, New York city. 

TTis father. Dr. Charles S. Frink, who was a son of Nathan F"rink, 
a native of New "i'ork, was born in New York state and in early life 
came to Indiana, married and settled in LaGrange county. He held the 
office of county recorder several years. He studied medicine, graduating 
from the L'niversity of Michigan just before the Civil war, and volun- 
teered his services to the Union cause. He made a distinguished record 
as surgeon, became lieutenant colonel, and served as medical director of 
the Twenty-third .\rm}- Corps. Locating in Elkhart at the close of the 
war, he continued in active practice here until his death, in 1893, at the 
age of fifty-six. Fie was a member of the American Medical Association 
and also of the state society, was a prominent G. A. R. man and a mem- 
ber of the Loyal Legion, was a Mason, and took a ver\' active part in 
church wcrk as a member of the Methodist denomination, lieing secre- 
tary of the lioard of trustees and contributing largely tO' the erection of 
the edifice where he worshiped till his death. Twice married, by his 
first wife he had a son and a daughter, the latter now Mrs. D. J. Yoder. 
a widow, living in Elkhart, b'or his second wife he married .\ngeline 
S. Lowe, of Philadelphia, who now survives him and hves in lilkhart- 
The children of the second union are Lauer S.. .\rtliur .S.. Rrdph M., 
Mrs. Z. F. Benfer. of Chicago, and Miss Emily. 

Dr. C. W. Frink was reared in Elkhart and has spent most of his 
active career here. Graduating from the Elkliart High School in 1880. 
he entered the office of S. M. Cummins, 1). D. S.. and spent two years 
in the studv of dentistry. He then spent one year each in Hillsdale Col- 
lege, Michigan, and DePauw L'niversity in Indiana. Then in 1884 
matriculating at Rush ]\Iedical College, Chicago, he graduated from that 
well known institution in 1887. For the following four \ ears he prac- 



484 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

ticed at Indianapolis, and for one year of that time was deputy coroner 
of Marion county. He came to Elkhart in 1891, joining his father and 
continuing- a joint practice until the latter's death in 1S93. and since then 
has carried on his large practice alone. He does a large amount of pro- 
fessional husiness as surgeon and medical examiner, being surgeon to 
the Big Four and the Indiana Electric Railroad companies, and is medical 
examiner for the Mutual Life of New York, the New York Life, the 
M;issachusetts Mutual, the Northwestern of Milwaukee, the Connecticut 
Mutual, the Mutual Benefit of New York, the Manhattan, and served 
other life insurance companies. He is a member of the county and state 
medical societies and of the American Medical Association, and also of 
the American Academy of Railway Surgeons. His religious connections 
are with the Presbyterian denomination. 

Dr. l'"rink married, in 1889, Miss Maud Robinson, of Indianapolis. 
They are the parents of three children, Charles R., Miriam and Mau- 
rice M. 

ALBERT N. CHAMBERLAIN. 

Alliert N. Chamberlain is well known throughout this county and 
this section of the state as the proprietor of the A. N. Chamberlain Med- 
icine Company, manufacturers of the A. N. Chamberlain remedies, which 
have achieved a reputation as reliable and efficacious medical specifics. 
Tiie Chamberlain's Immediate Relief, pills and salve, have held their 
places as a medicine for over half a century. The business was estab- 
lished by Mr. Chamberlain and his father in 1850, and is the oldest and 
longest continued enterprise of the kind in this county. 

Mr. Chamberlain was born in Onondaga county. New York, in 
what is now the city of Syracuse, December 27, 1832, a son of Milo 
and Elizabeth (Smith) Chamberlain. Each of the parents was twice 
married and had children by each union. When Albert N. was a year 
old his parents moved to Geneseo, Livingston county. New York, where 
he was reared, being educated in the Geneseo schools and Temple Hill 
College. He was in the printing business a while at Nunday Valley and 
also in a tin shop, and in 1850 he drove through the oil regions of Penn- 
sylvania, where he was engaged for a time in preparing milk tanks, and 
in the same year arrived in Elkhart. At this point receiving ne\\s of 
ill luck on the part of his brother in California, he remained in this city 
and went to work at the tin trade. He and his father had come here 
together, and they soon estalilished the medicine business which the son 
has since continued with such remarkable success. Mr. Chamberlain has 
resided on lot i in Elkhart continuously since 185 1, and is numbered 
among the oldest residents of the city. 

Jlr. Chamberlain married, May 17, 1859, Miss J\lary Sanders, of 
Bristol. Indiana, who died Deceml>er 24, 1883. She was the mother of 
the following children : Eva, who died in infancy : Garrie, deceased : 
Albert, deceased; Laura, ]\Irs. G. ^^^ Evans, of Fort \Vavne; Miln R., 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY iS5 

Deane S. and Mary E. On May 9, 1888, Mr. Chamberlain married 
Eovina Spencer, who is his present wife. 

While a stanch Republican. ]Mr. Chamberlain has never held nor 
aspired to office. He has been a Master Mason since 1858, and various 
members of the family have taken a prominent part in the order for many 
years. Mr. Chamberlain has been identified very intimately with the 
affairs of Elkhart since he came here, and the first jewehy and notion 
store in town, on the corner of Main and Jackson. Avas conducted by him, 
although for only a short time. 

STEPHEN MARION CUMMINS, D. D. S. 

Stephen Marion Cummins, D. D. S., who has successfully practiced 
dentistry in Elkhart for over forty years and whose realm of activity 
and usefulness has also extended beyond his profession and connected 
him with the public life of his city, was born in Ederton, Armstrong 
county. Pennsylvania, August 22, 1839. His parents, William S. and 
Isabella ]\I. (George) Cummins, were both born in Pennsyh'ania. the 
father being Scotch and the mother Scotch-Irish, and they li\ed and died 
in Pennsylvania. 

Dr. Cummins, after being in the public schools, at seventeen years 
of age began the study of dentistry, which profession has been his 
life work. He lived in BlufTton, Indiana, from 1859 tO' 1861, was then 
located a short time in Warsaw, and on May 24, 1862, located penna- 
nently in Elkhart, which has been the field of his dental practice since. 
He has long borne the reputation of being one of the most skillful dentists 
in this part of the state, and his training for the profession was unusually 
thorough, his last course having been taken at the Ohio College of Dental 
Surgery', at Cincinnati, where he was graduated with the degree of 
D. D. S. in 1870. He is a member of the Indiana State Dental Society 
and the Northern Indiana Dental Society. 

Dr. Cummins has identified himself closely with the jjublic affairs of 
his city, and he was elected and served one terni as mayor, in 1885-86. 
He has been a Knight Templar Mason over thirty years, and is now a 
member of Elkhart Commandery No. 31, and is also affiliated with the 
Benevolent and Protective ChTler of Elks. His religious a.ssociations are 
with the Episcopal church. 

Dr. Cummins married, in 1861, Miss Helen M. Case, who is a native 
of Indiana. Two of their children are living, and one died in infancy. 
Helen M. is the wife of V. W. VanFleet. of Elkhart, and Franc D. is 
the wife of R. C. Barne}-, of Elkhart. 

WILLIAM H. RIBLET. 

William H. Riblet. the genial proprietor of Hotels Golden and Mer- 
chants at Elkhart, hostelries which his able management has brought to 
a place of well deserved distinction among the public houses of the city 



486 HISTORY Ol- ELKHART COL'XTY 

and c(;unty, has been prominently identitied botli in tlie semi-public capac- 
it\- lit landlord and as a citizen with Elkhart for the past twelve years. 

Born in Hanover township, Ashland county, Ohio, December 9, 
1859. Mr. Rib'let was a son of Emanuel and Margaret ( Hannawalt) Rib- 
let. His parents were born, reared and were married in Ohio, and then 
settled down in life on a farm in the township where William H. was 
bom. and tiiere they lived until death. Thirteen children were born to 
them, and of these five are now deceased. 

The father being a farmer by \ocalion, Mr. Riblet spent his boy- 
lioocl and youth on a farm, and likewise it was the country scho'ols which 
furnished him his first scholastic training. He attended the Normal 
School of .\(la, Ohio, three years, and when twenty years old liecame a 
teaclier in the jiublic schools, .\fter three years" experience in Ohio he 
went to Kansas and taught two years in tlie country schools of Jefferson 
count\', and then for seven years was jirincipal of the Perry schools, that 
state. On leaving Kansas and taking up his residence in T'^lkhart county 
.Mr. Uiblet continued his educational work as principal of the East Elk- 
hart schools, a ])osition which he filled with eminent satisfaction for eight 
and a half vears, onl\' resigning to become proprietor of Hotel Golden. 
.\ssuming control of the hotel on December 28, 1901, he has since im- 
proved every de]3artment of the institution and increased his patronage 
to ]>ractically the full limit of the house. The hotel is excellently well 
situated for the traveling ])ublic, and the conveniences and comforts are 
such as to attract a profitaljle business. In May, 1905, Mr. Riblet secured 
control of the Merchants' Hotel, wbicli is now being conducted along 
lines that are ])roving veiy satisfactor}- to the tra^^eling ]jublic. 

.\s an educator ^Ir. Riblet gained a noteworthy success, and his 
retirement from that field meant the loss of a \-ery able instructor and 
executive. But his services to the cause of education have not been 
entirelv discontinued, since for the past three years he has been a member 
of the Elkhart board of education and is thus -^till identified ^vith educa- 
tional affairs. 

In 1887 Mr. Riblet married Miss Clara V. Clcuise, whose many ex- 
cellent (|ualities of lieart and mind hax'e made her an ideal wife and 
assistant in tlie career of her husband. They are the parents of three 
sons. Earl, Rov and (iuy. The family attend the Presbyterian church, 
and in ])olitics Mr. Riblet is a Repulilican. 

jonX W. l-ll'.LDHOrSE. 

In viewing the mass of nianknul in the xai'iei! > iccujiations of life, 
the conclusion is forced upon the observer that in the \'ast majority of 
cases men have sought emiDloyment not in the line of their peculiar fitness, 
Imt in those fields where c;ii)rice or cn-cumstances have ];laced them, thus 
explaining the reason of the failure of ninety-fi\e per cent of those who 
enter commercial and iirofessional circles. In a few cases it seems that 




^'"Z^t^^zY' 



i 



HISTORY OI< ELKHART COUN'J'Y 487 

men w itli a ])eciiliar litness for a certain line lia\e taken it up. and marked 
success has followed. Such is the fact in the case of John W. Field- 
house, now a well known capitalist of Elkhart, where for many years he 
has heen extensively engaged in the real estate business. 

Mr. Fieldhouse was born on a farm near White Pigeon, Michigan, 
October 15, 1850, his parents being William and Hannah (Barker) 
Eieldhouse. The father was horn in l^"lngland and emigrated to the 
United -States when a young man, the voyage across the Atlantic being 
made in 183.2. He settled near White Pigeon, Michigan, becoming one 
of the pioneer residents of that locality, and there he carried on farming. 
His death occurred there in i88j, while his wife, also a nati\e of Eng- 
land, died in 1887. 

Mr. b^ieldhouse acquired his educntion in the public and liigh schools 
at White Pigeon, and was reared to farm life, assisting in the develop- 
ment of the fields when not engaged with the fluties of the schoolroom. 
In 1871, when twentv years of age, he cmie to Elkhart with his brother 
and entered the retail meat business. Two years later his brother died 
and Mr. Eieldhouse continued the business alone, gradually extending 
his efforts until he became an active factor in the live-stock business, 
making shijjments to Chicago ind BufTalo. In 1883, however, he dis- 
posed of his interests in that line and turned his attention to real estate 
dealing, with an office at Xo. i 13 West Lexington a\enue. Mere he has 
since erected a beatttiful stone office building in which he carries on 
business. Since be started in this Inisiness he has purchased. i)latted an.d 
placed u]3on the market nine separate additions to Elkhart, located as fol- 
lows : Eirst addition, north of Jackson street and east of Main street: 
second addition. West JefYerson street from Third street to Saint Joseph 
river: third addition, north of Eranklin and west of Leitch street: fourth 
anil fifth additions, \\'est Jack.son street, contiguous to North Fifth and 
North Sixth streets: sixth addition, west of Willowdale, between the 
Adamsville and Edwardsburg roads in the north part of the city: se\-enth 
addition, east of Elkhart river <ui(l between East Lexington avenue and 
Jackson street: eighth addition. Crawford street, west of Main street: and 
ninth addition. West Indiana a\-enue. Nearly all of these additions have 
been built up by Mr. Eieldhouse. and the buildings erected ha\'e been sold 
f)n monthly jjayments. thus making it ])ossible for many peojjle tt) gain 
homes who could not have done so had the transaction been carried on 
on a strictly cash basis. In all of these projects Mr. Eieldhouse has been 
\-ery successful. One of the additions which he made was upon river 
l:ott(:m land, wliirb be |)urchased and transferred into a beautiful resi- 
dence district, after e\] sending twenty-five thousand dollars in filling up 
the tract, tlie dirt which he hauled thereto being from three to fourteen 
feel in de])th. This addition is now adorned with many beautiful homes, 
'iiiii altogether he has erected about two hundred residences in Elkhart. 
In connection with the im]3ro\-ement of these different additions he has 
purchased and sold other ])roperty aggregating as nnich as that alreadv 



4S8 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

mentioned, and Ins business is constantly increasing, having reached its 
highest point during the last two years. As a speculative dealer he has 
certainly been very successful and his efforts have been of marked value 
to the city, changing unsightly krts into beautiful residence districts. He 
was also \ice-president of the Saint Joseph Valley Bank for fifteen years, 
and is a stockholder in several manufacturing industries of the city. 

In political affairs Mr. Fieldhouse is also well known, being a stanch 
supporter of the Republican party. He served for four years in the city 
council of the third ward, and in 1888 was elected county commissioner 
for a term of three years. In kjoi he was re-elected to that office, and 
served until January i, IQ04. 

In Elkhart, Indiana, in 1876, Air. iMeldhouse was married to Miss 
Alary J. Hubbard, and they have three children: Airs. Annetta 1^'rank. 
Airs. Carrie E. Alathias and Charles H. Fieldhouse. 

Such in brief is the history of John \\^ Fieldhouse, classed to-tlay 
with the representative men of Elkhart. He has ever discharged his 
duties with marked ability and fairness, for he is a most loyal, public- 
spirited citizen. As a business man he has been conspicuous among his 
associates, not only for his success but for his. probity, fairness and lion- 
orable methods. In everything he has been eminently practical, and this 
has been manifest not only in his business undertakings, but also in social 
and private life. 

ORVILLE C. PCTERBAUGH. 

Or\'ille C. Puterbaugh is. at the lime of the compilation of this his- 
tory, serving as township trustee of Concord township. In this state 
the township trustee is perhaps the most important civil official in the 
list of county officers, for upon the efficiency of this person depends the 
welfare of the township's schools as also numerous other matters of 
near concern to every citizen. Mr. Puterliaugh represents the public 
spirit, the excellent common sense, the good business ability and the 
broad-mindedness with which e\'ery sucli official should be clothed, and 
his career in office has been characterized with fidelity to his constituents 
and able management of all interests intrusted to his care. 

Air. Puterbaugh is a lifelong resident of Concord township. Pie 
was born on a farm just a few miles south of the city of Elkhart, Novem- 
ber 6, 1863, a son of Henry and Alary (Lloyd) Puterbaugh. who are now 
both deceased. Puterbaugh is a German name and Lloyd a Welsh, thus 
indicating the composite racial lineage of Air. Puterbaugh. His parents 
were liorn in Ohio, the mother in Aliami county, the father in Hunting- 
ton county, and on leaving that state they- settled in Elkhart county, on 
section 20 of Concord township. They eft'ected this settlement in 1848, 
a date which places them among the very early settlers of this section 
of the county, for at the time there were no homes in their immediate 
neighborhood. Elkhart was a small village, and the father helped to la}- 
out several of the roads in his \'icinitv. He was one of the successful 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 489 

farmers of the township, ami passed away, honored and esteemed, in 
t888. aged sixty-seven years, while his good wife survived a year longer 
and was sixty-eight years old. They were members of the Dnnkard 
church. There were seven children in the family : namely, George, de- 
ceased ; Mary, now Airs. Stone ; John, who is a farmer near the old 
homestead; Amsey, deceased; David M., who was county assessor at 
the time of his death about a year ago; Mrs. Hannah J. Kurtz, of Mar- 
shalltown, Iowa, and Orville C. 

J^eared on the farm, gaining his educatioin first in the countiy 
schools and then in the Elkhart high school, Mr. Puterbaugh first gave 
his serious attention and energy to farming, which he followed for five 
years ; then Ijecame a dealer in agricultural implements at Elkhart, from 
1892 to 1896, and when fire closed him out of business in the latter year 
he entered the employ of the Elkhart Carriage Company as a harness- 
maker, a trade which lie had learned some time previously. Two and 
a half years with this company were followed by similar employment m 
the harness department of the Indiana Bugg}^ Company, and he also 
followed the same line of pursuit in other towns. Returning to^ Elkhart 
in November, 1903, he became connected with the well known real estate 
and law firm of Vail and Wehmeyer. 

A Republican in politics, Mr. Puterbaugh was elected to the office 
of trustee on that ticket in November, 1904. Fraternally he affiliates 
with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He married in 1886 Miss 
Margaret E. Cripe. and of their two children the daughter, Nina Fay, 
is deceased, and the son, Ernest, is now seventeen years old. 

E. W. HESS. 

E. \\'. Hess, in the real estate and insurance business at Goshen as 
a member of the well known firm of Immel, Hess and Foulks, is identi- 
fied most intimately with Elkhart county, her afifairs and her histoiy. 
Born on a farm in Elkhart township south of Goshen, October 4, 1861, 
he is the son of Moses N. and Mary Ann (Beckner) Hess, whose re- 
spective parents were among the ^'ery earliest settlers of Elkhart count)^ 
Balser Hess, which is a familiar name in Elkhart county annals and 
which appears on other pages of this \oIume, was the grandfather of 
Mr. E. W. Hess. It was another Balser, and the father of Balser, the 
Elkhart county pioneer, who founded the Hess family in America, com- 
ing directly from Germany to Pennsylvania. Balser Hess, the grand- 
father, came from Pennsylvania to Elkhart county alx>ut 1830, and w-as 
one of the settlers who chose as their place of residence the beautiful 
Elkhart prairie, his place being situated about two miles south of Goshen 
and on the Elkhart river. He continued to make his home in Elkhart 
township until death called him aw-ay at the advanced age of eighty 
years. He was a sturdy character, of the true pioneer type, and well 



490 HISTORY Ol-" RLKHAKT COUXTY 

deserves remembrance in the histdry uf his cnuntv. He \vas the father 
of a large family of thirteen children. 

Moses X. Hess, a son of the pioneer, was born September 28. 1818, 
and lived in this county from 1830 until his death on December 12. 1880. 
Hi-; wife, a nati\-e of \'irginia, was a daughter of Daniel Beckner, who 
came from N'irginia and was a pioneer settler in Elkhart township, 
whence several }ears later he moved <mi to Webster county, Missouri, 
where be died. Abises X. Hess was a farmer and a minister of the 
(ierman Ba]>tist church. In 1848, wdien the gold excitement had pene- 
trated Elkhart count}- as well as all other ])arts of the country, he drove 
from Goshen across the wide intervening countrv to San Francisco, and 
remained in California fi\-e year.s, returning with considerable gold as a 
reward for his labors. He then continued to follow farming on Elkhart 
prairie the rest of his life. Successful in his underta.kings, be left a good 
estate, and was a man of influence in bis comnumit)'. A Republican in 
politics, be never held nor aspired to oliice. 

With a grandfather and a father of such sterling worth and integ- 
rity, it is not surprising that Mr. E. W. Hess has found a sphere of 
large usefulness in, his county. Reared on the farm and attending the 
country schools, for some years be followed the occu]5ation to which 
he was reared, settling on the farm where be was born, in 1S85. and 
continuing as a successful agriculturist until 1893, in which \ear be 
mo\ed to (ioshen. Vov the first year be clerked in a hardware establish- 
ment. He was elected trustee of Elkhart township in 1895 and during 
his term in that office ga\e bis time and energies without stint to the 
improvement i:f the schools and other matters entrusted to his official 
care. In 1900 be engaged in the real estate and insurance business, and 
is now a member of the finu of Immel, Hess and Foulks. He has always 
l)een a Republican and has taken an acti\'e part in politics. PVaternally 
he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. 

.\ugust 30, 1885, Mr. Hess married Miss Lizzie Berkew and they 
have three daughters, Lottie .\.. Romayne O. and Mary A. 

S.\A!L"LL 1". Si'OHX. 

Samuel \'. Spobn. known to e\er\- farmer and horseman I'f north- 
ern Indiana as the projjrietor of the S]>obn Medical Couipau}' at (ioshen, 
whose specihcs for the ])revention of contagious diseases among horses 
and live stock generally ba\e licen the means of sa\-ing thousands of 
dollars annualK to stockmen and whose pre])arations have a reputa- 
tion established through years of successful use. is himself a native 
product of Elkhart county, having !;een born on a farm in Concord 
township, August ](>. 1853. Id is father was Daniel Siiobn. of ( ier- 
man lineage, and bis mother, Mary M. (Xodle) Spohn, both of them 
natives of ( )bio. 'I he fatbei' came to ibis county in 1844 and the 
mi>ther two \'ears later, and the\' were married here, after which tbe\' 



H1ST0R^' OF KLKIIART COL'X'rV 4!>1 

settled 'lnwn mi a farm. 'Iliere were six childrt'ii. four sons and two 
daiightei's. in their tanidy. Tlie fatlier died in 183S, wlien Samuel was 
hut three \ears of age. and tlie noljle mother, who siu"\'i\'ed until 18Q3, 
and who was a woman of great foree and sweetness of character and 
also of unusual husiness aijility. remained on the farm and re;u"ed her 
children to goo<l and useful li\es. 

Reared on rhe farm and recei\iny" his preliniinar\- traininsj' in the 
countrv schools. ^!r. Spohn. after having the privileges of some school- 
ing at the Xorthern Indiana Normal at Valparaisoi, obtained a license 
to teach \y hen twent\- yeai's old, and in the fo'llowing vear began his 
career as teacher, which he continued for some time, and is remem- 
bered as oiv.^ of the good teachers of this county. He taught from 
1877 to 1885, and in the latter year was elected county superintendent 
of schools, a position wdiich he held for two terms of two years each, 
and in thai time advanced the welfare of the conntv schools to a point 
much beyond any they had previously attained. After leaving this 
office in 1889 lie went into tlie life insurance business. Ha\ing made 
a thorough study of chemistrv, bacteriology and infectious diseases, 
about this tniie he began de\oting his efforts and experiments to per- 
fecting a preparation which would cure and prevent contagion among 
live stock. The result of his endeavors was seen in October, 1894. when 
he placed on the market Spohn"s Distemper and Cough Cure, which 
in the -^ubseciuent ten )ears lias taken rank abo\-e all other horse spe- 
cifics, and is sold throughout the United States and Canada, in Aus- 
tralia, and in London, Paris. X'ienna and other great centers of the 
world. Its v.-ilue is unc|uestioned and its use in the finest stables of the 
country as well as on the farm ])roves its effectiveness as the one great 
horse remed} . 

In his successful career Mr. Spohn always lays great emphasis 
ui)on the assistance and co-ojjeration wliich have l^een so freely ren- 
dered by his life companion, whose inspiring influence has Ijeen ever 
])resent with him. He was married on July 20, 1887. to Miss Mary 
Maud nonham. who is a native of Noble county and one of the six 
children, four sons and two daughters, born to Vvilliam and Fdizabeth 
(Hadley) r.onli;iiii. liolli of English lineage. Mrs. Spohn is a wc^man 
of manv acconiplishinents. before her, marriage having been a school 
teacher .and .also a music instructor, teaching five vears in Noble countv. 
and since becoming a wife has assumed aiifl conducted in a most 
pleasing degree her household. They have two children. Carlisle Bon- 
hain anfl Dan M. .Mr. Sp<iliii .afliliates with the order of l-dks and the 
Knights <if Pythias. 

CH.M'NCF.V I!. STiVF:K. 

Chauncey B. Stiver is proprietor of the Stixer furniture and un- 
dertaking establishment in Goshen. One of the more recent additions 
to tlie Inisiness circle in this citv. he lias dis])layed the enterprising and 



492 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

progressive spirit .which is behind all commercial success, and this com- 
bined with his thorough preparation for his line O'f business has placed 
him among the foremost of Goshen's men of affairs. 

An Elkhart county man by birth and lifelong residence, Mr. Stiver 
was born in Jackson township, on his father's farm, October 20, 1871, 
his parents, Michael and Mary (Miles) Stiver, natives of Ohio, hav- 
ing been residents of Jackson township for the past fifty years. Their 
four sons are all residents of this count}-. 

Mr. Stiver was educated in the country schools and lived on the 
old homestead until he was twenty-one years old, at which time he 
came to Goshen and Ijegan working in an undertaking establishment 
to learn the business. He subsequently took a course of professional 
training in schools in Chicago and Indianapolis, after which he located 
at Leeshurg in Kosciusko county and opened a furniture and under- 
taking store. Four years later, in 1899, he sold out at Leeshurg and 
came to Goshen. l>uying out a firm and establishing himself in the busi- 
ness which he has since carried on with marked success. 

Mr. Stiver married, in 1893, Miss Dora B. Forney, and they 
have two sons and one daughter. Politicall)' Mr. Stiver is a Demo- 
crat, and he has fraternal affiliations with the Benevolent and Protec- 
tive Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights 
of Pythias and the Maccabees. 

CHARLES E. FRANK. 

Charles E. Frank, countv attorney and a successful memlaer of the 
Elkhart county bar, was born March 11, 187 1, on a farm in Cleveland 
township, this county, but since the age of three years he has lived in 
■he city of Elkhart. He is a son of George W. H. and Mary C. (Reigle) 
Frank, who for many years have resided at 806 South Main street, 
where they own a nice property with nearly an acre of ground. The 
father was Ijorn in Stark county, Ohio, January 28, 1835, and the 
mother was born near Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1842. They 
were married in Elkhart county, vvhere the respective parents of each 
were early settlers, the fathers being both ministers of the Evangelical 
church. 

Mr. Frank, who is the oldest but one in a family of four sons 
:md one daughter, was reared in Elkhart and educated in the city schools. 
He was still a boy when he entered upon independent life, accepting a 
])()sitinn with the Elkhart Carriage and Harness Manufacturing Com- 
]jany in 1884, and for the following four years was in charge of the 
stock rooms of that :ompany. He I hen became a reporter for the 
Elkhart Daily Truth, and for a few months was city editor, until he 
resigned to become clerk in the carpet department of the George Vin- 
nedge and Company's store. Two years later he withdrew from this 
store and tonk up the study of law. His studies were carried on in the 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 493 

offices of Hubbell and Cnnley at Elkhart, and on November 13, 1894, 
when twenty-three years of age, he was admitted to the bar and at once 
began his professional career. .\ short time later he was appointed 
deputy prosecutor, a position lie held between four and five years, and 
about a year after lea\-ing- that office he was appointed county attorney. 
being now in his third year as such. At the same time he cares for a 
profitable and increasing private practice. 

Mr. Frank affiliates with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevo- 
lent and Protective Order of Elks and is a member of the Century Club 
of Elkhart. He married. September 26. igoo. Miss Nettie J- Field- 
house, a daughter of John W. I'ieldhouse. whose personal history ap- 
pears on other pages of this work. 

EMERY L. JONES. 

Emery L. Jones, at the head of the extensive furniture house of 
E. L. Jones Company in Goshen, and who' has been identified with 
some line of the furniture business since \outh, was Ixirn at Lowell, 
Alichigan. September 4. 1863. and when a boy moved with his parents 
to Grand Rapids, in which place and in Lowell he received his educa- 
tion and became fitted for the practical affairs of life. 

For seven years he sold furniture on the road, and after that 
became interested in the manufacture of furniture. In 1887 he estal> 
lished his residence in Goshen, and since then has l>een one of the 
leading and progressive business men of this city. Li 1892 he pur- 
chased an interest in the furniture firm of J. F. B. Kaufifman. which 
later Ixrame Cosby and Jones, and in 1900. on the retirement of the 
j\Ir. Cosby from the firm, the style became E. L. Jones Company, under 
which title the business is still conducted. The Jones furniture house 
is an exclusive furniture establishment. The stock is distributed over 
three floors, each one hundred and sixty-five by twenty-two feet. The 
window displays m this store are metropolitan in arrangement and 
effectiveness, and the universal \-erdict is to the effect that no better 
grades of goods can be found anywhere else in the county than at the 
Jones store. First-class business methods, enterprise and upright deal- 
ings have brought Mr. Jones a large share of business success, and he 
is one of the men who ;ire pushing Goshen to the front as a commercial 
center. 

Air. Jones married 3.1iss bxlith .\. Moulton. Fraternally he is 
affiliated with the Benevolent and Protecti\e Order of Elks, the Knights 
of Pythias and the Modern \\'oodmen. 

H. A. nCTTF.RFTFLD. 

\inong the citi7e;i.'^ nf (loshen is numbered H. A. Rutterfield. who 
is engaged in die li\-ery liusiness and is well known thnnighnut the 
countv as a ^tock bux'er. floshen numbers him among her native sons. 



49i HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

his birth occurring in lliis citv on the 4th <>i March. 1857, his parents 
lieing T- I'- and Julia C. ( W'atkins ) Butterfield, bcith natixes of Xew 
York. The fatlier was of English descent, and is said to ha\e heen a 
direct descendant of Sir Edward Parker of that countr_\'. In 1855 the 
family home was established in Elkhart county. Indiana, and here the 
father was extensively engaged in the stock Inisiness, buying and ship- 
ping. He was well known throughout the conununity as a successful 
business man, upright in all his dealings, and at all times enjoyed the 
confidence of his many friends. He was deeply interested in the iiublic 
affairs of his community, and served as councilman of the first ward 
of Goshen. His political support was given to the Deniocrac}-, and 
fraternallv he was a worthy member of the Masonic order. His death 
occurred when he had reached the age of about sixty-four years, while 
the mother reached the seventy-fifth milestone on the journey of life. 

?I. A. Butterfield. the orily child of this worthy pioneer couple, 
was reared and received his education in the schools of Goshen, and 
following in his father's footsteps Ijegan the stock business during his 
bovhood days. When only fifteen years of age he engaged in that 
occupation with his father, and after the latter's death succeeded to 
the business, continuing in its conduct for about twent\- years. He 
has purchased stock all over the county, shipping the same to different 
places, and at one time five men were engaged in bu\ing for him. In 
1890 he expantled his operations to embrace the lix'er}- business, build- 
ing his large and commodious barn, which he well equipped, and in 
adtlitiiin also conducts a hack and cal) line. He is one of the jirominent 
lousiness men of Goshen, and has attained his jirestige bv ])ersonal eftdrt 
and the correct application of the powers which are his. 

In t888 Mr. Butterfield was united in marriage to .\nna Beck, 
and three children have been born to them. Harry. Marv and Jose])h. 
Air. Butterfield gives his political sup])ort to the Democratic party. He 
is interested in all that promotes gooil go\'ernment. and served as coun- 
cilman of the first ward for two terms. He is a meml:)er of the Mac- 
cabees, the Modern \\'oodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias 
fraternities. For forty-eight years has Goshen been his home, and he 
is thus ■■videh' known amon.g her citizens and is held in uniform regard. 

JOHX HALE. 

Jolm Hale, for o\er t\\ent\-fi\e \ears a resident of Goshen, and 
throughout this period acti\el\ identified with the city's business and 
industrial affairs, is now \-ice-president of the well known I. .\. L. 
and Goshen Pump Company, a manufactor\- that has contributed much 
to the inciustrial wealth of the city and has made a prosperous record. 
Mr. Hale in bis successful career has combined practical mechanical 
skill with good business and execnti\e ability, and these qualities have 
been the basis on which he has Innlt his success. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 495 

Born in Three Rivers. Michigan, IMarch _'0. 1854. Air. Hale is 
the son of a Afichigan pioneer. David S. Hale. who. horn and reared 
in New York state, came to JMichigan alxnit 1838. and thereafter fol- 
lowed the occupations nf farmer and merchant in that state until his 
death. The nuither. wlnise maiden name was Mary A. McMurtrie. a 
native of Pennsylvania, was the father's second wife. He was married 
three times and was the father df fourteen children. 

Mr. lohn Hale, who was the fourth son nf the second marriage, 
was reared and educated at his native town, lived there until twenty- 
four vears old. and then in 1879 hecame identified with ( ioslien as a 
resident. He spent two years and a half with E. W. Walker in the 
manufacture of pumjis. and this line of industry has ccMitinued to en- 
gage his attention almost exclusixely for over twenty-five years, so 
that in comprehensive knowledge of the luisiness in all its details he 
hardlv has a peer anvwhere. .\fter leaving Mr. ^^'alker he was with 
the old Goshen Pump Company two and a half years, then in 1883 
w'ent with the I. X. L. Company as shipping clerk, was aiKanced to 
superintendent of the fihishir.g and ship]iing department, and still holds 
this position, in connection with the vice-]3residency of the consoli- 
dated I. X. L. and Cosiien Puni]) Compau}-. ha\-ing hecome xice-jiresi- 
dent in 1899. 

Mr. Hale married, in 187(1. Miss Emma Cou]). a daughter of Dan- 
iel and Sarah Coup. They ha\e one daughter. Bernis. Mr. Hale is 
a stockholder in the Home Telephone Company and takes an active 
interest in all business and civic affairs of his city and county. .\ Re- 
publican in politics, he was elected and serA-ed four years as council- 
man from the second ward. 1?eing one of the men who ha\'e adminis- 
tered the affairs of Goshen with such credit to the munici])al welfare. 

j.\AiES .M.Pd'drr sx.vpp. m. d. 

Dr. James Alliert Snap]), one of the leading ])hvsicians of ( loshen. 
is a representative of one of the oldest families in America, the line of 
descent being traced back to the original emigrant, a Schnep)). who 
came from Scotland during the early epoch of American history, and 
the family were numbered among the early settlers of the \'irginia 
colony. The paternal grandfather of the doctor. William Snapp, was 
a native of West Virginia, and was a farmer by occupation. His son 
and the father of him whose name introduces this review. David Sna]>i>, 
also claimed that commonwealth as the place of his nativity, and lie, 
too. followed the tilling of the soil as a life occupation. In 1862 he 
took up his abode in Kosciusko county. Indiana, and there he still re- 
sides, loved and honored by all who have the pleasure of his acquaint- 
ance. His wife Ixjre the maiden name of Patience B. McMillin. and 
was born, reared and educated in Logan county. Ohio, her parents being 
Thomas and Marv !\IcMilliu. natives of Scotland. Air. and Mrs. 



49G HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Snapp liecaiiie the parents uf three children, one daughter and two 
sons, the former of whom. Lizzie, is a trained mn^se, residing in Behe- 
fontaine, Ohio, and the son William is assistant tire chief at Hunting- 
ton, Lidiana. 

J. A. Snapp, the youngest of his parents" three children, was l;orn 
in Pierceton, Kosciusko county, Indiana, Novemher 2. 1864, and in 
the ]nihlic schools of his native city received his early educational train- 
ing. After completing the course in the Pierceton high school he en- 
tered the JefTerson Institute at Logansport, and for a few years after 
leaving the latter institution was engaged in teaching school. In 1887 
he entered upon the study of medicine in the office and under the pre- 
ceptorshi]! of Dr. H. O. King, and in the fall of the same year entered 
the Detroit College of Medicine, from which he graduated in 1891. 
In that year he located for -practice at IMillershurg, Fdkhart county, 
Indiana, where he remained until 1897, and the following year was 
spent in Puehlo, Colorado, coming thence to Goshen in May, 1898, 
where he has ever since remained. His heart and mind have heen 
wholly in this great work, and he has huilt up an en\iable reputation 
for skill in his chosen line of endeavor. 

In Sejitember, 1892, was celebrated the marriage of i\Ir. Snapp 
to Emma Barnard, who was liorn at Millershurg, Indiana, August 4, 
1869, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Barnard. To them were 
born two daughters, Gladys and Marian, but the younger died at the 
age of three years. The doctor is a member of the Elkhart County, 
the Indiana State and the American Medical Associations, while fra- 
ternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias. 

CYRUS SEILER. 

Cyrus Seller, who since 1870 has made his home in Elkhart, where 
he is now engaged in the real-estate business, was born in Wayne county, 
Ohio, in 1842, his parents being John and Lucetta (Reinoehl) Seller. 
The father was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, and when six- 
teen years of age removed v.ith his parents to Wayne county, Ohio. 
In 1863 he became a resident of .\uburn. DeKalb county, Indiana, 
where he died in 1888. He was a Ijrick. also a stone mason by trade, 
and for many years engaged in business along those lines. His wife 
was a nati\e of Lebanon county, Pennsyh'ania, and when nine years 
of age was taken by her parents to Stark county, Ohio. She spent her 
last days in the home of a sister in Clark county, Illinois, where she died 
in 1897. 

Cvrus Seller was reared in West Lebanon, Ohio, where he acquired 
the greater part of his education and also learned the trade of a brick 
mason under the direction of his father. He attended the Greensburg, 
Ohio. Seminarv in t86o. He was about tv\-enty years of age when on 
the 1 8th of August. T862. he enlisted in response to his country's call 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 407 

for aid and liocame a memlser of Company A, One Hundred and Fourth 
Ohio Infantry, under Colonel James Riley at Massillon, joining the 
Army of the Ohio. His regiment Ijelonged to the so-called Squirrel 
Brigade and the first engagement in which he participated was in the 
Cincinnati di\-ision vi that city against the threatened invasion of Gen- 
eral Kirby Smith." Later he was active in service in Kentucky, after- 
ward went to Knoxville, Tennessee, and followed the enemy as far as 
Cumberland Gap. His regiment subsequently started toward .Atlanta 
and participated in the battles of Resaca, Iron Mountain, Big Shanty, 
Kennesaw Mountain, and Jonesljoro. Then instead of going with Sher- 
man to the sea. the Fourth and the Twenty-third Corps, of which Mr. 
Seller was a member, were sent hack to take care of Hood and oppose 
his northward advance. Thus engaged he took part in the battles of 
Columbia and Franklin and the siege and battle of Nashville. They 
then were transferred to Washington, from whence the One Hundred 
and Fourth went down the Potomac and up the Chesapeake Bay to 
Fort Fisher. North Carolina, and afterward to Wilmington, Goldsboro, 
where they met Sherman's army, and continued to Raleigh, North Caro- 
lina. Mr. Seller's regiment was detailed to go to Greensboro from 
Raleigh and received the arms from Johnston's army, which had sur- 
rendered. After the performance of this duty they were detained there 
for two weeks on special duty and then came to Cleveland, Ohio, where 
i\Ir. Seiler was mustered out June 27, 1865. 

Following the close of the war Mv. Seiler went to West Leljanon 
and soon afterward joined the family at Auburn. Indiana, where he 
attended school in the fall of 1865. That winter he taught school, after 
which he attended tiie Commercial College at Fort AVayne. Later he 
again engiaged in teaching in Ohio and in Illinois and in 1867 he came 
to Elkhart. He then taught school in this vicinity and in southern 
Michigan for a few years and in the fall and winter of 1869-70 he was 
a student in the State Normal School at Terrc Haute. Indiana, being 
one of the first pupils there. 

In the latter part of 1870 jNIr. Seiler located permanently in Elk- 
hart, where he began work as a brick ma.son and dealer and became 
one of the n^.ost prominent contractors in this section. He erected a 
large number of stores, residences and other buildings, including the 
Grand Opera House and water works. Among his last contracts were 
the building of the United Brethren church, and the immense jilant of 
the Elkhart Carriage & Harness Company. In 1884 he was elected 
county treasurer, serving for four years, and at the close of his term 
he returned from the county seat and embarked in the grocery business 
on Main street, in Elkhart. He also resumed contracting and building, 
but later abandoned active operations along those lines and turned his 
attention to the real-estate business in connection with D. M. Best 
under the firm name of Best & Seiler. which relation was maintained 
for three vears. since which time he has I)een carrying on business alone 



ADS HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

with excellent success. While li\ing in Elkhart, in partnership with 
Silas Treash, Mr. Seiler. in 1873. compiled and puhlished the first direc- 
tiir\' ni Elkhart and of Goshen, Ind'ana. Copies of these are still pre- 
served and are interesting- documents. 

in Xcaemher. 1870. in Bristol. Indiana. Mr. Seiler was married to 
Miss Eninia L. LSoycr and they ha\e three children:' J. Frank; Nellie 
E. ; and Edna A, Mr. Seiler is senior past commander of Shiloh Field 
Post. G. A. R.. and is president of the b(5ard of trustees of the Trinity 
Methodist chm-ch of Elkhart. He has twice been a member of the 
board of education, serving for one term as president of that body, and 
he has several times been a member of the city council, representing 
the fourtli ward. He has also been elected to office on the Republican 
ticket, being a staunch advocate of the party and its principles. Such 
in brief is the life history of Cyrus Seiler. In whatever relation of life 
we find him — in the g"overnment service, in political circles, in business 
or social relations — he is always the same honorable and honored gen- 
tleman, whose worth well merits the high regard which is uniformly 
given him. 

GEORCiE H. SLATE. 

Among the prtjminent business men of Goshen who lia\e attainetl 
success and are counted among the most worthy and honored citizens 
is to 1>e mentioned George B. Slate, the efficient manager of the West- 
ern Rubber Company. He was born in Dauphin county. Pennsylvania. 
.\pril 17. 1866. a son of Nathaniel and Louise (Elierly) Slate, both 
also natives of that countv and ijf German descent. In their family 
were six children, tliree sons and three daughters, but onK- three of 
the nuniber are now li\-ing. the brother and sister of our subject being 
Frank and Anna E. 

George B. Slate, the youngest child in the above family, was ten 
years of age when the family removed to Millersburg, Elkhart county, 
Indiana, where he grew to years of maturity and received his educa- 
tion in its common schools. Remain.ing at home imtil twenty-one years 
of age. he then began work as a telegraph operator at difi^erent places 
on tlie line of the Lake Shore Railroad, continuing in this occupation 
for about five years. On the expiration of this period lie entered the 
passenger and ticket department, and for fifteen years was the ethcient 
and well known ticket agent at Goshen, but was then transferred to 
South Bend as city passenger and ticket agent. After remaining there 
but a short time he resigned that position to assume the one he now 
holds, as manager of the Western Rubber Company. This enterprise 
is now one of the important ones in this section of the state, and under 
the alile management of Mr. Slate, an energetic and thorough business 
man. i:)romises to reach to greater proj^ortions. 

In June. 1897. he was united in marriage to Ina. a daug-hter of 
losiah W. and Frances ( Nusbaum ) Kronk. and one daughter has come 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 499 

to iM'ighten and liless their home, Frances Louise. Throughout tlie pe- 
riod of his residence in ( ioshen Mr. Slate has taken an active part in 
its affairs, ha\-ino- ser\ed as its treasurer and alderman, and is now 
ser\ing his second term as a memher of the 1>oard of education. Fra- 
ternally he a.ffiliates with the Masonic order and with the Knights of 
Pvthias, wiiile politically he is a stanch adherent of the principles of 
the Democratic party. Fie is a zealous and consistent memher of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, and his has lieen an honorable career, 
well worthy of emulation. 

FREDERICK ARNOLD HERRING. M. D. 

At the age of ninety-three years Dr. Herring is one of the best 
])reserved. ]>hysically and mentall\\ <if the men, few in number, who 
have attained to his age in the county. He is a typical representative 
of the Cierman race, honest asid upright in word and deed, energetic 
and enterprising, and of a decidedly practical turn of mind. Cordial 
in manner, apt in expression and well versed in the knowledge of 
men and events gathered in many years of intellectual observation, one 
seldom meets a more interesting octogenarian. He owes his nativity 
to Lennep, an old Inwn in the Rhine province of Prussia, where he 
was born October 30. 181 2, his parents being- Frederick Conrad and 
Magdalena (Heinrich) Herring, the former of whom was born in 
Lemgo, proA'ince of Lippe. Prussia, a town that was founded by the 
Romans in the year 10 A. D. Frederick Conrad Herring was a mer- 
chant, who dealt in a line line of wool zephyr almost exclusively, and 
which commodit}- became widely known for its fineness and superior 
make. He became the father of eight children, and he and all his 
children with the exception of Frederick Arnold and a brother always 
mafle their home in the fatherland. 

Frederick Arnold Herring was given the ad\-antages of an ex- 
cellent educational training, receiv'ing a thorough drill in Latin. Greek 
and Hebrew, also in chemistry and botany, and afterward attended a 
special school that was purely botanical in its instructions, there becom- 
ing thoroughly familiar with all the flora of his native and other coun- 
tries and with their ]iliarmaceutical uses and effects. In 1842 he mar- 
ried Amelia J., the .laughter of Christopher Wolff, she being a native 
of Elberfeld, (iermany. where she was born June 24. 1815, and there 
educated. She died in (ioshen in 1893. To this union the following 
childrer' were given : Frederick A., Mary A.. Johanna A.. John H., 
Paul. Christma J. (now deceased). Nathaniel A. and Elizabeth. The 
eldest son. iM-edenck .\.. was .1 well known attorney of Chicago and 
a meml^er of the law firm of jdhnsdn. Herring & Brooke. He "is now 
deceaseii. 

In 1855 Dr. Herring and his family crossed the water to Amer- 
ica, and after resting a short time at Milwaukee. Wisconsin, continuefl 



500 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

their journe}' to Goshen, which ])lace has since been their home and 
where he has continued in the practice (if mech'cine with eminent suc- 
cess. He belong's to what could properlx- be called the Germanic Bo- 
tanic School, and as many of the recjuisite medicinal plants which grow 
in Europe and other countries cannot be had in this country or cannot 
be found in regular commerce. Dr. Hen^ing raises them in his garden, 
where he propagates such plants as he desires. By this means he is 
insured of strictly pure herbs, which under his watchful care and skillful 
compounding produce instant and desirable results. He has made a 
specialty of treating diseases of many organs, and his success in this 
respect iias been phenomenal. He has lieen a life-long student, not 
only as relates to his profession, but in topics general, and lieing pa- 
triarchal in appearance he reminds one of the alchemists of old seen in 
some of those rare paintings by the old masters. He Ijelieves in the 
doctrine of the -\postolic Baptist church, which is of Greek origin, one 
of the beliefs of this sect being baptism is a .saving ordinance and that 
it consists in immersion three times backwards. In his jxalitical views 
he is broad and liberal, voting for the men and measures and not con- 
fining himself to the support of any party, a strong advocate of the 
abolition of slavery of the mind as well as the body. 

Dr. Herring has spent over one-half century in this midst, leading 
a quiet, unostentatious life, scarcely ever seen outside his ot^ce or gar- 
den. During many years he has been recognized as one whose pa- 
triarchal appearance, the e.xample of whose moral and religious life and 
the success C'f whose practice of his profession have made him justlv 
celeljrated in neighboring states and even in the far west as well as at 
home, where he is revered by young and old as a kind, benevolent 
Christian gentleman, a model and honored citizen and an intelligent 
and highly learned physician. In the lore of the ancients, in antique 
and modern history, in philology, philosophy and botany, but esijecially 
in his familiarity with the history of the Christian church from the 
earliest times down to the present and in his broad Christian work 
in this county and abroad, he has few equals anywhere and ]>erhaps 
not a superior. Of him and his worthy wife it can truly Ije said : " Their 
presence is like a sweet odor in the land: their memorv shall be a pre- 
cious treasure : their children shall rise up to honor and bless them." 

M.-XRTIX K. AMI WILLI. \M 1',. KREIDKR. 

Krtider Brothers ha\c practiced medicine in Goshen for the past 
quarter of a century, and as specialists and general practitioners have 
long been reckoned among the foremost representatives of the medical 
profession in northern Indiana. 

Martin K. Kreider, M. D.. the elder brother, was born on a farm 
in Wayne county. Ohio, January i8. 1S47. His parents, Jacob and 
Anna (0\erbalt) Kreider. df l'cnns\Kani;i German stock, were Ixmi 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 501 

respectively in Pennsylvania and Ohio, the parents of each Ijeing pio- 
neers to Ohio and living and dying in Medina count}'. Jacob Kreider 
was a blacksmith by trade, but also followed farming. He died in 
Aledina, Ohio, in March. 1896. at the age of seventy-eight years, but 
the good old mother, now aged eighty years, still lives on the old home- 
stead in Medina count}-. There were eleven children born to them, 
and the nine who grew to mature years are still living. 

13r. Martin K. Kreider. like so many successful professional and 
business men. was brought up or; a farm and began his education in 
the countrv schools. He 'later attended a school at Smithville, Ohio, 
and at the age of nineteen came to Elkhart county with the intention 
of teaching .school, which he did, and very successfully, for nine con- 
secutive wmters. while m the meantime he studied medicine. Alx:iut 
1876 he entered the old Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago, but 
after one course transferred to the Chicago Homoeopathic College, 
where he was graduated in April, 1878. Locating in Goshen, he be- 
came a partner of the late well known physician. W. A. W'hippy, M. 
D. In 1880 was formed the partnership with his brother which has 
lieen since continued with such excellent results. 

Dr. jNIartin K. Kreider has taken several jx)st-graduate courses. 
and by these means and by constant research has kept himself abreast 
of the wonderful progress that medicine and surgery have niade dur- 
ing the past few decades. Although not limiting himself to one branch 
of his profession, he does considerable surgery and is noted for his skill 
in this work. In the line of his profession he has membership in the 
Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan Homoeopathic Society, and 
l>eIongs to the American Society of Orificial Surgeons and the Ameri- 
can Homoeopathic Association. He is a member of the Presbyterian 
church, and in politics a Republican. 

In 1869 Dr. M. K. Kreider married Miss Saloma Hoover, and the 
four daughters born to them are all living. 

]0r. William B. Kreider. the younger member of the firm, was 
born on a farm in Wayne county. Ohio. Februar}- 3. 1849. and. like 
his brother, was reared on the homestead farm in Medina county. After 
attending the country schools he was sent to the Mennonite college at 
\\^adsworth. Ohio, and later took a course in a commercial college at 
Madison. Wisconsin. W'ith this preparation he became a Ixiokkeejier 
for the Singer Maiuifacturing Comjiau}- in Chicago, and while hold- 
ing that position he also pursued his medical studies, .\fter a time 
he entered the Chicago LIom(eo])athic Medical College, and in 1879 
was graduated. After a short period of practice at Vincennes. Indi- 
ana, he came to Goshen and since then has been associated with his 
brother. After he had practiced for ten }ears he went abroad and at 
^' ienna. the greatest medical center- of the world, h.e took a course 
which further broadened him for a successful professional career. On 
his return to the United States he began specializing in the treatment 



50-2 HISTORY' OF ELKHART COUNTY 

of the ear, e}e and thrciat. and. in connectit)n with a general practice, 
has estabHshed a reputation for skill in these special lines. He is a 
member of the American Ophthalmological. Otological and Larvngo- 
logical Society, and also of the Northern Indiana and Southern Michi- 
gan Homteopathic Association. He has been president of the city 
board of healtli. 

/\ Republican in politics, he has rejjresented his ward in the city 
council one term. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and is 
superintendent of the Sunday school. Dv. Kreider married, in 187.2. 
Miss Nettie C. Wickham. a daughter of Dr. •\\'. W. W'ickham. Their 
one son. Noble, is a musician. 

JOl'L 1'. H.WVKS. 

riie name liorne liy Joel P. Hawks is one which is ineffaceaUy 
traced on the history of lilkhart county, and which figures on the 
pages whose records perpetuate the principal events from the early 
days down to the present time. After many years o.f toil and activity 
he died April 8. 1905, at his home in Goshen, where he had been living- 
retired. His was a quiet, helpful life, and he was widely known as a 
respected and prosperous citizen and as one who had won success through 
honorable business methods. 

Pie was born in Phelps, Ontario county. New \'ork. b'ebruary 9, 
1822, being a grandson of Paul Hawks, wdio is sujijiosed to have been 
born in England, and a son of Cephas Hawks, a native oi Deerfield, 
Massachusetts. The last named came to Elkhart county. Indiana, in 
1835, taking- up his abode at Waterford, and he was numbered among 
the pioneer millers and merchants in the county, there having been but 
two n-ierchants in Coslien at that time. He was thus engaged until 
his life's labors were ended in death, passing away in 1858. His wife 
liore the maiden name of Cloa Case, and she, tooi. was a native of Deer- 
field, Massachusetts, and was of Scotch descent. Her death occurred 
when she had reached th.e age of about seventy-six years. In their 
fan-lily were eleven children, six sons and five daughters, and ten grew 
to years of maturity, were married and reared families of their own — 
Eliza, Calista, Frank, Albert, Dwight, Sarah, Cephas, Eleazer, Joel P. 
and Mary. Harriet died when young, and all are now deceased. Elea- 
zer's widow and only son reside in Xeenah, Wisconsin, where the son 
is engaged in the manufacture of ijajjer; Dwight has ;i son li\ing in 
St. Paul: Alary has one daughter living at Richn-|ond. Indiana: and 
Alliert has a son at Cokhvater, Michigan. 

Joel P. Hawks received his first schooling in Michigan, whither 
he had ren-ioved with his parents when but six years old, and when 
fifteen years oi age he accompanied them on their removal to Elkhart 
county. When the time came for him to assume business responsibili- 
ties he entered his father's store at ^^'aterford. and was his partner 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 503 

until the latter's death, after wliich, with two lirothers, Cephas and 
Eleazer, he continued tlie business until 1893. In 1865 they moved 
their stock to Goshen, where they were also engaged in the milling 
business, which was mo\'ed to the city two years later, in iSf)^. Ivlea- 
zer Hawks died in 1891. and his brother Cephas in the folUiw ing \ear. 
and in 1893 the business went into the hands of the sons. C. and E. 
Hawks. After fifty-three years of active business life Joel P. Hawks 
put aside put aside its cares and responsibilities, and thereafter lived 
in quiet retirement, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. 

In 1844 be was united in marriage to Sarah, a daughter of l'~ben- 
ezer Brown, who came to Elkhart county in 1834. and ten \ears later. 
in 1844. was elected the sheriff of the county. Mrs. H.awks was Ixirn 
in Benton. Yates county. New Y'ork. June 7. 18J4. and was lint ten 
years of age when brought by her parents to Elkhart count}-. She 
was the second of her parents' four children, and by lier marriage has 
become the mother of seven children — Alice, deceased ; Emma, the 
wife of John Mayberry. of Gas City, Indiana; Dwight, a druggist of 
Goshen; Minnie, the deceased wife of Henry Butler; Mabel, at home; 
J. F., Jr.. also at home and a manufacturer; and Laura, deceased. The 
children were all born in Elkhart county, where the father had made 
his home for the long period of sixty-seven years, and during all these 
years had been an indefatigable worker for its best interests. When 
but fifteen years of age he went behind the counter, and there spent 
the most of his life. For two years, from 1852 to 1854. he was a resi- 
dent of California. He was a life-long Republican, his first presiden- 
tial vote having been cast for Fremont, and he ever since continued 
to support its ticket. Both he and his wife were members of the Meth- 
ochst Episcopal church, having united with that denomination before 
their marriage, she when fourteen and he when sixteen \'ears of age. 

J. M. COVER. 

J. M. Cover, a veteran school teacher of this county and now the 
proprietor of a wagon manufacturing, blacksmith and general repair 
shop in Goshen, was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, October 
22, 1858. A man of self-achievement, who has progressed on the road 
to success only by the concentration and exertion of all his native and 
acquired ability, unaided by ad\-antages of inheritance or chance, he 
therefore stands on his own foundation and is deserving of the e.steem 
and respect which are accorded him b}- all his friends and business 
associates. 

A son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Berkey) Cover, his father a black- 
smith and who died when his sou was but three weeks old. Mr. Cover 
was reared in the family of his maternal grandfather. Joseph Berkey. 
during the first ten years of his life, and since then he has shifted for 
himself, experiencing many of the upS and downs which are the usual 



504 HISTORY OF ELKH.\RT COUNTY 

lot of one thus early thrown on his own resources. The first two 
years after leaving his grandfather he spent working for his board and 
clothes in the employ of an uncle. Then going tO' Johnstown, Penn- 
sylvania, he secured employment in one of the rolling mills there, be- 
coming well versed in mechanical pursuits and at the same time saving 
his money until he had enough tO' continue his schooling, which had 
hitherto been \'ery meager. Securing a license to teach 1>efore he was 
sixteen years old, teing at the time the youngest teacher in the state, 
he therepfter spent the winter in instructing" the children of the people 
in the mountain districts of w'estern Pennsylvania and during the sum- 
mer was employed at his regular trade of carpenter. In the meantime 
he also had the opportunity of attending the State Normal school for 
twelve weeks. Fr(jm Pennsylvania Mr. Cover came to Elkhart county, 
in 1876, when about eighteen years old, and then for nearly twenty 
years he was one of the Ijest known and most successful teachers of 
this county, his work l>eing mainly in Clinton township. The editor 
of this volume was at one time a pupil of his and can testify to his 
ability as an instructor. About 1892 Mr. Cover went into his present 
business of manufacturing wagons and Ixiggies and conducting a gen- 
eral blacksmitli and re]>air shop, an enterprise which he has made very 
successful. 

Well known in (ioshen and acti\ely interested in all mo\-ements 
for the welfare of the city, Mr. Cover at this writing represents liis 
ward in tlie city council, and is always ready to consider a measure or 
enterprise which will mean a better city and will make for its per- 
manent de\elopment. He is a Republican in politics, fraternally is affil- 
iated with the Knights of Pythias and the Maccabees, and is a member 
of the Methodist church. 

In 1882 Air. Cover married Miss Nancy L. Weaver, daughter of 
Joseph and Ann (Hoover) Weaver. Mr. and Mrs. Cover are i)arents 
of six children, three sons and three daughters. Myrtle. Zii)porab, 
Edith. Ceorge. James and Jay. 

CHARLES G. CONN. 

Charles (jerard CCnn, whose career in its many phases has been iden- 
tified with gallant service in the Civil war, manufacturing and large busi- 
ness enterprises, journalism, citv, state and national politics, and with 
many other interests of society in general, was born in Ontario county. 
New ^'ork, JanuarA^ 29, 1844. Plis grandfather, James Conn, was of Irish 
stock and a New York state farmer. His parents were Charles J. and 
Sarah (Benjamin) Conn. The father moved from his nati\e state of 
New Y"rk to Three Rivers, Michigan, in 1850, and a year lat-er identi- 
fied himself with Elkhart. Well educated, broad-minded, and a man of 
culture and ability in many directions, on coming to Elkhart he trans- 
ferred his attention from agricultural life to the field of education, becom- 




Goodspeed Eroifiers.PuDIisliers.Chicago 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 505 

ing city superintendent of schools. For t\venty-li\e years he was Ijest 
known in northern Indiana for his successful work, as an educator, and 
only retired from the profession on account of failing hearing. He was 
at one time superintendent of the La Porte city schools. He died in' 1888. 
having followed photography diu-ing his later years. His wife passed 
away a year previously, and they were parents of two sons and two 
daughters. 

A boy of six years when the fajuily nio\-e(I tn Michigan, an<l only a 
year older when he first knew h^lkhart as his home town, Mr. C. G. Conn 
has spent practically both the formative and the active period of his life 
in this city. He had scarcely finished the training which the public schools 
of Elkhart furnished when he was called,, yet a boy of seventeen, into the 
sternest field of human action. May 18, 1861, against hi.s parents' wishes 
and protests, he volunteered his services in belialf of the Union of States, 
and on June 14, 1861, was mustered in as a i>rivate in Company B. Fif- 
teenth. Indiana Regiment, soon thereafter becoming a member of the regi- 
mental band. After participating in the engagement at Greenbrier, West 
Virginia, in the Elkwater Valle)- campaign, in the federal mm-ements 
through Kentucky and Tennessee lo Nashville: in the second day's battle 
at Shiloh ; at Corinth, Tuscumbia, Florence, Wartrace, McMinnville, Ver- 
villa. from Nashville he returned to Indiana to re-enlist. A fine regiment 
of sharpshooters was just lieing or.ganized at Jackson, Michigan, and 
ether ])oints of the state, and he therefore enlisted, for this service, at 
Niles, Michigan, in Company G. First Michigan Sharpshooters. Enlist- 
ing" on January 12, 1863, he was soon made first sergeant, w-as promoted 
to second lieutenant on August 8, 1863, and a little later, when only twenty 
years old, became captain of his company. It was faithful an<l con- 
spicuous service of the highest order of merit that thus i>lace(I him. be- 
fore attaining his majority, in command of men who were mostly his 
seniors, and the ability and "nravery he displayed throughout his soldier 
career gave liis comrades ever increasing confidence in their }Oung leader. 
From the time of his re-enlistment until his final discharge he was in 
constant arduous service. He was in the movement which drove Morgan 
out of Indiana ; four months assisted in guarding prisoners at Fort 
Douglas, Chicago, after which he joined Burnside's cor]:)s, .\rm}" of the 
Potomac; at the battle of the Wilderness received a flesh wound, Init con- 
tinued his command, and was at Spottsylvania, North Anna, Bethesda 
church. Cold Harbor, and all the encounters about Petersburg, and in the 
assault, Jul}' 30, 1864. was wounded and taken prisoner. As a prisoner 
he was sent first to Danville, Virginia, and then to Columbia, South Car- 
olina. At Goldsboro he and a fellow officer made an unsuccessful attemi^t 
to escape, being pursued by bloodhounds and recaptured. Another at- 
tempt, while at Columbia, resulted in like failure. On the approach of 
Sherman through the Carolinas the prisoners were moved to safer quar- 
ters, but Captain Conn and two other ofiicers bad themselves liuried. This 
artifice, too, failed of success, and he was compelled to languish in captiv- 



506 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 

it_\- ur.til the end of tlie war. After intense hardships and sufferings he 
was released with thousands of other ijrisoners and returned to ln(Hana. 
where, on July 28. 1S65, he receix-ed an honorable discharge. 

For a short while after the war Mr. Conn conducted a bakery and 
gT'^cery establisliment in Elkhart. Being what might be called a ]irac- 
*ical musician, with great natural gifts in that art and greatest fondness 
for all its manifestations, he soon liecamc identified with the line of manu- 
facture which has made his name more familiar to the world at large than 
any other piiase of his \'ersatile career. He invented his famous " elastic 
face ni()utli]jiece " for cornets, which became so popular that he could not 
manufacture them fast enough. Beginning his manufacturing with him- 
self as ]3racticall\- the i-nly workman and with a lathe made from a sew- 
ing machine table, he was soon comjielled by rush of orders to expand 
e\er\' ]iail cf the industry and become the directing head of a force of 
empiiiyes. The story of his persistent efforts and .struggles to make 
financial ends meet while he was getting started as a manufacturer has 
often been told and is familiar to all his friends and acquaintances in 
northern Inchana. Having- effected a wonderful improvement on the 
old-style cornet by means of his mouthpiece and bv dint of shrewdest sort 
of business management getting a foothold in the uncertain field of man- 
ufacturing enterprise, he then set himself to the study of the cornet with 
a view to bring'ing out the highest latent powers of that instrument. He 
secured ])atent after patent, each one representing some advance toward 
])erfection in the cornet, and in time he produced what is known to the 
world of nnisic as the " Conn Cornet," undoubtedly the instrument near- 
est to ]jerfection in sonority, strength and quality of tone and in ease of 
mechanical manipulation. All the other modern brass band instruments 
are now^ manufactured in Mr. Conn's establishment, and their supremacy 
of excellence may be gauged by what would be, to all unprejudiced per- 
sons, the last and final judgment — the fact that they are used by Sousa's 
Band and have received the highest honors at all the recent world's expo- 
sitions. The manufactiu'ing establishment for the production of the Conn 
instrunienf; is mentioned in the hist(;ry of manufacturing elsewhere in 
this work, and at this i:)oint it is only necessary to state that this industry 
has become, during the last quarter of a century, one of the foremost 
sources of the industrial prosperity which has marked the city of Elkhart. 

Tliis alone would entitle him to distinction and would be regarded a 
sufficient accomjilishment to be called a life work by any man; yet Colonel 
Conn has extended his efforts to the great ]niblic questions which concern 
the welfare of the countr)-. to the social and economic problems of Amer- 
ica, and to ])ractical humanitarianism. In the early days when his busi- 
ness was just emerging" from a small factory into one where success 
seemed sure, the Democratic partv at Elkhart nominated him for mayor. 
Contrarv to the general course of municipal politics up to that time, he 
was elected, anfl gave the citv such a practical, ]irogressive and beneficial 
administration that it is still a liigli standard for others to be nieasurecl 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 507 

by. He was re-elected to the nflice, and was soon slated for turtlier ad- 
vancement in DoHtical honors. A normally Republican district gave him 
a seat on the Democratic side of the lower house in Indianapolis, where 
he was connected with important constructive legislation and gave much 
.attention to the solution of the labor problems. In 1892 the thirteenth dis- 
trict, through its representatives assemliled in convention at Michigan 
City, placed his name on the Democratic ticket as nominee for Congress. 
In James Dodge, also a pri>minent Elkhart citizen and one of the most 
influential Remiblicans of the district. Mr. Conn had an opiionent worthy 
of his steel, but the result of the hotly contested campaign was that Mr. 
Conn went to Washington to represent the people of this district. 

.\s congressman (Colonel Conn was a man of mark from the time he 
took his seat, and both as a legislator and reformer left a lasting influence. 
It was in the field of journalism that he found the ])ower needed in his 
assault upon some of the strongholds of municipal mismanagement which 
he found fixed upon the capital city. He i^urchased the \A'ashington 
Tii.'ii's. the morning newspaper now owned Iiy Frank .\. Munsey, and 
instituted a campaign against vice and crime which for years had run 
riot in the cit}-. Directing his attack first upon the police association and 
the police force, he aroused ]>ublic attention to the existing conditions, 
and. after bitter conflict, overcame the inertia of the powers for law and 
order, caused the dens of \-ice to be \acated. the gamblers dri\-en from 
the citv and crime reduced to a minimum. The se\-ere strictures made 
upon the police force bv the Times resulted in an indictment for libel 
against Colonel Conn, but the forces of persecution failed in their pur- 
pose and the Colonel was acquitted at the trial. Having accomplished for 
the capital city what he started out to efifect, he then sold his newspaper 
and returned to Elkhart. 

Before going to Washington he was well known in journalistic 
circles of northern Intliana. for in Se])tember. 1890, he founiled the Daily 
and Weekly Tnttlh, which now for fifteen years has held an enviable posi- 
tion among the newspapers of this county and state. Mr. Conn is still 
identified with this enterprise as proprietor, and the history of the Tni.f/i 
will be found elsewhere in these pages. Since his retirement from Con- 
gress he has sought no further political honors. In 1900 he supported 
with personal effort and money the candidacy of McKinley for president, 
and did much to get out the biggest Republican vote in the history of 
Elkhart county. He is a man of independence of thought and action, but 
when any cause appeals to his judgment he gives it such loyal and able 
support that tliere can be no questioning the sincerity of his motives or 
the effectiveness of his efforts in the final results. He is a man of great 
strength of character, positive in his convictions and strong in his individ- 
uality, and never fails to follow a course which he believes to be right. 
This was demonstrated in his own career. At one time realizing that the 
fondness for intoxicants was growing upon him, he considered the ques- 
tion as he la_\- in a sleeiiing car. tra\'eling westward from Boston. He 



508 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

thought to himself. " ^^'hat'^ the use? What else does it liring hut shame 
and miseiy? 1 am never going to drink another drop." Raising himself 
from his berth he threw his hottle out of the window, anil to the resolu- 
tion thus made he has strictly adhered. 

A philanthropist, hut always keeping his own i>ersonality in the 
sha.dow behind his generous acts, he lias directed his efiforts and the wealth 
wiiich represents his life work into various channels of humanitarian up- 
lift, but paramount with his desire to aid others has always been his wish 
that the recipients of his kindness should remain in ignorance of the giver. 
He is particularly helpfid to those in his employ when they need his as- 
sistance, Ijut does not believe in indiscriminate gi\-ing. the result of which 
would merely promote mendicanc\-. 

'J hroughout almost his entire life Colonel Conn has retained his 
residence in Elkhart, and his love for his home city is indicated by a re- 
m;'.rk which he once made: " And just to think I left this place to go to 
Congress." He is pre-eminently an Elkhartian, and no locality is so dear 
to him as this city, which has witnessed his many successes from the 
days when friends and all predicted failure for his ventures until the time 
when the support of C. G. Conn beliind an enterprise is almost a certain 
guarantee of final success. 

Colonel Conn married, in iHO/, Aliss Kate Hazleton, by whom he 
lias one daugliter. Sallie. 

JAMES S. DRAKE.. 

James S. lJ)rake, one of the aljlest representatives of the Elkhart 
county bar, for many years a fellow practitioner with present Attorney 
General Miller, was born on a farm in Holmes county. Ohio, February 
i8, 1852, a son of James L. and Susan (Hayward) Drake, his father 
a native of Ohio and his mother of New York. 

The father was a prominent man. A farmer by occupation, he 
followed that calling" for many \ears. During the golden daA's of 
1849 he went to California, and remained there three years. When the 
Civil war broke out he was living in Holmes countA'. and there organ- 
ized Company H of the Twenty-third Ohio Infantry, of which he was 
chosen captain. This was a regiment famous for its eminent com- 
manders. Rosecrans. afterward general, was its first colonel. Stanley 
Alatthews was lieutenant colonel, Rutherford B. Hayes was mnjor, and 
^Villiam McKinley was a ]>riA'ate in its ranks — all of whom rose to 
high distinction both during and .after the war. Captain Drake was 
wounded at Antietam, so severely that he resigned his commission. 
He was made provost marshal of the fourteenth Ohio district, and dur- 
ing his service in that capacity commanded the \-olunteers who put 
dow'n the famous Holmes county reliellion. After the war. in 1866. 
he mo\ed to LaGrange, Indiana, where he lixed till his death in 1S86, 
w'hile his wife jiassed awa\' in the same \-ear. He was a stanch Repulv 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 50y 

lican and supiMi'ter of his party and his country. This intrepid soldier 
was the father of a large family, and seven children are still living,. 
Tavo of the sons were in the war. Levi starved to death in Anderson- 
ville prison befoi-e he was seventeen years old, and Francis M., who 
died in 1903, served four years in the war and for a time was confined 
in Libby prison. 

Mr. Tames S. Drake was fourteen years old when the family moved 
from Ohio to LaGrange, Indiana, where he continued his education in 
the high school. He spent three years. 1870-72, at Hillsdale (Michi- 
gan) College, and lea\'ing there in his junior year spent the next two 
years at the L'ni\'ersity of Michigan, graduating from the law depart- 
ment in 1874, when twenty-two years old. He at once began practice 
at LaGrange in partnership with Judge Ferrall of the circuit bench. In 
1878 he was elected prosecuting attorney for LaGrange and Elkhart 
counties, and by re-election held that office four years. In 1884 li« 
was elected to the state senate, serving four years. At LaGrange he 
served a number of years on the board of education and took prominent 
part in educational affairs. In November, 1898, Mr. Drake came to 
Goshen and began practice with C. W. Miller, the firm later becoming 
Miller, Drake and Hubbell. 

A stanch Republican. Mr. Drake was a delegate to the Chicago 
convention in 1888 which nominated Benjamin Harrison, and has al- 
ways taken an active interest in politics. Fraternally he is a member 
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, 
and a Royal .\rch Mason, and has meinbership in the Presbvterian 
church. January 2. 1877. he married Miss Amanda Clugston, of La- 
Grange. He lost his wife in February, 1904. 

ORRIN W'\TT.S. 

Orrin \\atts. practically a lifelong resident of northern Indiana, 
a Civil war veteran, a worthy and industrious citizen in all the depart- 
ments of a busy career, is now serving his second term as citv treas- 
urer of Goshen, where he has lived for nearly thirty years. 

Mr. Watts was torn at Milford, Indiana, May 5. 1841, a son of 
Nelson and Ann H. (Farrington) Watts.- These worthy parents came 
from \''ermont and settled at Milford in 1839, and later moved to Lees- 
burg, also in Ko.'-ciusko county, where the father, who- followed the 
occupation of carpenter and joiner, died. 

Reared and educated at I.eesburg, Mr. Watts worthed at the trade 
of carpenter with his father, and for two years was in the furniture 
business in Leesbui\g. He was just entering manhood when the Civil 
war broke out, and on April ig, 1861. a few days after Fort Sumter 
was fired upon, he enlisted in Company E, Twelfth Indiana Infantry, 
for one year, and served in the .'Knny of the Potomac until his hon- 
orable discharge on May 7, 1862. He is now a charter member of 



510 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Cliarles W. Howell Post Xo. 90, at Goshen, and is acti\-ely interested 
in G. A. R. matters. In 1867 Mr. Watts was elected county surveyor 
for Kosciusko county, at which time he mo\'ed to \Varsaw. ?Ie later 
resigned this office and went to Topeka. Kansas, where he lived a 
short time. He located at (inshen in [873, and with the exception of 
four years spent at Paitler, this slate, has resided here ever since, fol- 
lowing the vocation of cabinet making. In the spring of 1902 he was 
elected city treasurer of Goshen, and after one term of very satisfac- 
tory service in this office his fellow citizens showed their confidence 
in him by re-electing him in May, 1904. 

Mr. Watts is a stanch Repul>lican. and fraternally is a member of 
the Knights of the Maccabees, for which order he was record keeper 
seven years. January 29, 1863, he married Miss Sarah E. Raff, who 
was born in Ohio. They have three children, Qiarles D.. Maud E. 
Davis and Bessie D. 

DR. WlLLIA!vI A. NEAL. 

Dr. \\'illiam A. Xeal is, so far as is known, the oldest native-born 
resident of Elkhart still living in the_^ city. This is a noteworthy distinc- 
tion for record in this history of the county, not to mention the fact that 
Dr. Neal is also entitled to recognition as one of the oldest physicians of 
the county. He himself has been identified in many ways with the life 
and affairs of his city and county, and furthermore is a member of a 
family whose connection with the county dates back to the very pioneer 
jieriod. 

When Dr. Neal was Ixirn in Elkhart on January 29. 1836, there 
was little more than a collection of log houses to mark the site of what 
was destined to be a thriving city of twenty thousand. Nearly three 
score and ten years have passed since he was born, and it has teen his lot 
to witness in the meantime almr>st countless changes in the physical feat- 
tires which once marked the spot and a development of civic and indus- 
trial resources which the present generation can hardly realize. 

Dr. Neal's father was Henry Neal, a native of Hagerstown, Marx- 
land, and a son of Welsh parents. \\'hen a bm- the father accompanied 
his parents to Ohio, and in 1835 came out to the wilderness of northern 
Indiana and located in the little village of Elkhart. .\ harnessmaker by 
trade, and a skilled one at that, he had the honor of startin.g the first 
harness shop in the county, in partnership with his brother-in-law, G. L. 
Kiblinger. He continued in business until his death in 1884. A pioneer 
of the county, he was identified in many ways with its civic affairs. He 
served as a constable, and in politics was first a Whig and then a Repub- 
lican, and was a prominent member of tlie ATethodist Episcopal church. 
His wife. Rebecca Kiblinger. a native of Ohio, died in 1841 at the age 
of twentv-fnur, and they had only two children. The dau.ghter, Mar- 
garet, became the wile of Russell Davis, and died in 1900. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 511 

Dr. Neal. the older oi the chilch'cn am! the only one left to represent _ 
the family, began his independent career when a Ixiy of thirteen by learn- 
ing the printer's trade, and for a time worked on the Elkhart Express 
and the Goshen Democrat. Cjiving up the printer's trade at the age of 
fifteen, he learned the drug business and at the same time carried on the 
study of medicine. He completed his preparation for a jirofessiona! 
career at Rush Medical College in Chicago, and began practice in New 
London, Iowa. In October, 1861. he joined the Union army as assistant 
surgeon, and served three years and ten months, until his discharge in 
July. 1865. He afterward located at Dayton, IMichigan, and practiced 
there fourteen years. Dr. Neal returned to the city of his birth in 1870 
and has ever since been conducting an active practice in this city. He 
is a member of the Elkhart County and the State Medical societies and 
also the American Medical As.sociation. He affiliates with Elmer Post 
of the G. A. R. and is surgeon for the same. He has been a member of 
tlie Masonic order since he was twenty-two years old, and has taken the 
Royal Arch degrees. 

In 1857 Dr. Neal married Miss Elizabeth L. Lamb, and they are 
parents of two children. Harry, the son, is in the printing business in 
Elkhart. The daughter Eva is the wife O'f W. N. Sawyer. There is a 
grandson. Glen R. Sawyer, who is a practicing attorney of Elkhart, so 
that four generations of the family have been identified with this city in 
useful and honorable acti\-ities. 

EL]^IERE. ASH, M. D. 

Elmer E. .\sh, M. D., has practiced medicine and surgery at Goshen 
since 1889, during which time he has built up a reputation as one of the 
ablest an<l most skillful practitioners of the city. He is constantly busy, 
has a large general practice both at his office and from house to house, 
and is one of the wide-awake men of his profession who keep thoroughly 
abreast of all impnnements and scientific progress. 

Dr. Ash was born January 3, 1863, on a farm in Wayne county, 
Ohio. His parents, Josiah and Nancy (Bidler) .\sh. Ixith natives of 
Pennsylvania, were married in Ohio, and for many years lived in Wayne 
county, where the father was a prosperous farmer. In later years they 
moved to .Vshland, Ohio, ^^herc first the mother and later the father 
passed away in death. 

Reared on a farm. Dr. Ash began his schooling in the country- 
schools, and his opportunities were afterward broadened by the pri\ilege 
of attending the normal school at Ada, Ohio, and later he attended the 
Dunkard college at .Ashland. Obtaining a teacher's certificate, he taught 
school five years, thus laying the same basis for professional life which 
so manv successful men ha\e. Erom his earnings as a teacher he de- 
frayed his expenses in gaining a medical education, and while he was 
teaching he was engaged in the study of medicine. He later entered the 



512 HISTORY OF ELKH.VRT COUNTY 

Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville, and was graduated from that 
excellent professional school in 1885 '^^'th the degree of M. D. A short 
time after graduation he was appointed assistant superintendent of the 
insane hospital at Toledo, Ohio, a position he held for eighteen months, 
and then located ai; Norwalk, Ohio, and practiced until he came to Goshen 
in 1889. Here he has made the scene of his endeavors ever since, has 
found an excellent iield for his activity, and the patronage which has 
been gi\'en him is the best proof of his ability. With a large medical 
library, with a modern and well equipped office suite, with several oper- 
ating rooms in which to care for his surgical practice, he has all the acces- 
sories which are needed by the modern physician and surgeon. With 
progressiveness a keynote of his character and ground for his large suc- 
cess, he has never been content with present accomplishment. In 1898 
he took a iwst-graduate course in the Chicago Post-Graduate School of 
Medicine. He is a member of the Elkhart County Medical Society, of 
the Tri-State Medical Society, and of the American Medical Associa- 
tion. .\lso active in fraternal orders, he affiliates with the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, with the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and 
Protective Order of Elks, is a Master J\'Iason, and in politics is a Repul> 
lican. 

Dr. Ash married, in 1886, Miss Mary Kalor, of Toledo. They have 
tw<i children. Xellie 'M. and Agnes E. 

ELMER l^XLSWORTH .AIUMMERT. 

Elmer Ellsworth Mummert, of Goshen, is one of the best known 
and most prominent men in this county. An able lawyer, honored by his 
fellow citizens with election to the general assembly of the state, a man 
of affairs, he has in many ways left the impress of his indi\iduality and 
action upon his county. 

-\ native of Goshen, where he was liorn February 14, 1863, Mr. 
]\Iummert belongs to a family which has Ijeen resident in this country for 
two centuries and which has included among its members men who have 
proved stanch and honorable at every post where the destiny of human 
life has stationed them. The main trunk of the Mummert family tree 
as it has grown and flourished on American soil originated in Jacob 
Alummert, who was born in the famous old province of Alsace Lorraine, 
Germany, in 1650. and who sometime in the course of that century came 
to America. .\t Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, his .son Adam was born in 
1700. Adam in turn had a son Jacob, born in Adams county, Pennsyl- 
vania, in 1745, and who, among the earliest pioneers, crossed the Alle- 
ghanies and settled at Canton, Ohio, where, on June 2. 1801, was born 
his son Adam Mummert, the grandfather of Elmer E. of Goshen. 

Also in Canton, Ohio, was born George W. Mummert, on August 
6. 1836, the father of Mr. Mummert, subject of this ske1x:h. From Ohio 
he came to Goshen, and after a residence here of twelve or fifteen vears 




':^V . 



(^.(&. ^feU--^^^-^-— ^^"^^ 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 513 

moved to Millersburg, Elkhart county ; from there to Wawaka, in Noble 
count)', where his last days were spent and where his death occurred on 
August 6, 1893. just as he had completed his fifty-se\-en years of life. 
He had, about 1870, in partnership with the late Dr. E. W. H. Ellis, 
built and operated a mill at jVIiller.sburg and one at Wawaka. The latter 
mill being destroyed by lire some eight }-ears later, Mr. G. W. Mumniert 
purchased his partner's interest and rebuilt the Wawaka mill, which since 
his death has been operated by his son, William C. Mummert. W'hile 
living at Goshen he was manager of the Stauffer flouring mill and later 
in life was engaged in manufacturing railroad supplies. He was a good 
business man and in all circles had the respect and esteem of everyone, 
being well remembered by the early settlers of Elkhart county^. In poli- 
tics he was a Republican and for two terms commissioner of Noble 
county. A consistent Christian, he was a member of the Methddist b^])is- 
copal church. 

George W. .Mummert married Louisa J. Zinn. a sister of the late 
George W. Zinn, who was an early settler of this county and who at 
one time served as county commissioner of Elkhart county. Louisa 
Zinn was born in Clark county, Ohio'. May 17, 1835. and died at Wawaka, 
Decemlier 30, 1887. She too was a member of the Methodist church, 
a woman of strong force of character and beloved b}- all who had the 
good fortune of an acquaintance with her. 

Of such excellent parentage and ancestry, Hon. E. E. Alummert has 
led a life in keeping with the solid worth and integrit}' of the past and 
has maintained his career in accordance with the high standards of the 
present day. Entering William Ta_\-lor University at the youthful age 
of fifteen, he was graduated therefrom in 1881, the youngest member 
of his class, five years later being honored with the degree of .\. M. 
from his alma mater: matriculated in the University of Michigan and 
was graduated from its law department in 1885 with the degree of LL. 15. 
He at once began practice in Goshen, in partnership with \\'ilber L. 
Stonex, and soon rose to prominence in Iiis profession and in politics. 
In 1889 he was appointed to the position of deputy prosecuting attorney, 
serving as such four years ; was later elected city attorney for Goshen. 
While prosecuting, attorney many important cases were tried, among 
them two murder cases. In igoo he became the nominee of the Repub- 
lican partv for state representative, was successful at the polls in that 
fall, and two years later was re-elected. He represented this count\- w ith 
great credit in the si.xty-second and si.xty-third sessions of the general 
assemlolv, and as a member of important committees and taking a leading 
part in the discussions and deliberations be left his impress on the legis- 
lation effected during tliat period. During his first term he introduced 
the general library bill, since known as the " Mummert Law." which is 
considered one of the best acts of its kind in any state, and upon the 
strength of which .\ndrew Carnegie has given between forty and fifty 
liliraries tn Indiana. During his sccinid term Reiiresentati\e ?ilumniert 



51+ HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

introduced some of the most impoi'taiit bills considered during the session, 
among them the general iniprovement law for cities and towns, and also 
the Jaw that made possible the magnificent new high school building in 
Goshen, which, considered both from an architectural standpoint and as 
an institution, is a lasting credit to this city and one of the finest schools 
of the kind in this state. .1 le has for years lieen acti\e in local and state 
politics. 

Mr. jMummert did iiiucli Id estalilish the Goshen public library in 
his home cit}-. h'or a }ear he imp<.irtune(l Air. Carnegie to make a con- 
tribution for that ]>urpose to Goshen, altliough none but the librar)- com- 
mittee knew of the c^uiet and efifective efforts being made by him. until 
the gift was secured and public announcement given to the city. This 
successful initial step was followed by his securing the library legislation 
already mentioned, and a sbnrt time later he made a second trip east to 
interview I\Ir. Carnegie, by which twenty-five thousand dollars in all was 
secured for a public library in Goshen. This gave Goshen the distinc- 
tion of being the first city in Indiana to recei\-e recognition in this man- 
ner at tiie hands of the great pliilanthro]3ist. He was appointed to serve 
on the lirst lil)rar}- b'oard. Mr. Mumniert. besides being acti\-e in pro- 
moting puljlic afifairs. was for fi\e years secretary of the Commercial 
Exchange of Goshen, and in this capacity gave much time and effort to 
the enterprises planned and undertaken during that period. He is a 
member of the First Methoilist Episcopal church of Goshen, and one of 
the official board for the ])ast fifteen or twenty years. In all things an 
indefatigable worker, it is to this excellent characteristic that is attributed 
his rise to his present prominence and usefulness to state and community. 

May 14. 1890, Mr. Mummert married I\Iiss .Mice N. Nusbaum, a 
lady of rare accomplishments, prominent in local and state club circles, 
and an influence for sweetness and light at home and in society. Born 
in Middlebury township, this count)', July 30. 1865, the eldest of four 
children born to Da\'id P>. and Idarriet Xusbaum. of Swiss-German de- 
scent, she receixed her early education in the common schools of Mid- 
fllebury township and \-illage, and for eiglit \'ears was one of the success- 
ful and jxipular teachers of this count\. She tauglit her first term in 
Clinton township, in the s])ring of iSSj, .and from that time until her 
marriage taught continuously except one term — teachnig from seven to 
nine and a half months each year and going to school most of the A-aca- 
tion seasons, her later schoohng being obtained in the Valparaiso Normal 
School. Four vears of the eight spent in teaching were spent in the 
Goshen cit\' '•chools. her duties lieginning there in the fall of 1886. 

A woman of rare range of abilities, Mrs. Mummert has accom- 
plished much in more than one sphere of activit}'. In i()02 she was vice 
presideiit of the Indiana State Federation, of Women's Cluljs, in 1903 
was chairman of the legislative committee, and as such was instrumental 
in securing some valuable legislation in the session of the general assem- 
bly in 1903 affecting movements in the interests of women's clubs. In 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 515 

October, 1904, at the comciition liekl in the city of Elkhart. ]\Irs. Alum- 
mert received further honors by being elected president of the Indiana 
Federation of Women's Clubs, and was re-elected to that iX)sition at 
the Sixth Annual Con\ention held in \^incennes on October 11, 12 and 
13, 1905. 

As a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Goshen 
she has served m every capacity, as steward, president of the Ladies" Aid, 
assistant Sunday-school superintendent, teacher in the Sunday-school, 
and as a member of important committees. She has been associated with 
organizations for mutual impro\ement and for the benefit of the pulilic ; 
has been a member of the executive board of the Woman's Musical Club 
of Goshen ever since its inception, and is now first vice president of the 
club, her acti\-e interest in music and musical affairs being still main- 
tained in spite of the engrossing nature of her other duties. She cher- 
ishes most of all her church and home relations, and when these respon- 
sibilities have been met she offers her time and talent for the welfare of 
the community, especially along educational lines. She possesses an ex- 
cellent private library, and art. music and literature have each foimd 
their proper place in the formation of her character and the rounding out 
of her life work. 

Mr. and Mrs. Mummert Iiave one child, Maurice M.. torn Septem- 
ber 13, 1892, who served as a page in the house during the sixty-third 
general assembh . 

GEORGE W. F.VRRELL. 

George ^^^ Farrell. ex-probate commissioner of Elkhart county, 
has, during the sixty odd years of his lifetime, had a career of singular 
interest, hecause of its worthy activity, his patriotic service during the 
war of the rebellion, his constant striving and ambition looking beyond 
present attainment to higher reaches of fortiuie. and the honor and dig- 
nity which have graced his life in all its phases. 

Born in Ashland county. Oliio. September 28, 1843, ^^^ ^^'^^ ^ son 
of Joseph A. and Ruth (Fowler) Farrell. the former a native of Penn- 
sylvania and the latter of Maryland. Married in Pennsylvania, from that 
state the parents came to Ohio, settling in Ashland county ; went back 
to Pennsylvania, again rettu'ned to Ohio, whence they moved to the 
father's native county. Lawrence c<iunty. Pennsylvania, and in 1871 came 
to DeKalb county. Indiana, where the mother passed away in the follow- 
ing year. The father was married a second time, and finally moved to 
Waterford. Elkhart count}", where he practically spent the rest of his 
life, although he died in Nebraska, \\hile on a visit there, in 1887. 

Passing his youth lui the \-arious places where iiis parents sojourned, 
Mr. k'arrell grew up without special educational advantages Init with an 
active and energetic spirit. He was living in Pennsylvania when the 
Civil war came on. and April 26, 1861, he enlisted in Cooper's Battery B, 
First Light Artillery of the Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps. 



516 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

which was organized at Mt. Jackson, Lawrence county ; entered the state 
service June 8, 1861, and was mustered into the United States sei-vice 
June 28. He was mustered out June 9. 1864, term of three years expir- 
ing, and re-enhsted February 26, 1865, in the Second Hancock Regiment, 
Company G, and was mustered out June i-/, 1865. The total enronment 
of Battery B was 332, and of these 283 were enhsted for three years, 
and 49 for one year. There were 83 transfers to the Ijattery, and 43 
transfers from the battery. The men transferred to the battery were for 
the purpose of keeping tlie organization to the full battery complement. 
The casualties were: 21 killed and died of wounds received in action 
(which is a greater loss than that sustained by any other volunteer Ixit- 
tery in the sen-ice) : 17 died of disease, etc.. and the different men 
wounded were 52. Several men were wounded more than once, which 
makes the number of wounded loi. Some of the men who were trans- 
ferred back to their regiments were afterward killed and their death 
noted in the roll. The batten' served in the First and Fifth Corps, Army 
of the Potomac, but. was temporarily attacherl to the Third Coi-ps of the 
Army of Virginia during the battles at and in the vicinity of Rull Run. 
Tlie total ammunition expended during the entire service was over 11,200 
pounds. Mr. Farrell was a member of this Battery B, and the engage- 
ments in which lie participated as a member of the battery were : Dranes- 
ville. Mechanicsville, Gaines Mill, Charles City Cross Roads or Glendale, 
Malvern Hill, Gainesville, Groveton, second Bull Run, Chantilly. South 
Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh's Crossing or second 
Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Wilderness, 
Laurel Hill or Alsop's Farm, Po River, Spottsylvania Court House. 
North .\nna River or Jericho Ford. Totopotomy, Bethesda Church, Cold 
Harbor. Mr. Farrell followed the fortunes of this battery to the close 
of his term of enlistment. Fie entered the Second Hancock Army Corps, 
Februarv 26, i86s, from which he was honorahlv discharged Tune 2"]. 
1865. 

Mr. Farrell look up his residence in Elkhart count}- in December, 
1868. I'or a time he was in the merchandise business at the old town 
of Waterford, Silver Lake, Three Rivers, Warsaw and other places in 
this section of the state. In 1879 ^e began farming near \\'aterford. and 
was known as an enterprising and successful farmer there until 1886. 

.A natural fitness led him to the study and practice of the law, 
although the course that his life had taken prevented him from following 
his bent. But when his mind was made up to a legal career all ordinary 
obstacles were as nothing in his path. Having left school when fourteen 
years old. he had not a very satisfactory literan^ basis. Therefore, in 
1885, when nearing the meridian of his years, he re-entered school, at- 
tending the same school in Waterford and being in the same rooi-n where 
his children were pupils. In 1887 he graduated from the law school of 
' the Northern Indiana Normal College at Valparaiso, and on his admis- 
sion to the bar soon afterwarrl he located at Goshen. In October, iqot, 




V^. ^jfTZT. ^*iy^^ms ^ £■.' 



^hMJ^^^^^^iMsj^. 



HISTORY' OF ELKHART COUNTY 517 

he was appointed probate commissioner, and held that responsible county 
oftice over three years. Always an active Republican, in 1894 he was 
elected a member of the lower liouse in the General jXssemljIy. and ga\e 
his constituents capable service during one term. 

In 1870 Mr. Farrell married Miss Susan Matilda Latta. Mrs. Far- 
rell was born in this county, being a daughter of William and iNIatilda 
(Layton) Latta. Three children have been l)orn of tlieir marriage, 
namely, Aionzo M., Joseph M. and Porter M. Farrell. 

FRANCIS E. BAKER. 

Francis E. Baker, for twenty years ]M'(.iminent as lawyer and judge 
and since January, 1902, occupying the high position of judge of the 
United States seventh judicial circuit, is a son of the well known and 
long honored jurist. Hon. John H. Baker, now living retired in Goshen, 
in which city Francis E. was born October 20, i860. His mother, Har- 
riet E. (DeFrees) Baker, is also still living, and the family in its connec- 
tions and activities has lo^ng been one of the most prominent in Elkhart 
county. The career of Hon. John H. Baker has been sketched on other 
pages of this \'olume. 

Judge Baker went to school in his native city until he was ready 
to enter college. At the age of sixteen, in 1876, he became a student in 
the L^niversity of Indiana, and two years later entered the Lhiiversity of 
Michigan, where he was graduated in 1882, after having completed a 
five years' course in four yejirs. His scholastic career was noteworthy as 
a brilliant entrance into the larger field of activity in later life. He was 
class historian in 1880, and during the last year of his course was the 
literary editor of the college paper, the Chronicle, and was class poet at 
the commencement exercises of bis class, honors bestowed upon him in 
recognition of his literary ability displayed during four years of constant 
association with his classmates. Following his graduation he read law 
two. years under his father and his father's law partner, the late Judge 
Mitchell, of Goshen. In 1885 Judge Mitchell became a judge of the 
supreme court of Indiana, and the firm of Baker and Mitchell was suc- 
ceeded by Baker and Baker, father and son. Seven years later the father 
became judge of the LInited States district court, and at that time Charles 
W. ^Miller (now attorney general of the state) became a member of the 
firm, as Baker and Miller, which firm is now continued as Miller, Drake 
and Hubbell. 

.'Vlthough an active Republican since casting his first vote, Mr. 
Baker was never an aspirant for political honors outside the direct line 
of his profession. His career on the bench, which has been replete with 
well merited distinction, began in 1898, when he was elected to the 
supreme court of Indiana, taking his seat on January 2, 1899. Three 
years later, in December, 1901, he was nominated and in January f(illnw- 



51 S HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

ing assumed his duties as judge of the United States circuit court of the 
seventh circuit, which sits at Chicago. 

Judge Baker married, Fel>ruary. 21, 1888, Miss Mary Irwin, of 
Goshen, and ;i daughter of one of the Elkhart county pioneers and lion- 
ored citizens. 

MRS. HANNAH BROTHERS. 

Mrs. Hannah Brothers, of Jackson township, is entitled tO' distinc- 
tion in more ways than one. She is one of the oldest ladies of the county, 
and for over half a century has resided in Elkhart county ; both her oi\\'n 
fajnily and those of the name she bears have played a conspicuous part in 
affairs Ixjth in this county and elsewhere, and her life has partaken of 
those qualities of sweetness and light which are the highest expressions 
of woman's character. 

Mrs. Brothers was born in Stark county, Ohio, September 22, 1827, 
being the third in a family of twelve children, four sons and eight daugh- 
ters, whose parents were Manassa and Sarah (Creighton) Baer. She is 
the oldest of the three yet living, her two sisters being". Sarah, wife of 
L. J. Dyke, who lost an arm in the Civil war and is now a retired resident 
of Union City, Pennsylvania: and Eliza, wife of H. H. Shaler, a real 
estate dealer of Saginaw, Michigan. 

Manassa Baer, the father, was born in Ohio in 1800, was reared in 
his nati\-e state, recei\-ing the education afforded by the poor common 
schools of that period, and after a successful career as a farmer he passed 
aw^ay May 2, 1857. Coming to Elkhart county in 1851, when much of 
the county w as still in its primitive condition, he purchased land in Jack- 
son township near the Benton township line, and it was there he made his 
home till death. He was a Whig in politics, and lived long enough to 
vote for the hrst Republican ticket. Both he and his wife were members 
of the German Baptist church. The latter was born in Ohio about 1804 
and died June 8, 1873. 

RecU'ed in her native county of Stark, the daughter Hannah was 
married there on April 10. 1846. to Stephen Brothers, and the large 
family born to them consisted of thirteen children, five sons and eight 
daughters, of Avhom seven are living at this writing. Byron, who had 
a public and normal school education, is a resident of Wichita. Kansas, 
• and by his marriage to Miss Cora Umbenhour has two children, Lois and 
Gordon. ]\Iary, who, after attendance at the common schools and the 
Go.sben high school, was a teacher in New Paris a number of terms and 
alsd one vear in Kansas, is now the wife ni F. M. Rohrer, a carpenter 
and i( liner at (ioshen, and they lia\ e one child, Romain. Chloe, born a 
mute and graduated from the Deaf and Dumb Institute at Indianapolis. 
is the wife of j. \\". Priestly, a mechanic residing in Goshen, and has 
one child, Clarence. Marjarah resides in Jackson townshi]> on the old 
homestead with her venerable mother. Elizabeth, a graduate of the 
Goshen high school and for eleven and a half years a successful teacher 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 519 

in this county, lives with her mother; she is tiie widow of the hite Dr. 
Albert Eisenbeiss. who was a graduate of Indiana Medical College in the 
class of 1886 and who died in 1895. Albert, who completed his educa- 
tion at Purdue University and is now a practical farmer in Elkhart town- 
ship, married Miss Lovina Rodabaugh and has three sons, Chester, Wal- 
ter and John. The last of the living children is Dr. G. M. Brothers, 
whose life history immediately follows this sketch. 

Stephen Brothers, the late husband of Hannah Brothers, was born 
in Stark county, Ohio, November 15, 1819, and died March 29, 1892. 
He recei\ed a common school education and followed the occupation of 
farming. A Whig during his early voting years, he became a Republican 
on the birth of that party, and cast his ballot for all the candidates from 
Lincoln until his death. He was often chosen a delegate to the county 
and district conventions, and was a loyal supporter of the Grand Old 
Part)'. He and his wife were members of the German Baptist church, 
and at his death the township and county suffered the loss of a man who 
had been faithful to all the obligations imposed by church, state, society 
and the countless relations of life. The estate which this pioneer built 
up by his labor and diligence is known as the '"Wayside," and is the be- 
loved old home where children, relatives and friends still delight to linger 
and enjoy the rich associations of the past and present. 

GUY M. BROTHERS, M. D. 

The pupil of Aesculapius as exemplified in the graduate of our 
modern medical college is a factor that plays a most cdnspicuous part in 
home, community and nation. For, as Pope has expressed it : 

" A wise pin-sician. skilled our wounds to heal. 
Is more than armies to the pulilic weal."' 

The genial, sympathetic and skilled doctor, bringing sunshine into 
the sick chamber, is ever welcome to suffering humanity, and the ideal 
physician can never be too highly exalted in our minds. The old- 
school doctor, more potent for healing by reason of his svmjiathv than 
through knowledge or skill, thongli still beloved and fondly remem- 
bered, is giving place to the modem graduate, well ecpiipped by studv 
and experience and bringing to his work the vast sum oi knowledge 
accumulated through years of experience and co-operati\-e practice in 
this great field of applied science. 

It is a physician an,d surgeon of the modern type whose career is 
presented in the following brief sketch of Dr. Brothers. A represen- 
tative of one of the most prominent old families of Jackson township, 
he needs no further introduction to the readers of this history-, and a 
short history of his career finds a most fitting place in the annals of 
the county as found recorded in this year 1905. 



520 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Born on the old homestead in Jackson township, Septemljer 15. 
1873, the youngest of his parents' thirteen children, whose more de- 
tailed history is given alxive. Dr. Brothers spent his youth on the farm, 
receiving liis diploma from the common schools in 1889. and finished 
his public school course by two years in the New Paris schools and 
two years in the Goshen high school. In 1893 he continued his studies 
in the X'alparaiso College, where he studied until he received his diploma 
for the Cdurses in pharmacy and literary departments. This scholastic 
career h.e completed so successfully only by relying upon his own efforts 
for the means of accomplishment, and he can be proud of the title of 
self-made man. On his return home from Valparaiso he took the 
examination fdr .1 teacher's license, obtained one, and for six years 
shaped the ])lastic minds of many boys and girls in his home dis- 
trict, where lie is rememl)ered as one of the veiy successful teachers. 

In the meantime he had resolved upon the profession of medicine 
as his life work, although the law had also appealed to him strongly, 
and in the fall of 1900 he entered the medical department of Butler 
College, now the University of Indiana, and after pursuing the full 
course was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1904. During his 
period of preparation he was associated with Dr. Erastus M. Eisenbeiss, 
one of the most noted surgeons of the state, and from him gained 
much both in the way of inspiration to the highest ideals and also in 
direct practical benefit. After his graduation he passed the examination 
set Ijy the state board, Ijy which he was licensed to^ practice in twelve 
states of the Union, and in 1904 he located for active practice at New- 
Paris, where he has already gained a very high place in his profession 
and is recognized as one of the most thoroughly equipped and able 
voung practitioners in the county. Anxious to achieve success of a 
substantial and permanent character, and success measured from pro- 
fessional ideals rather than from a financial standpoint, he is as enthusi- 
astic a student now as when in college, and grasps every opportunity 
to better perfect himself for his life work. While the opportunity has 
been given him to enter practice in a large city, many reasons have 
persuaded him to begin his career in his home township, and here his 
influence and patronage have already becom.e widespread. He is a 
member of the Marion County Medical Society, as also of the similar 
professional organization in this county, and is connected with the well 
known literarx- and medical bodw the S\'dneyham Society. Politically 
he is a Republican, having cast his first A-ote for McKinley, and his 
religious preference is for the Methodist faith. Much travel through 
the states of the Mississippi valley, as also continued and intimate con- 
tact with affairs and men, have contributed much to breadth of mind anrl 
universal sympathy which are characteristic of Dr. Brothers, imiue- 
diatelv observable on brief acquaintance with the doctor, and his al^ilit\- 
goes unquestioned throughout his native county. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 521 

DR. JAMES A. WORK. 

Dr. James A. Work, one of the a1>lest representatives of the med- 
ical profession in Elkhart, who has practiced in that city for over 
thirt}' years, was born in Middlebury township of this county, Eebru- 
ar}- 15, 1845. ^-^ 's a son of Abel Everett Work, who was born in 
Lancaster county, Ohio, and came to Elkhart county in 184J. .V 
blacksmith by trade, he followed that occupation in connection with 
fanning, and had a shop for many years on his farm in Middlebury 
township. He was a respected and well known resident of the county 
for over fifty years, and died at an advanced age in .1898. A Presby- 
terian, lie was one of the founders of the Little Elkhart church, and its 
deacon many years. He was of Scotch-Irish descent through his 
father, Aaron Work, who was a native of Mifflin county, Pennsyl- 
vania. Dr. W'ork's mother, Cynthia H. (Larimer) \\'ork, a native of 
Ohio and who lived to her seventieth }ear, was also of Scotch-Irish 
ancestry. The parents had eight sons, and all grew to manhood. 
Aaron is in the real estate and insurance business in Elkhart. Isaac 
L. and John W. l^oth died in the service of their country during the 
rebellion, the tormer in 1863 and the latter in 1864. Dr. Samuel A., 
who died at \"andalia, Michigan, in 1902, aged sixty years, had been 
a prominent physician there for twenty years. James A. is the subject 
of this sketch. William C. is a retired farmer living in Elkhart. Rolv 
ert W. is a blacksmith at Fawn River, ^lichigan. Rev. Abel "SI. is a 
Presbyterian clergyman at Brookings, South Dakota. 

Dr. Work was reared on his father's farm in Middlebury town- 
ship, and the first schooling he had was in the Forest Grove district. 
He later attended the La Grange Collegiate Institute and the Goshen 
high school, and, obtaining a certificate, taught school three years as 
a means to entrance upon a professional career. He finished his edu- 
cation in the University of Michigan, graduating from the medical 
department in 1870. In the same year he located m Elkhart, and here 
for the subsequent thirty-five }'ears has had a large general and sur- 
gical practice. Though never restricting his practice to one depart- 
ment, he has given special attention to surgical cases and also to 
pediatrics. He is one of the best known and considered one of the 
most reliable physicians in the county. He has maintained ven' ex- 
tensive professional connections, being a member of the Elkhart 
County, the Indiana State Medical societies, and the American Med- 
ical Association, and was the Elkhart representative to the interna- 
tional medical congress which met at Washington in 1887. there be- 
ing twenty-seven hundred delegates from all over the world at the 
congress. Dr. Work has twice served as president of the Elkhart 
County Aledical .\ssociation, and has been secretary of the citv board 
of health three times. He is a member of the L'^niversal church, and 
is a strong Prohibitionist in political views. 



522 HISTORY 0¥ ELKHART COUXTY 

Dr. W'nrk married. Octoher lo. 1872. Miss Emma Barthdlomew, 
a daughter of Henr}- and Ann Bartholomew. Seven children have 
]ieen born tO' their union: Lydia V... the wife of Prof. D. F. Jantzen, 
a professor in the Central Mennonite College at Blufifton. Ohio; Henry 
Everett, who died at the age of tweKe; Madge J\l.. who is the wife of 
O. A. Kem]). a grocer of Elkhart: Ruth 1{.. a teacher in the Elkhart 
])uljlic scliools : James A., Jr., graduated from the literary course at 
jNIichigan Cniversity, and is now studying medicine there; Paul B.. 
who is a gratluate of the Elkhart high school and has also taken 
courses at the University of Michigan, is now teaching in the La 
Grange high school; Catherine V... who is a pupil in the Elkhart high 
school. 

ABNER HOLDEALVX. 

An able representative of the agricultural class which forms the 
foundation of Olive township's material prosperity, Mr. Holdeman has 
for a number of years held an honored position among his fellow citizens. 
Born in Elkhart count}', August 13, 1863, he has spent his lifetime in 
this county, and by diligence, attention to business and careful manage- 
ment and foresight, has achieved a very considerable success. 

Mr. Holdeman was the oldest of eight children, three sons and five 
daughters, born to Abraham B. and Mary (Kilmer) Holdeman. B)- 
his previous marriage his father had a daughter Emma, who is the wife 
of Erank Girl, of Lorain county, Ohio, and has three children, Edna, 
Chloe and Walter. Mr. Abner Holdeman has four sisters living, namely : 
Anna E. is the wife of Daniel Wenger, a farmer of Olive township; 
Alice is the wife of .\bram E. Wenger, a farmer of Baugo township; 
Priscilla is the wife of Irvin A. Long, of Baugo township ; and Martha 
is the wife of William Delbert Cook, an agriculturist who resides on the 
old homestead in Baugo township. 

Abraham B. Holdeman. the father, who was born in Ohio. April 
4, 1834, and till recentlv lived in Baugo townshi]), came to this county 
with his parents when he was fifteen years old. That was still during 
the log-cabin epoch, and deer and wolves were frerpiently seen about 
the family's earlv home. By attending the common schools and apply- 
ing himself to studv in private he became a well educated man. such 
that he became a school teacher himself and taught awhile in this 
county. His first home in this county was a log cabin on the one hun- 
dred and sixtv acres purchased bv his mother. He was a Republican in 
politics, having supported that ])arty since its organization. He and 
his good wife," who was born in Ohio IMay 24, 1841. and is still living. 
were members of the Mennonite church and people of eminent worth 
who had been held in high esteem in this county for many years. Ab- 
raham Holdeman died on June 18, 1905, and the following obituary de- 
scribes his life in greater detail : 

"Abraham Holdeman, one of the old residents of Baugo township. 



HISTORY OI-' FXKHART COUNTY 52:? 

Elkhart cuunty. Indiana, died on Snnday exening, June i8, 1905. For 
lifty-six years he resided nn the same farm where he died. He was born 
in Wayne county, Ohio, .Vpril 4, 1834, and was the youngest of twelve 
chil(h-eii. and the last one to die. All of the twelve lived to raise fam- 
ilies and three of them died at the age of seventy-one years. At the 
age of fifteen he removed with his mother to the farm on which he died. 
On May 4, 1S56, he was married to Elizabeth Weed of near Goshen, 
Indiana, \\ho died May i r, i860. To this marriage were born two 
children, one of whom, Mrs. Emma Girl, survives him. On September 
15. 1861, he married Mary Kilmer. To this union were born seven chil- 
dren, five of whom, with their mother, survive him — Abner, Anna (wife 
of Daniel Wengerj, Alice (wife of Abraham Wenger),'Priscilla (wife 
of Irvin Long). Martha (wife of Delbert Cook) ; also Louisa Easier, an 
adopted daughter, whom he loved and respected as one of his own chil- 
dren. He leaves also twenty-eight grandchildren and a large circle of 
relatives and friends. Fi\t years ago Ero. Holdeman was badly injured 
by his team running away in the city of Elkhart, and for weeks his 
mind was a blank. Since that time his health was greatly impaired, but 
he so far recovered from it that he could go about and attend to business 
to some extent. During this time he was still much interested in the sub- 
ject of religion and the advancement of the cause of Christ. On Feb- 
ruary 26, 1905, he had a stroke of paralysis and since that time was con- 
fined to his bed. He was very patient and never complained or mur- 
mured, and seemed to be unwilling to cause any unnecessary trouble, 
and often suffered the want of some things rather than ask to have 
them brought to him. On June nth he grew worse and continued sink- 
ing until June i8th, when he gently fell asleep in Jesus. He was a 
firm believer- in the Mennonite faith, though for many years not a mem- 
ber of the visible church. He was active as a Sunday school teacher 
and also used his pen to i^romote the interests of the kingdom, and in 
his views on the doctrines and practices of the church he was strictly 
orthodox, and remained faithful to the end. He was a kind husband, a 
loving father and a good neighbor, and gave many kind and good 
admonitions to his family during his days of suffering". He was buried 
at the Olive M. H., where serxices were conducted on the 21st of June 
by John Blosser of Ohio, and J. S. Shoemaker of Illinois, from i Cor. 
3:21-23. His departure made a very marked impression on the family 
and especially on the sorrowing companion. ^Iny God comfort and bless 
both the mother and the children." 

Mr. Holdeman spent his early years in Eaugo township, where the 
common schools afforded him his education, and the years up to his ma- 
jority were passed under the parental roof. Without capital with which 
to begin life independently, he hired out to his father at eighteen dollars 
a month, and so continued until his marriage. He was fortunate in 
finding a helpmate who has been all that a wife should be — kind and 
!ielpful in all his undertakings, an affectionate mother, an excellent 



52-t HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

ntighbor am! esteemed member of the community. Eight children have 
been born during their wedded hfe. and seven are hving : The son, 
Warren, who is now in high school, •took his diploma in the common 
schools in 1904 and his ranking average of scholarship was ninety-two 
per cent, as high as any in the township; Roscoe, who in his studies is 
mathematically inclined, will finish the common schools in 1906; Wal- 
ter is in t!ie fifth grade, Florence in the fourth, Vera in the second, and 
Martha and Nelson have not yet been sent to school. 

Mrs. Holdeman is herself a native of Elkhart county, born June 
3, 1868, being the fifth in eight children, equally divided iDCtween sons 
and daughters, whose parents were James C. and Harriet (Terwilliger) 
Dodge. The five children yet living are: Jasper, who is married and 
is a farmer at Sand Lake, Michigan; Derrick C, who resides in New 
York state; Lee, who is married and is a barber in Mendocino, Cali- 
fornia; Emma S., who is Mrs. Holdeman, their marriage having been 
celebrated December 6, 1885 ; and Nellie, wife of Levi Burkett, who 
is a mail carrier and lives in Baugo township. James C. Dodge, the 
father, who was an uncle of Judge James S. Dodge of this county, was 
born in New York state and for many years farmed in Elkhart county, 
wliere he died. He was a Jackson Democrat in politics. His wife, 
who also came from New York, is now living at Sand Lake, Michigan. 
Mrs. Holdeman was reared in this county and gained her education in 
its common schools. 

Relying upon their industry and economy, Mr. and Mrs. Holde- 
man after their marriage went to work to make a home and place in 
the world for themselves, and it is due to their persistency and faithful 
efforts that they have attained the culmination of their desires. On 
October 13, 1893. they located on their present farm, where they lived 
several vears as renters. In 1898 they bought a farm, going in debt 
for most of it, but by capable management closed up the transaction 
with a profit, and in 1899 bought his present farm of one hundred and 
thirty-eight acres, where they have a comfortable home and are making 
a success of their operations. Mr. and Mrs. Holdeman are erecting a 
]M-ett\- and comfortable brick veneer residence twenty-eight by forty- 
feet, two stories, which will be a credit to the township of Olive. Hon- 
estv and uprightness they have considered as not less important factors 
in their life work than diligence and shrewd management, and the place 
they occup}' in the community ';hows how well they have wrought along 
the lines which lead to success. 

A stanch Republican, Mr. Holdeman cast his first vote for James 
G. Blaine and has always upheld the principles of the Grand Old Party. 
He is well known in this part of the county for the interest he takes in 
first-class stock, especially horses, and he raises and sells each year some 
very excellent specimens of heavy draft horses. INIrs. Holdeman is a 
member of the Mennonite church. 



HISTORY OF- ELKHART COUNTY 525 

EDWARD CARLYLE CROW, D. O. 

Edward Carlyle Crow, D. O., who for the past four years has been 
numljered among the successful practitioners of Elkhart and as a repre- 
sentative of the modern osteopathic school has achieved a very notable 
success, was born in Pike county, Missouri, Januaiy 24, 1862, a son of 
Martin and Louisa (Hendrick) Crow. His father was born at Harrods- 
burg, Kentucky, and his mother in Pike county, Missouri, and both are 
still living, though in advanced age. His father has been one of the suc- 
cessful farmers and stock-raisers of Missouri, and has been unusually 
prosperous in financial matters. He is one of the prominent men of Pike 
county, and ser\-ed four years as county judge. He has been a resident 
of that county se\'enty-four years, being ik^w a venerable man of eighty- 
four years. 

Dr. Crow, who is the third child and second son of seven children, 
grew up on his father's farm. His early school days were passed in a 
countr}' school, and he then attended \Vatson Seminary at Ashley, Mis- 
souri, and, in 1882-83, the commercial department of the Missouri State 
University at Columbia. He first devoted his attention to a business 
career, conducting a furniture and carpet house in Bowling Green, Mis- 
souri, for nine years. He then matriculated at the well known American 
School of Osteopathy at Kirksville, Missouri, and after successfully pur- 
suing the courses of study and investigation graduated in June, 1901, 
with the degree of Doctor of Osteopathy. He practiced for a brief time 
at Petoskey, Michigan, and in September, 1901, located in Elkhart, where 
he has built up a thriving practice. He is a member of the National 
Association and the Indiana State Association of Osteopathy. 

Eraternallv Dr. Crow is a Master Mason, an Odd Fellow and an 
Elk. .\ Republican in politics, while a resident of Bowling Green he 
served as councilman and has always taken a public-spirited interest in 
the affairs of his community. 

Dr. Crow married, in 1883, Miss Elizabeth Marzolf. who also grad- 
uated from the same school in 1901, and is in active practice with her 
husband. They have one son. Martin E. Crow, who is assistant manager 
of the Fldme Telephone Company at Elkhart. 

LEANDER .\NDERSON. 

Leander Anderson, who was born" in Harrison township, Elkhart 
countv, July 12. 1848, has been throughout his active career prominently 
identified with, the agricultural and ci\ic afifairs of the county and is also 
entitled to especial distinction in this work as being the son of one of 
the very oldest pioneer settlers of the count} . 

tlis father, the Hon. Noah .\nderson, who died in 1874. in his sixty- 
second vear, was a native of Delaware state and had come to this county 
as earlv as 1832, which is one of the early dates in the coun,ty's histoi-y. 
He chiise the fertile region of v>hat has since become Harrison township, 



526 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

taking up a quarter section of government land, and cleared it up and 
made a beautiful farm, on which he lived till his death. His trade was 
that of millwright, and at one time he was in the employ of the Hawks 
Milling Company and in a plow factory. In i860 he was a member of the 
state legislature and, from the org^anization of the party a stanch Re- 
publican, he was identified in many ways with the public life of his 
county. He served as county commissioner several terms and in other 
local offices. He married Mary Ann Hay, a native of Pennsylvania, who 
died in 1885 at the age of seventy-four. She was of German stock, while 
his ancestiw was English and Scotch. They were parents of six sons and 
four dang'htei's, two of whom died in infancy, while the rest grew to 
adult years. 

Leander Anderson, the eighth child and fourth son, was reared on 
his father's farm in Harrison townshi]), where the public schools fur- 
nished him his education. By choice of occupation an agriculturist, and 
one of the most successful of those who have followed that calling in 
this county, until within the last ten years his attention was devoted 
entirely to that line of business. He farmed on the home place until 1885, 
then was located on his farm just south of Elkhart until 1893, ^'""^' i" 
that year retired from active participation in farming and moved to Elk- 
hart. He had been interested to a considerable extent in city real estate, 
and in 1901 built the Anderson block in Elkhart, a three-story office and 
business structure which forms one of the best modern additions to the 
business district. Besides other property in Elkhart, he is the owner of 
a good farm in Harrison township and also one in Concord township. 

A strong Republican in his political affiliations, Mr. Anderson has 
held the office of justice of the peace and for ten years has been city com- 
missioner. He is a member of the Century Club, and in business and 
social circles has long been one of the popular and influential men of 
Elkhart. 

SOL MILLER. 

A practical education and business acumen, coupled with integ- 
rity of character, are the cardinal qualifications for a successful Ijusi- 
ness man. .\mong the younger element of our people, upon whom 
has fallen the robe of responsibility in directing the affairs of com- 
merce, will be found in each community one or more possessing these 
characteristics and by the very nature of their talents taking a fore- 
most place in the business and social activities of their home commun- 
ity. Such a person is Mr. Sol Miller, whose permanent home is at 
Svracuse. but who has been identified for some time with the business 
affairs of the town of Wakarusa. Coming of a family which has fig- 
ured very conspicuously in the early histoiy of southeastern Elkhart 
county, he is a grandson of that Solomon Miller who finds a ]>romi- 
nent place in this history as the founder of the town of Millersburg. 

Millerslrurg is the i>irthi)lace of Mr. Sol Miller. Born on Mav 8, 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 527 

1874, he was the third in a family of five children, two sons and three 
daughters, whose parents were Andrew U. and Charity J- (Showalter) 
Miller. All the children are living at tlie present time, as follows: 
Harr}' D., a graduate of the University of Indiana and formerly prin- 
cipal and superintendent of the puhlic schools of Cromwell, Millers- 
burg and Topeka, is now a student in the theological department of the 
University of Chicago, being a member of the class of 1906. He is 
a young man of ripe scholarship and broad ability in his chosen fields 
of work. He married Miss .\ddie Piper, of Noble county, and they 
have one son, George. Leila Ada, the second child, who received ex- 
cellent educational advantages and a three years' course in music, is the 
wife of John W. Smith, who is connected with the W. B. Burford 
Stationery Company at Indianapolis, the head of the firm being state 
printer. Luann, the next daughter, was educated in the Ligonier 
schools, is the wife of Ross A. Skinner, who was formerly associated 
with her l>rother Sol in merchandising at Syracuse. Jessie I'., the 
youngest, is at home with her parents in Noble county. 

Andrew U. Miller, the father, who was born in Ohio and is now 
one of the prominent citizens of Noble county, has spent his acti\-e 
career in farming and milling, he and his brother operating a grist 
mill for many years. LIis father Solomon, the pioneer founder of Mil- 
lersburg already mentioned, was probably a native of Tennessee, and, 
coming to Elkhart county- at an earlv date, became owner of much 
of the land where Millersburg now stands. He participated in the 
Black Hawk war, and aiuong the earlier members of the famil\- were 
several who served in the Revolutionary war. Andrew INliller also 
served his country during the C'wil war, enlisting, at the age of six- 
teen, in 1862, and serving altogether three years and one month. He 
was a member of Company I, Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry, which 
was assigned to the western department of the F.ederal army, and his 
service was under the noted leaders, Sherman and Thomas, and he 
was with the former on the march to the sea. Mrs. Charity Miller, 
the mother, was born m the beautiful Shenandoah valley of Virginia, 
in Rockingham county, but, coming to Indiana when a little girl, has 
spent practically all her life in this state. 

Reared in his home county, Mr. Sol Miller, after completing the 
course in the common schools and a three years' course in the Ligonier 
high school, then entered the educational ranks and taught school three 
years in Noble county. During the four years' term of his father as 
county treasurer of Noble county, in 1897-1900, he served as deputv 
treasurer. In 1902 he was appointed deput)' treasurer of LaGrange 
county, at the same time serving as deputy county auditor, and. held 
these positions until 1903. After 1)eing connected with the banking- 
house of Sol Mier and Company at Ligonier for some months he and 
his brother-in-law. on August i. 1903. entered into a partnership for 
conducting a general store at Svracuse. Kosciusko count\-. This enter- 



528 HISTORY OF ELKHART COl"XTY 

prise was disposed of in March, 1905, and since then, up to the date of 
tliis writing, I\Ir. Miller has been manager of a hardware store owned 
by his father-in-law in Wakarnsa. 

August q, 1904. Mr. ]\Iiller married Miss Georgiana Leone Ketring, 
daughter of Silas L. Ketring. the laanker of Syracuse. Mrs. Miller was 
born April 12. 1882, in Kosciusko county, was educated in the Syracuse 
high school and the Tri-State Xormal at Angola, and for one year taught 
school in Porter county. She is a bright, resourceful and talented little 
woman, has studied music and is a member of the Shakespearian Club at 
Syracuse. Her father, who was born in Stark county. Ohio, March 14, 
1845. i.s a successful business man who has attained prominence by perse- 
vering effoi-t and reliance on his own strength and ability from youth up. 
He studied at the business college at Xotre Dame, Indiana, and began his 
career as a salesman in a general store at Milford, this state, being, sixteen 
years old when he began this connection with mercantile life. He has 
since reached many higher rungs on the ladder of success. He began 
merchandising on liis own account at Syracuse in 1870, and continued in 
business for thirty years, from a modest start increasing the scope and 
value of his enterprise until he had become a man of means and large 
influence in his home town. In 1900 he engaged in the banking inisiness 
in Syracuse, founding the Bank of Syracuse with a capital of twenty-five 
thousand dollars. His wife, who was born in Kosciusko county June 22, 
1853, was a daughter of Thomas Kirby and Hester A. (Baneford) War- 
ner, her mother being still alive at the age of eighty-three years. Airs. 
Ketring, of excellent Pennsylvania Dutch stock, was reared and educated 
in her native county and became one of the successful teachers in that and 
Elkhart counties. Mrs. Miller has four sisters : Adah is the wife of 
J. H. Miller, postmaster at Syracuse, and has a little daughter aged 
seven, Frances Helen. DeEarle, who was a student in the Goshen high 
school and the school of oratory at Northwestern L^niversity, is the wife 
of O. ^^'. Roberts, a resident of Enid, Oklahoma, and a commercial sales- 
man for Marshall Field and Company of Chicago. Jessie is her father's 
assistant in the bank at Syracuse. Blanche has her diploma from the 
common schools and is now a student in the high school, and has also 
taken both vocal and instrumental music. 

Mr. ]\Iiller is a stanch Republican, having cast his first vote for Mc- 
Kinley. and fraternally is aftlliated with the Masons and the B. P. O. E. 
Lodge Xo. -^51 at Lignnier. Mrs. ]\[iller is a member of the Alethodist 
Episcopal church. 

^lAJOR J.\^IES 1). r.RADEX. 

]\Iajor James D. Braden, who was born in Hardin county, Ohio. 
April 27, 1839. has lived in Elkhart county for over fifty years and 
has been prominently identified throughout his acti\-e career with this 
count\' and the cit\' of Elkhart in particular. He. as was also his 
fatlier, is a most cap.'ible lilacksmith. and these twn h.a\'e carried on 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 529 

the trade in tin's county for fully sixty years. Major Braden is also 
entitled to distinction as one of the }oung' men who went from this 
county during" the Civil war and h}- gallant conduct \V(.>n promotion 
from the ranks to a regimental office. 

AJajor Braden's father, Robert U. Braden, who was born in Ohio 
in 1810, came to Elkhart in 1844. He conducted a very successful 
business as blacksmith in Elkhart from 1S44 until about 1885, Ijeing 
in that pursuit for a longer continuous period than any other man in 
the county. He did the ]>lacksmith work on one of the early grist 
mills of Elkhart as also on many public buildings. It is worth noting 
in this history of the comity that his old sign is still hanging in front 
of the sliop where his son carries on the trade and where it has swung 
in the breezes of over sixty winters and summers — ah item of anti- 
quarian interest which might provoke many memories in the breasts 
of the old-timers of* Elkhart. The father was past ninety years old 
when he was called from his earthly activity-. He was a son of a native 
Irishman. Jane (Walace) Braden, the mo'ther of Major Braden, was 
born in Ohio and died when about forty \ears old, ha\-ing been the 
mother of four children. 

Major Braden, who is the second child, was about five years old 
when he came to this county, Elkhart being only a small village at the 
time. He grew up in this city, got his education in the common schools, 
and as soon as he was large enough he began learning the trade which 
his father was following so successfully. His peaceful career as a black- 
smith was interrupted by the outbreak of the rebellion in 1861, and, 
entering the army in that year, he continued in the service of the country 
four years and se\en months, imtil receiving an honorable discharge at 
the end of the war. He enlisted as a private in Company C, Ninth In- 
diana Infantry, for three months" service, and later re-enlisted in the 
same company and regiment; was promoted to first lieutenant in 1861 and 
to captain of Company C in 1862, and in 1864 was made major of his 
regiment, which position he held till the end of the war. He participated 
in many of the most famous battles of the war, cunong others being 
Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga, Perryville. the Atlanta campaign 
with Sherman, and battles of Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee. He 
was wounded at Stone River, and still carries the minie ball in his Ixidy. 

The war over he returned to Elkhart, but for the subsequent ten 
years followed his trade in southern Kansas and in Kansas City, and 
also did some farming. He then returned to Elkhart and has since con- 
ducted a thriving business at his father's old stand. Besides his honora- 
l)le and successful career in industrial affairs. Major Braden has identi- 
fied himself with many phases of social and public life. He is a member 
of Elmer Post No. 37, (j. A. R.. and has been commander of the same 
for five years at different times. He is a member of the Loyal Legion, 
the military organization which includes in its membership the officers of 
the Civil war. He also affiliates with the Masonic order in Elkhart. A 



530 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

lifelong Republican, he has served as a member of the police board of 
Elkhart six years, for two- and a half years was superintendent of police, 
and in general has taken an active interest in every movement pertaining 
to the welfare of his city and count}'. 

Major Braden married, in 1867, Miss Almeda Bowen, and they are 
the parents of six children, namely, Harry M., Edith, Jessie, Katie, Grace 
and Charles. 

JACOB EBY. 

Jacob Eby. much of whose useful career was passed in northern 
Indiana, where he is remembered among the early settlers, was a man 
of advanced thought and progressive action, and for that reason left 
his impress upon the life and affairs of his community, wherever any 
of his years were spent. The early progenitors of the Ebys came from 
the little republic of Switzerland and were Catholics. A well defined 
tradition \\as that there were five brothers, all of whom were of that 
faith but one, who was a Mennonite, which sect was greatly persecuted 
in Switzerland as in other countries of Europe. ]\Iany Mennonites. 
on this account, found refuge in the wilds of Pennsylvania, and among 
them was the founder of the present branch of Ebys. The immediate 
progenitor was David Eby, who was born in Canada, whither his par- 
ents had migrated, settling near Berlin in the province of Ontario. 

Jacob Eby was born in Canada, October 18, 1815, and owing to 
the primitive condition of the country received only the rudiments of 
a common school education, doing his studying by the light of an old- 
fashioned fireplace. By natural aptitude a mechanic, he became very 
skillful in the trades of blacksmith, carpenter and mason. He was also 
an ardent Ximrod, and his methodical disposition led him to keep 
account of the game that fell before his trusty rifle, a summai^y of which 
account shows forty-six deer, seven wolves, two bears, and one hundred 
foxes shot and trapped. Many incidents are told in his family con- 
cerning his iiunting prowess. On one occasion, as he was going to 
the woods to split posts, he saw a full-grown wolf aslee]) in a fallen 
treetop, and, hurling" his ax. by a fair and well aimed stroke, killed the 
animal. 

Jacob Eby married Polly Bingaman, a daughter of John and Han- 
nah (Berkey) Bingaman. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania, 
and was killed by a falling tree while clearing up a hundred acres of 
land. Mr. and Mrs. Eby had eight children, namely : Enoch, Simon, 
who died at the age of twenty-one. Seth, Cyrus. Jacob. John. Joseph 
and Noah. 

After his marriage, which occurred April 7, 1840. Mr. Eby settled 
seven miles north of his father's homestead, on a two-hundred-acre 
tract of wild land, for which he paid seven hundred and fifty dollars, 
and there he resided until i860, in which year he came to St. Joseph 
county. Here he bought two hundred and eighty acres, eightv of which 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY ^31 

was already cleared, and he set himself to its improvement and con- 
tinued to add to it by purchase until he was at one time owner of seven 
hundred acres, lieing one of the largest landholders in the county. Be- 
fore his death, however, he had distributed all of this except two' hun- 
dred and eighty acres among his children. He and his wife were devout 
'.nembers of the Mennonite church, and he assisted in the erection and 
support of other churches besides his own, especially the Baptist and 
the Catholic churches in Mishawaka. Before his death he saw all his 
children nicely located as prosperous farmers and honest and indus- 
trious citizens, .\fter coming to this country Jacob Eby gave his polit- 
ical support to the Republican party. 

NOAH EBY. 

Noah Eby, of Olive township, now one of the most prosperous 
and enterprising agriculturists of his neighborhood, began his career 
at the bottom of the ladder and has risen from one round to another 
by the exercise of the qualities of diligence, thrift and keen foresight, 
which, when coupled with experience, bring success in everv vocation 
of life. 

Mr. Eby, who was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, March 4, 
1863, is the youngest of the eight sons of his father Jacob, whose life 
is sketched above. Reared in his native county until past his majority, 
with his education acquired in the common schools, and also as a stu- 
dent in the Northern Indiana Normal at Valparaiso, he has spent all 
his active career as a practical farmer and stockman and has attained 
success by continued application of his energies to this occupation. His 
first venture in lousiness, although lie now remembers it in a humorous 
aspect, was a failure of considerable magnitude to him just then. He 
had saved one hundred and fifty dollars from his earnings on his father's 
farm, and he was persuaded to invest this, along with his father and a 
brother, in a high-grade cow, which cost one himdred and thirty dollars, 
and the transportation of the animal from Canada took twenty dollars 
more. This valuable live stock was duly received, was admired by 
the purchaser, and carefully tended for a while, and then lay down and 
died without repaying a cent of the original investment. 

Mr. Eby then began as a renter, and soon after, as another prepa- 
ration for a successful career, got married. September 21, 1886, he 
wedded Miss Laura Moon. Four sons have been born to them, the 
eldest of whom, Willis, graduated from the public schools in 1904 and 
is now in the high school. His father intends to place this son in 
Notre Dame University and give him the very best of training for his 
life career. The boy is musically inclined, and has studied the violin. 
Irvin, the second son, is in the sixth grade and has also taken music. 
Ellis B. is in the third grade, and the youngest of the family is Charles 
V. Mrs. Eby was torn in St. Joseph county, Indiana, August 5, 1867, 



532 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

a (laughter 'of Solnmon aiul Chaiiiitte { Hollingshead) 2^Ioon. There 
were seven cliildren in the Alcjun family, and Mrs. Eijy has a brother 
and a sister living: Annis, wife of John Parett. a farmer of St. Joseph 
county: and (ieorge. who is married and living in St. Joseph county. 
Mrs. El)}- lust her father when she was four years old, but her mother 
is still li\-ing. both parents l>eing members of the Methodist church. 
She was educated in the common- schnols. 

When Mr. and ]\Irs. Eby Ijegan their wedded life it was as renters 
in St. Joseph count}-, but after continuing that way three years they 
bought eighty acres of their present farmstead. There was a very 
indifferent burn on the place, and the only house was of logs, and so 
loosely ci'ustructed that severe weather was a time of much discomfort. 
These facts concerning their early state of fortune are given only that 
the reader may appreciate how thoroughh- they have taken advantage 
of opportunities and how capably they have managed their affairs, with 
the result thai they are now considered among the well-to-do people of 
their neighborhood. They paid three thousand dollars for their first 
eighty acres, and went in debt for part of it. but now in the year 1905 
they possess a fine estate of one hundred and sixty acres, half of which 
lies in Olive township and half in St. Joseph county. In 1890 they 
rem.odeled the barn into a fine farm structure forty by eighty-four feet 
in ground dimensions, with eighteen foot posts, and stone basement. 
In 1893 they also rebuilt their dwelling and now have a pretty cottage 
home, cosy and comfortable. J^Ir. Eby has excellent grades of stock, 
and is a progressive and business-like farmer. 

[^"ormerly a Republican. Mr. Eby has of recent years given his 
support to the Democracy, as embodying the elements of political phi- 
losophv and practice which most appeal to his judgment and reas(->n. 
In igoo he was elected trustee of Olive townshij). and during his trustee- 
ship he erected the beautiful brick schoolhouse known as Olive Center. 
This is one of the superior country schools of the county. It contains 
two rooms, and two years of advanced studies are taught. The cause 
of education has always found in Mr. Eby a strong friend and advocate, 
and his work in this direction has resulted in much good in his com- 
munity. While trustee he also caused the construction of seven stone 
and brick arches and .several bridges, besides keeping up the roads in 
his township. He did all this and still left the township finances in 
splendid condition at the clo'^e of his term. 

HENRY llECHTEL. 

The qualities of German-. \n-ieric;u-i citizenship have loi-ig proved the 
most valuable and beneficial in the upbuilding of the countrv' and in all 
the departments of American civic life which are most essential to the 
integrit\- and permanence of state and nation. Their industry has trans- 
forrncd wildernesses into paradises, their business acumen has built up 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COL'XTY ."-33 

great industries, tlieir Ijrnad intelligence has always supported the public- 
school system, ami their public spirit and patriotism have never failed 
whether in the arts of peace or those of war. 1^'or fifty years a resident 
of Elkhart county, a practical and successful farmer, a veteran still left in 
the ranks of those who defended the Union, a strong advocate of schools 
both as a private citizen and in oi'ficial capacity, and a forceful and ener- 
gizing personality in all the relations of life, Mr. Henry Bechtel, the 
well known citizen of Harrison township, lias played a part in the history 
of the count}' which deserves more than casual attention to his career. 

A native of Blair county, Pennsylvania, wiiere he was born April 6, 
1847, '""s was the third of eight children, equally divided between sons 
and daughters, whose parents were Daniel and Sarah (Neterer) Bechtel. 
The grandfather came from Germany, settling in Pennsylvania, where 
the family long held its residence. Of the three sons and two daughters 
still living, Henry is the eldest, the others being: Jeremiah, the banker 
of Wakarusa ; Sarah, wife of Martin McDonnel, on the old Bechtel home- 
stead in Harrison township; Amanda, wife of Wilson Slabaugh, a farmer 
in Kosciusko county: Da\id. in real estate business at Goshen. 

When the son Henr\ was eight years old his father brought the 
family to Elkhart county, and on section 36 of Harrison township, m 
that year, 1S55, the Bechtels became acquainted with priniitive condi- 
tions of existence as dwellers in a cabin built of round logs. Henry, 
young and impressionable as he was at the time, well recalls this home 
and remembers how the first night was passed in it without a door to 
protect them from the outside elements. Tlie father first bought eighty 
acres, but by subsequent additions brought his estate up to six hundred 
and sixty acres, all located in Harrison township. 

The first schoolhouse that Mr. Henry Bechtel attended was of logs, 
having slab seats, and all the other primitive equipments w'hich have been 
so minutely described in the general history portion of this work. He 
used to write W'ith a goosequill pen, and can therefore appreciate fully 
the changes that have come about in education in the past fifty years. A 
boy in his teens, but with the courage and patriotism of full manhood, 
when the Civil war was raging he could not remain at home, but, enlisting 
from his home township in Company D, Thirty-fifth Indiana Volunteer 
Infantry, went away to serve his country in this veteran regiment. His 
enlistment took place January 31. 1865. His colonel was August G. 
Tassel and. his first lieutenant Gabriel Coojier. Mr. Bechtel "was made 
a corporal. He joined the regiment at Columbia. Tennessee, and as a 
portion of the Army of the Cumberlanfl his regiment soon afterward 
took part in the terrible battle of Franklin, followed up by the two days" 
conflict at Xashvdle which resulted in the complete defeat of Hood's 
forces and the disorganization of tlie rebel army in the west. The regi- 
nrcnt was at Johnsonville. Temiessee. when the news of Lee"s surrender 
came, and five days later their joy was saddened by the tidings of Lin- 
coln's assassrnation. 'i'lie Thirty-fifth Indiana was a part of the federal 



534 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

forces which were sent to Texas to conckide the war and hold tliat state 
in subjection. The regiment w'ent by way of the Mississippi and the 
gulf, many hardships being encountered and many lives lost l>efore their 
destination was reached, and after forty days spent in that state the order 
for mustering out w-as given. INIr. Bechtel received his final discharge 
May lo, 1865, and then returned home an.d remained there until his ma- 
jority. He had saved the money which was given him for his soldier 
services, and this was the capital on which he started in life. 

Mr. Bechtel's marriage to Miss Mary M. Otto occurred in 1868, and 
of this union six children were born, three sons and three daughters. 
Alice May, the only one not living at the present writing, was educated in 
the common schools and became the ^\•ife of John Schank. of Harrison 
township. Charles, who owns and conducts a sales stable at South Bend, 
received a common school and business education and for a w-hile was 
employed in his father's bank at Nappanee : he married Miss Alva Har- 
rington and has a son. Sarah Janetta is the wife of Charles Ulery, 
dealer in coal, lime and cement at Goshen. Nora is the wife of Ora 
Tove. a farmer at Concord. Indiana, and they have fo'ur living children. 
Daniel, a farmer in Harrison township, is married and has one little son. 
John is engaged in the hardware business at Los Angeles. California. 
The mother of these children was taken away by death in May. 1888. 
She was a member of the Evangelical church, and a w"oman of many 
lovable characteristics both at home and in her community. 

December 19, 1891, Mr. Bechtel married Miss Amanda J. Nus- 
baum, who was born in Elkhart comity and w'as educated in the common 
schools. Her parents, Peter and Barbara ( Moyer) Nusbaum, are resi- 
dents of Elkhart. By his second wife Mr. Bechtel has one son, Hariy 
P., in the first grade at school. 

A Republican in politics. Mr. Bechtel cast his first vote for Grant, 
and the public affairs and political interests of his township, county and 
state have always elicited his attention. By the choice of his fellow 
citizens he became trustee of Harrison townshij) in 1904. As the incum- 
bent of this important office, one in \\'hich the interests of more people 
are bound up and vitally concerned than is true of any other local office. 
he has the supervision of the ten l.irick schools in the township, besides 
the care of bridges and other local improvements. No better friend of 
education could have l^een selected in this township, and he has already 
proved the wisdom of his choice. It is his aim to pay the highest wages 
consistent with circumstances, his ten teachers receiving from $2.24 to 
$2.90 a day for their services. The schools are furnished with good 
libraries, all kinds of apparatus, and such equipment in the way of furni- 
ture and comforts as. could he have had them when; he was a schoolboy, 
w ould have seemed a sublimation of luxury. 

Mr. Bechtel owns a fine farmstead of two hundred and fifty-six 
acres in Harrison township, and also a hundred acres in Concord town- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 535 

ship, besides city property in Nappanee. His home estate is situated in 
section 21. Mrs. Bechtel is a member of the Alennonite Brethren in 
Christ. 

JOHX W. 1R\\'IN. 

In the death of John W. Irwin in 1898, Ellxdiart connty, and the 
city (jf (ioshen in jiarticular, lost from tlie ranlcs of the living' one of 
its most lionored and useful citizens, a man who by a life of absolute 
integrity, of high ability as a financier and business manager, and of 
nobilitv and breadth of character such as are notable in any commun- 
ity, won a secure place in the esteem and affection of all who ever 
knew him or in any way w-ere affected by his life work and influence. 
Mr. Irwin held the premier rank in the financial history of Elkhart 
count\'. and bis long identification with banking makes his name one 
of the iirst to be C(insidered in writing a history of the count}-. 

His history is also especially interesting in this county record 
because he belonged to one of the \-cry first families to make settle- 
ment within the countv. and as a hoy he himself saw and experienced 
most of the eventfid life which was the lot of the first-comers to this 
section of the state. 

In Franklin count}-. Indiana, Alexander Irwin married Miss 
Elizabeth iMcConnell. wlio bore him several children, and after her 
death he married Mrs. Elizabeth Daily, iiec Wycoff, who became the 
mother of John W. Irwin. In 1832 Alexander, with his family, set- 
tled in Elkhart county, on Elkhart Prairie, in which was known as the 
" Goshen settlement," the " Elkhart settlement " being thai the only 
other community in the county. Three years after his arrival he suc- 
cumbed to an attack of malarial fever, wdiich was very prevalent in 
those da}-s and in that new' country, and was perha]5s aggravated 1)}' 
its crude treatment, by bleeding, purging and heroic doses of calomel 
prescribed by pioneer doctors. 

John ^^'. Irwin, one of the five children b}' bis father's second 
marriage, was born near Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania. September 24. 
1822. Reared on a farm, be received very indifferent instruction in 
the subscription schools of the neighborhood, his earlv schooling be- 
ing supplemented by two years spent in the State Universit}' at Bloom- 
ington. He began the study of -aw when but a boy. at first under the. 
gm'dance of Judge Chaniberl;iin and others, and then attended lec- 
tures in the law department of the university at Bloomington. • He 
began practice in 1849. locating in Goshen, where, to use his phrase. 
he " l>egan the starving process." From then until his death nearly 
fifty 3-ears later Goshen Avas his home, and he honored the city by his 
ability and usefulness. For years he confined his professional work 
to probate and ex parte practice. 

In 1856, together with \\'. .\. Thomas, General Milo S. Hascall, 
Edward Aletcalf, Charles Murra}', Thomas G. Harris. Judge Joseph 



536 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Mather and others, he organized the Repubhcan party in Elkhart 
county, consohdatini^ in that organization the disaffected Democrats 
and the defunct \\ hig and Free-Soil parties. Jn i860, as the Repub- 
hcan caniHdate, he was elected to the office of county treasurer, and 
served f\v(.> terms in that office. He had previously served Uxo years 
as deput\ cnunty clerk. .\t the ex])iration of his services as county 
treasurer he \\as appointed deputy internal revenue collector. 

Ill i!^54 he became associated with Hon. Robert Lowry in legal 
practice, and in 1865, while still in the office of revenue collector, 
formed a partnership Vvith General Milo S. Hascall, in the purchase 
of the business and good will of the Salem Bank, from John Cook. 
This partnership continued uninterruptedly twenty-five years, lacking 
a few months, and tiien Mr. Irwin Ijecame sole proprietor. The Salem 
Bank was established in 1854, as a state bank, at the old town of 
Salem (now W'akarusa), b\- the late John Cook and Thomas G. 
Harris. Avhn crmducted it as a bank of issue until 1863. when it was 
taxetl (lut i)f existence as such. It had the creditable record of being 
among tlie few Indiana banks which paid all bills and redeemed all its 
issue. Its charter being lost in 1863, it was thenceforth continued as 
a private institution, being moved to Goshen in that year and located 
at the spot where the Masonic Temple now stands. In 1866, the new 
owners, Irwin and Hascall, moved it to where it has since been con- 
ducted, on the south side of the public square. It is now the oldest 
continuously existent banking institution in the state. Mr. John H. 
Lesh was for a time associated with Mr. Irwin in the o]>eration of the 
bank, and since Mr. Irwin's death, in 1898, the bank has been cmi- 
ducted 1)} bis estate, under the direct management of his son. Frank 
J. Irwin. .\s a private liank it nffers the very hig'hest security to its 
depositors, h\ reason of the law holding liable the entire pnssessions 
of its owners. 

Its Ixisiness b.as always been conducted on a snund and Cduserv- 
ati^'e basis, and is secondary in extent and importance to none in the 
county. The sapient business ability of INir. Irwin was responsible for 
the success of the institution, and the ijulic}- inaugurated and so profit- 
ablv carried out bv him has since been continued by his son. 

With unquestiiined l()}aUy to country and her institutions as a 
dominating characteristic. Mr. Irwin took an acli\e ])art in raising 
'troops for the Union (hn'ing the Civil war period. During his long 
and active career he \vas identified with many of the enterprises and 
movements which have been such great factors in the upbuilding of 
the citv of Goshen. He was one of the organizers of the Elkhart 
Countv Agricultiu'al Societx. and remained its secretary twenty-fi\e 
vears, then declining to serve longer. He left the society with thirty- 
two acres of land, with buildings thereon, and five hundred dollars in 
cash, all made from year to year from the receipts of the society. A 
busv man throughout liis life, he ne\erthe1ess fotmd time for reading 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 537 

ami tnu'el. He twice crossed the Atlantic to Europe and visited all 
the places of note in the old world. In his large and miscellaneous 
library he found one of his chief joys, and his interests and s\'mpathies 
continued tc expand and become more yenial with the ad\'ance of 
years. 

October ii, 1855, Mr. Irwin married Miss Hager Jackson, the 
third daughter of Colonel John Jackson, the Elkhart county pioneer. 
Two children were born of this marriage. Frank J. is now at the 
head of the Salem Bank, and the daughter. May. is the wife of Hon. 
Francis E. Baker, judge of the L'nited States Circuit Court. 

JOHN KRAU. 

John Krau is one of the oldest and most prominent citizens of Elk- 
hart, his years verging toward the fourscore mark, and all of them filled 
with useful effort and varied experience in the affairs of the world. Born 
in Germany on Christmas day of 1827, reared and educated in his native 
land, when he was about twenty years old he entered upon the career 
which has brought him in contact with men and aft'airs in dift'erent parts 
of the world, and which from a material standpoint has resulted in the 
accumulation of large resources. He went to France, then sojourned 
four years in the little republic of Switzerland, where he was a paper 
maker, lived in sunny Italy for a time, thence returned to Switzerland, 
and in 1855 embarked for a permanent home in the new world. After 
a voyage of six weeks he landed, on July 10, in New York city. To 
illustrate how he has achieved his ovvn success since coming to this 
country, it is well to state that on his arrival at Castle Garden his cash 
capital was represented by cents rather than dollars. Self-reliance and 
confidence in his own strength were all that he then needed, and his 
career has been marked by steady progress through all the succeeding 
years. 

Selling liis watch in order to get mone}' for further travel, he went 
from New York to Buft'alo, thence to Detroit and to Niles, Michigan, 
where he was employed a short time, and then went to South Bend. 
South Bend was then a town of only twelve hundred inhabitants, and 
his employment there was in helping dig the canal. In 1856 he went to 
Lockport, St. Joseph county, ^Michigan, where he followed his trade as 
paper maker for a time, and while there was also married. Rockton. 
Illinois, was his home for a while in 1857. then ?^Iilwaukee one year, 
Beloit, Wisconsin, four years, after which he came to Elkhart county and 
after a short stay in Goshen located in Elkhart. He engaged in the 
butcher and stock buying arid selling business from 1862 to 1866, then 
farmed in ]\Iichigan for eighteen months, after which he returned to 
Elkhart and re.sumed his old line of business with his former partner. 
William Cornish. In June, 1872, Mr. Cornish died, and until 1883 Mr. 



538 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Krau conducted the business aJone, selling out in the latter year and re- 
tiring from strenuous participation in business affairs. 

I\Ir. Krau is one of the largest landowners in Elkhart county. In 
1886 he bought what is known as the old county farm, the purchase price 
of this fine property being thirty thousand dollars. Altogether he owns 
four hundred and fifty-three acres, located about four miles east of Elk- 
hart on the Lake Shore road, and is the owner of considerable real estate 
in the city of Elkhart. He has shown his confidence in the permanent 
prosperity of this city by liuilding tweh'e brick blocks besides various 
dwelling houses, having erected, in 1873. the first block on the east side 
of Alain street in Kenible\s addition. In numerous other ways has he 
been identified with the progress and welfare of Elkhart, and his own 
lirosjierity in Imsiness affairs has resulted for the good of his community. 
In jxililics he is a Democrat, and is influential in matters of citizenship. 

?dr. Krau married, in 1856. at Lockport, near Three Rivers, Michi- 
gan, Miss Christina Dick, who was born in Wiirtemberg. Germany, and 
came to America in the same year as her husband, she being then twenty- 
two years old. Their wedded life has endured for nearly half a century, 
and four sons have blessed their union. John is head bookkeeper in the 
First National Bank of Elkhart. William P. is in the meat business. 
Charles is foreman in the roundhouse of the Lake Shore Railroad. And 
George is in .Maska. 

J.VCOB AVELDY. 

At the time of the compilation of this history of lilkhart county 
Mr. Jacolj W'eldy is found to be numbered among the foremost men of 
affairs in the town of Wakarusa and Olive township. A man just now 
in the prime of his years and powers, his work and his influence are 
positive factors in the business, industrial and ci\ic life of this part of 
the county, and it is not too much to say that he has promoted the 
material prosperity of this district to a degree not surpassed b}- anyone 
in the course of the last fifteen or t\\enty years. 

Mr. Weldy's career is by no means commonplace or typical; it is 
distinctly individual. Strength of character, varied resourcefulness, 
and iudomitalile energy and ]ierse\erance liax'e been his chief cajiital 
in all his undertakings, from vouth u]i. and relying more upon these 
c[ualities than upon chance or circumstance he has effected a success 
and position in the world of affairs such as only great and strong men 
ma\' attain. 

A native of Elkhart county, born January 14, 1857. ^'^^'' Weldy 
was the fifth of thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters, of 
Abraham and Nancv fYoder) AA'eldy. ,Seven of his brothers and sis- 
ters are still living, as follow? : Anna, wife of Peter Hartman, a farmer 
of Locke township: John, a farmer in St. Joseph county, and married: 
Henry, who is a minister of the Mennonite church : Joseph, who is 
married and is a farmer of St. Joseph count}- and also a butcher by 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 539 

trade; Lt\i, a fanner in Locke township, and n:arried ; Emma, wife of 
Samuel ]\Lidlam, a farmer at \Vhite Cloud, Michigan; and Amos, who 
is married and farms the old homestead in Locke township. 

Abraham W'eldy, the father, who is now verging" closely upon the 
age of fourscore years, is living in Wakarusa, retired from a very 
successful agricultural career. He was born in Holmes county, Ohio, 
Januar_\- 4, 1827, being of old Pennsylvania German stock, his grand- 
parents coming to^ this countr}- from the fatherland. In its original 
form the name was spelletl " \'elta." A successful man in every way, 
Abraham became the owner of perhaps four hundred acres of land, 
all told, in this county, most of it located in Locke township. He and 
his wife are earnest memliers of the Mennonite church and have kept 
their li\es in harmonv with the quiet and noble teachings of that re- 
ligion. His reliability l)r(.iught his services often into call as executor 
in the settlement of estates, and he has also been known as a stanch 
friend of public education. He has resided in Wakarusa since 1897. 
His good wife, who was born in Holmes county. Ohio, in June, 1832, 
has always been esteemed as the beloved mother of her large family 
of children and also for her devotion to religion and moral conduct. 

Reared on his father's f;a"m until he attained his majority, Mr. 
Weldv has from childhood li\-ed in the atmosphere of serious purpose 
and straightforwardness of action, so that the period of " wild-oat sow- 
ing "" has never been part of his career. His education was received in 
the common schools, and liis earnestness in acquiring an education man- 
ifested itself in his poring over his books far into the night hours, so 
that what learnin.g he acquired in boyhood was not absorbetl but was 
really v on by concentrated effort, ^^^^en it came time for him to begin 
his independent career he made his start practically without capital. 
His father gave hini a team, he went in debt for another one, and on 
some land in Madison township, St. Joseph county, he farmed as a 
renter for five years. Then, the father having given each i^f the chil- 
dren their share in the estate, lie took his part, which was two thousand 
dollars, and invested in eighty acres of land in St. Joseph county, paying 
fifteen hundred dollars in cash and going in delit for thirty-five hun- 
dred. .Vlmost immediately afterward he purchased forty acres adjoin- 
ing his first place and situated in Elkhart county, and he gave his note 
to his father for the amount of this ]iurchase. 

Mr. Weldy's success in business affairs stands out conspicuously by 
reason of the many misfortunes which he has met and overcome. While 
he was still a renter his big barn took fire and burned to the ground. 
Stored under its roof was the crop from thirty acres of wheat, twenty 
acres of oats, twenty-five tons of hay. a new seeder, fanning mill, a new 
wagon, and in fact the greater part of his farmin.g" tools. Dauntless, 
and seeming to take renewed stren.gih from every such financial setback, 
he recouped his losses in a short time. He had already paid for his 
fortv-acre purchase and was succeeding nicely when he suffered another 



I'iO HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

throw ol fortune, in the failure of certain parties to meet their obliga- 
tions, which called his security to account for their loss. In the trans- 
actions that followed he had to take over a grocery store in W'akarusa, 
and he was thus introduced into mercantile life. This was in 1894, 
and he had previously bought a store building just across the street 
from the store which he took over, and into the former he moved all 
the grocery stock. He and ,\dam Domer conducted the concern in 
partnership for six months, aiid then ^Mr. Weldy purchased his partner's 
niterests and turned over the management of the store to his daughter, 
j\Iary. whose business ability proved equal to the task set for her and 
she conducted it at a proiit four years and then sold, the invoice being 
twenty-two hundred dollars. 

in the meanwhile Mr. Weldy had Ijeen purchasing shares in the 
W'akarusa Mill and Elevator Company, and, investing the twenty-two 
hundred dollars he received from the store, he brought his interest in 
the mill up to sixty-five hundred dollars. From 1897 to 1899 he paid 
ofif two thousand dollars of the four thousand indebtedness of the mill 
company, and every prospect seemed exceedingly bright for continued 
prosperit}' in his enterprises. Fie had gained by his integrity and abilit}- 
the full confidence of the people, and the farmers of the vicinity had 
indicated their trust by storing twelve thousand bushels of wheat in 
the ele\ator. hoping to get the level price of a dollar a bushel. Instead 
the market declined to sixty-three cents a bushel, and when the grain 
was disposed of and the smoke of the crash had cleared away Mr. 
\\'eld\- found himself at ihe ver\- b<ittom of the ladder of business and 
witii a weiglit oi debt piled upon him such that he could hardly hope 
to rise in the near future. But, turning over everything to his creditors, 
selling his farm of one hundred and twenty acres and accepting a loan 
from his lather in order to reimburse his creditors, he at once began 
the task ot meeting his obligations and getting on his feet in business. 
The recei\er sold the mill for forty-eight per cent of the indebtedness, 
the property being purchased by John Bechtel, who at once returned 
the control of the business to }ilr. Weldy. The milling industry is one 
of the principal soiu'ces of industrial wealth in this part of the county, 
and )ilr. Weldy had every confidence in his ability to take care of the 
future ]5ro\'ided the opportunity were given him. He has since 
proved ihe wisdom of his \iews. for he has practically discharged the 
entn^e indebtedness to the farmers and has rehabilitated tlie Imsiness 
until it has more than regained its former ])restige in this ])art of the 
county. In rcjoo he charjged the name of the enterprise to the Waka- 
rusa Milling ConiiJany, and now. five years later, it is ])ointed to with 
])ridc as one of the substantial institutions of 01i\e township. Other 
l;ranches of the business include dealing in tile. coal, cement and lime, 
anci the annual sales foot closely up to one hundred and forty-four 
thousand dollars. This shows what an honest and persistent man can 
accomplish when be has the confidence of the people, whereas, if the 




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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 541 

creditors had pressed him, there would have been a different aspect to 
the business status of \\'akarusa and vicinity. Mr. Weldy was born 
and reared in this locaHty and all his life has been spent here, and here 
he has retrieved his fortune, credit and character, and not a single asper- 
sion can be cast upon his business career. 

I\lr. Weldy married, in January, 1878, Miss Hannah D. Null, 
and eight children have been born to them, live of them living at the 
j.resent time. Anna Mary, the eldest, who is the wife of Rev. Frank 
Hartman, a minister of the Evangelical church at Noblesville, Indiana, 
is a woman of many talents. She graduated at the Wakarusa high 
school, has been trained in music and is organist of the Evangelical 
church, and before her marriage was in many ways her father's most 
capable assistant. As already noted, she took charge and managed very 
successfully her father's mercantile interests in Wakarusa, and after 
that business had been closed up she was tendered a good position with 
an Elkhart business firm, with which she remained four years and 
received constant promotions. She then returned home and assisted 
her father until her brother Leander graduated and was able to take 
her place. She and her husband have one little daughter, Esther Marie. 

Leander, the second of the living children, graduated at the Waka- 
rusa high school in the class of 1901, then passed his examination for 
a teacher's certificate, entered the Elkhart Institute (now Goshen Col- 
lege) and after an attendance of twoi weeks was credited two years on 
his four years' course and at the end of two years graduated with hon- 
ors. At the conclusion of his school days he became bookkeeper and 
accountant for his father and has since been associated with the latter's 
enterprises, being one of the capable and thoroughly estimable young 
business men of W'akarusa. He is a devout member of the Mennonite 
church, a teacher in the Sunday school and a leader in the evening 
Bible school. 

The son Timothy is one of the intelligent and practical farmers 
of the county, and is already well started on a prosperous career. He 
married Miss Ella Brenneman. Sylvester is still a schoolboy, as is 
also his brother Aaron, the former being in the seventh grade and the 
latter in the fifth, and both are bright little fellows with the same 
promise of usefulness for their future careers as has proved fulfilled so 
often in the case of their elders. Of the deceased children, Irwin died 
May II, 1891, aged two years eight months and six days, nnd Martha 
died April 22, 1896. aged twelve years one month and seven davs. 

The daughter, Elma E., whO' was taken from familv -^nd friends 
by the haiid of death when eighteen years old, had been pniployed in 
one of the leading stores of W^akarusa, and, at the entrance nndn a use- 
ful and noble womanhood, was highly esteemed in church -in.d sori-il 
circles of this communit)-. Following is the notice nf he'- deith. pub- 
lished at the time : 

" Elma Weldv died Saturdav morning, and althouoi-' ■'^•= Iiad been 



542 HISTORY OF ELKHART COCXTY 

ailing fur iifarly t\\<i nmntlis, she was cniihnecl tu her bed hut one 
week before her death, and the Saturday previous to her deatli she 
occupied her position as clerk at Freed & Lehman's. Little did the 
many customers she so cheerfully waited upon that day dream that in 
one shoft week she would he a corpse. Her death was caused by per- 
forating ulcer of the bowels. She suffered intense pain, yet not a word 
of complaint passed her lips. Hers was a beautiful life, as pure as a 
lily, and people with whom she associated were made better by that 
association. Elma Elizabeth W'eldy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob 
Weldy, was born on a farm west of W'akarusa, Jul}' 24, 1882. died De- 
cember ]. 1900, aged 18 years 4 months and 7 days. Father, mother, 
fi.tur brnthers, one sister and a host of friends and relatives mourn their 
loss. A brother and a sister preceded her to the spirit world. The 
funeral was held at the Dunkard church Monday afternoon, conducted 
by Rev. Blosser of Ohio, assisted by Jacob Shank. An immense con- 
course of friends were present to pay their last respects. The remains 
were laid to rest in North L'nion Cemetery." 

Mrs. Weldy, who has been so loyal and helpful to her husband 
and family through all the mutations of joy and sorrow, and who is 
one of the most highly esteemed women of the town and community, 
was born in the state of Ohio, December 20, 1856, and as a girl came 
with her parents to St. Joseph county. She and her husband were school- 
mates together, and their lives ha\'e run side by side in happiness and 
usefulness for many years. They are members of the Mennonite church 
in Olive township, the Sunday-school of that church being one of the 
largest in the county. The political principles which have most ap- 
pealed to Mr. \\'eldy"s judgment and understanding are those advocated 
in general by the Prohilaition party, and he takes especially high ground 
on the matter of temperance. At one lime Mr. W'eldy served as a 
meml:ier of the town council of Wakarusa. The Weldy liome is on 
Wabash' avenue, near the \\'abash de])ot and near his business. 

C. T. GREENE. 

C. T. Greene, mayor of Elkhart and cashier of the First State Bank 
of Elkhart, an ex-county treasurer, and for many years connected with 
the mercantile afifairs of the city, was born in Elyria, Lorain county, 
Ohio, August 9, 1840. Nearly forty years of his life have been spent in 
Elkhart, where he took up his residence with his mother in 1857, having 
lieen reared and educated, previous to that time, in his native county and 
in Buffalo, New York, in which city be lived seven years. 

Being' a strong and ambitious youth of seventeen when he arrived 
in Elkhart, he at once emljarked in the practical affairs of life, in the 
employ of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad. Soon after- 
ward he went into the grocery business with C. J. Gillette, the firm being 
styled C. T. Greene and Company, and for the subsequent thirty-eight 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY r.43 

years he was one of the leading grocerymen of this city. Since his re- 
tirement from commercial afifairs he has been the cashier of the First 
State Bank. 

One of the influential Democrats of Elkhart county, Mr. Greene 
has for many years taken an acti^•e part in jxilitical affairs. From 1872 
to 1876 he was the incumbent of the office of county treasurer, having 
been elected to that office on the Democratic ticket and overcoming a 
normal I-vepublican majority. Two A'ears' service in the common ccnmcil 
of Elkhart was followed by his election to mayor, which position he is 
now filling for the second term. 

An interested participant m fraternal work. [Mr. Greene is a Knight 
Templar Mason and is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order 
of Elks, the Modern Samaritans of the World and the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows, belonging to the encampment of the latter order. 

Mr. Greene married, in 1879, Mrs. Man,'- Curtis. 

PETER D. EERKEY. 

Peter D. Berkey unites in himself the stability of diaracter and 
the business acumen which are the principal requisites to broad success 
in this modern world where " Business is King." A practical man of 
affairs, strong and self-reliant in grappling with all the difficulties which 
are in the way to accomplishment along the lines of his endeaxxir, Mr. 
Berkey has long since been recognized among the foremost citizens of 
his part of the county, whetlier considered for what he has done in ma- 
terial directions, or in the public spirit which lends effectiveness to the 
general progress and \\elfare, or in the things that cmicern home and 
society. 

Of one of tlie old families, he has well represented his kintlred 
and honored the- name in this county. He was lx)rn-in Somerset 
county, Pennsylvania, July 22. 1844, the youngest of seven children, 
whose parents were Daniel and Fannie ( Hoffman ) Berkey. The four 
living are: .\ndrew, married and a farmer in Harrison township: Val- 
entine, farming and in the lumber business in Elkhart township: Mary, 
a resident of Concord township and widow of Lewis Berkey : and Peter D. 

The father, who was born in Somerset county, Pennsvlvania, Janu- 
ary 15, 1810, and died April 28, 1896, at the advanced age of eighty-six 
years, received his education in the primitive manner of the time, was 
reared to the life of farming, and in 1866 became identified as a resident 
with Elkhart county, where he spent the remainder of his years in quiet 
and prosperous activity. He held various local offices in his township, 
and as an advocate of high standards in education left a permanent im- 
press for good upon the school system of his locality. .-\ stanch Whig 
and high ]>rotectionist, during the fifties he espon.sed the cause of the 
newlv Ixirn Republican party and upheld its doctrines tO' the dav of his 
death. He was known and will Ion"' be remembered liecause of his 



S44 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

devotion to right and truth, ]xjth in the abstract and in practice. He and 
Ills wife were members of the German Baptist church, and he had assisted 
in erecting an edifice for that denomination back iia his native county. 
He was one vi the earhest advocates of the good roads movement, and 
did mucli in that direction in his township. His good wife and hfe 
companion, who was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, July 5, 
1S08, and died July 19, 1882, was a devout woman and ably performed 
her part in th.e rearing of her children and the making of a good home. 

Mr. Berkey was twenty-two years old when he left his native state 
and came to Elkhart county. He had been trained to an agricultural 
career, and his education was obtained in the common schools at his 
birthplace. Empty-handed but determined, he began life on his own- 
account on reaching majority, and has never lacked the courage to face 
all difficulties as they came and to attain a worthy place in life. A few 
months after his arrival in this county he returned to- the Keystone state 
to get his life companion hi the person of Miss Catharine Berkey, whom 
he married October .20, 1867, and who has borne him six children, all of 
whom are living. Idella.' who received her education in the public 
scho(ils, married Frank S. Miller, the contractor and builder of Goshen, 
who at present has the contract for the erection of the splendid Goshen 
opera house : they ha\-e three children, Berkey. Ruth and Howard. War- 
ren, who was educated in the common schools and was ome of the suc- 
cessful teachers of the county for a number of years, later took full 
courses in the law" at Valparaiso- College and at the University of Michi- 
gan, and is now one of the successful attorneys in active practice at 
Goshen ; he has a little son, Wedel. Julia, who was also- educated in 
the common schools and received her diploma, married P. L. Kurtz, a 
carpenter and builder at Goshen, and they have six children, Mabel, 
Floyd, Morris, Paul, Alvin and Ezra. Morris, who completed his liter- 
ary training- in the Valparaiso Normal School and at one time taught 
schiool in this county, is now bookkeeper for the Heintz Company of St. 
Louis. Foster, whoi has, like his brothers, devoted some of his energies 
to teaching, having managed a school in this county for three years, is 
now a practical farmer on the homestead with his father; he married 
Miss Rosa Lear. Allie. at home, received a common school education. 

On March i, 1905, this family sustained its most grievous loss in 
the death of the faithful wife and mother, after their happy wedded life 
had been extended over thirty-eight years. She was born in Somerset 
county, Pennsylvania, February 9, 1850, a daughter of Daniel and Eliza- 
beth (Poorman) Berkey, and was reared in her native state, being sev- 
enteen years old at the time of her marriage. An affectionate and loving 
wile, a mother whose counsel was always sought by her cliildrem, she 
had fulfilled her duties in the world in a way which could deserve only 
praise. She was a member of the Brethren church. 

A Republican in politics, Mr. Berkey gave his first vote to Grant, 
and for man^- vears has lieen prominent in the local political and public 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 545 

affairs. He has been selected as delegate to his state and county con- 
ventions, and has served as chairman of the Elkhart county Repulilican 
committee. In 1876 his fellow citizens, with the confidence in his ability 
which was inspired by his capable conduct of his own affairs, elected him 
trustee of Harrison township, and he was re-elected in 1878. During 
that period of control he supervised the construction of four modern 
brick schoolhouses in the township, besides an addition to Harrison 
Center school. A few years later he was appointed trustee to fill a va- 
cancy and served by election altogether for nine years. The splendid 
record he had made as trustee placed him among the conspicuous men 
of affairs who could be depended upon for able service in the county's 
welfare, and in 1898 he was elected to the office of county auditor. His 
four years in that office were marked by efficiency and utmost competence 
in the administration of his duties, and at the end of his term as at the 
beginning he retained the highest esteem of his fellow citizens. At the 
present time Mr. Berkey lives on and farms his nice estate of ninety 
acres in Harrison township, carrying on general farming and raising 
good stock, but without de-\-oting himself to any special agricultural in- 
terests. 

IIARDEX D. MARKEL. 

Harden D. ]Markel. in the real estate business at Elkhart and also 
engaged in farming near that city, represents the present generation of 
a family which for sixty years has been prominently known in connection 
with the life and activities of Elkhart county. 

Nathan Markel, the father of Harden U., was born In Berks county, 
Pennsylvania, in May. 1819, a son of David and Mary Markel, both of 
German lineage. David and ?\Iary Markel had eight children, Polly. 
Jonas, Nathan, Rufina, William, David, Franklin and Lavina. Nathan 
Markel married, in Ohio. Catherine Machamer, and in 1845 moved to 
Elkhart county, settling in Concord township. He was followed three 
years later by his father and mother, accompanied by other children, and 
the grandmother, Anna Catherine Maria Markel, who lived to be ninety- 
three years old. David Markel died In this county in 1855, aged sixty- 
three, and his wife at the age of seventy-six. both being members of the 
United Brethren church. Nathan and Catherine Markel had foiu" chil- 
dren, one of whom died in infancy, .Mmira died at the age of nineteen. 
Harden D. is the subject of this sketch, and Orlando W". is a resident of 
Nebraska. 

Nathan Markel, who died in this county in 189T. is well remembered 
for his active and useful career and integrity of character. A farmer by 
vocation, also a skilled carpenter. dmMng the fifties he did much bridge 
construction work for the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad, 
while during most of the remaining years of his life he farmed. He 
became the O'wner of some three hundred and eighty-eight acres of land 
in Concord township, and his career throughout was one of prosperity. 



540 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Fraternally he was a Master Mason. His widow, who resides with her 
son. Harden D., is eighty-six years old, having been born in 1819, and 
remarkal)Iy strong and well preserved for such age. 

Harden D. Markel. who was born in 1847, "i^ t^'i^ o''^ homestead 
farm in Concord townshi]>, where his home still is, was reared and 
educated in this county, and at the age of twenty-eight went to Kan- 
sas. For the subsequent twenty }-ears he was one of the prominent 
men of Harvey county. Avhere he was engaged in the hardware and 
agricultural implement business and then in banking and real estate. 
Returning to Elkhart county in 189 1 on account of his father's death, 
the following year he moved his family to the old homestead which 
he now owns and where he has since Ijeen engaged in farming. At 
the same time he has been dealing in real estate, having platted the 
Elliston addition tO' the city of Elkhart and been ciinnected with \ari- 
ous other transactions in that line. 

Mr. Markel is a prominent member of the Grand Armv uf the 
Kepulilic. In X(i\-ember, 1863, although a boy of only sixteen years, 
he enlisted in Companv D. Twelfth Indiana Cavalry, and gave twu 
vears of active service to his (■ountr\'. being mustered out in Xovem- 
ber, 1865. ' "■ 

Mr. Markel married, in 1876, at Osceola. Indiana, Miss Sarah 
Woodside. Four children have blessed their union : Xathan, who 
died when three years old: Orrin H.. AA'illiam W. and I\-an J. In 
politics he is a Democrat. 

THE NEW PARIS :MUTUAL TELEPHONE UNION. 

Knowing it to be ^•aluable to the public in general, both from a 
business and a social standpoint, especially in case of sickness, acci- 
dents or death, to be in direct communication with the people of the 
surrounding towns and rural districts, the following' citizens of Jack- 
son township met at the home of John F. McClure on the 19th day of 
Novemlier. 1901, and organized what is now known as the New Paris 
Mutual Telephone ITiion of New Paris : D. J. A\'hitehead. J. W. 
Rowdaliaugh, John F. McClure. D. M. Weybright. D. \A'. Weybright. 
Michael RookstcKil. William I'.edden. Henry Putt, John Arnold. INIil- 
ton Weaver. 

The organization resulted in the election for president. D. J. 
\\'hitehead : secretary, J. W. Rowdabaugh ; treasurer. J. F. McClure : 
the officers were also chosen as a committee to enter into a Imsiness 
relation with ihe Home Telephone Com])an}-, of Elkhart county. 
D. AT. We\-bright, Henry Butt, and Alilton \\'ea\er were elected 
committee on constitution and by-laws. 

The incorporating board of directors were: D. I. Whitehead. 
J. \A'. Rowdabaugh, J. F. McClure, D. M. Weybright, "D. H. Fisher. 
The c<)mpan^• is incorporated for ten thousand dollars; incorporated 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 547 

January ii. 1902, and county commissioners granted franchise April 
7, 1902. The first toll line built by this corporation was from New- 
Paris to the south city limits of Goshen. On December 3 and 4, 1901, 
the Home Telephone Company made the connection and built the 
line from the city limits to their central office on East Lincoln avenue. 
The second toll line built, between these two companies, was built May 
19, 1905. By this arrangement and an annual fee of three dollars 
per phone the patrons of this company had free telephone communica- 
tion with the subscribers of the Independent system, of Goshen, Elk- 
hart, Middlebnry, Bristol and the Farmers' Exchange of Clinton 
township. Later on Dunlap and Wakarusa were added to the list. On 
October i, 1903, the annual expense for this service was reduced to 
one dollar and a half per 'phone per annum. 

J. W. Rowdabaugh, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this 
volume, was the first party line manager elected. He succeeded in 
organizing a part}' line company of seven members, who built the first 
party line in Jackson township, which was built in December, 1901. 
Since that many miles of line ha\'e been built, which accommodates 
more than one thousand people in Benton, Jackson, Union and Elk- 
hart townships. Owing to the increase of new 'phones added- it he- 
came necessa,ry for this company and the Farmers' Telephone Cnm- 
pan}' of Clinton township to ha\'e a direct toll line between them, 
which \\as com])leted August 29, 1902, share and share alike. 

On the [7th day of Feliruary, 1903, this company and the Royal 
Telephone Company of Milford, Kosciusko county, Indiana, entered 
into a contract to build a toll line between them, subscribers of each 
company to have free service. By this contract it was also agreed to 
have free exchange between New Paris and Syracuse exchanges, 
through tlie Royal Telephone Company's exchange at Milford : con- 
tract subject to Avithdrawal by either company giving one year's notice 
in writing. Free service to Leesburg was given about one year later 
by virtue of contract. On April 12, 1904, the Royal Telephone Com- 
pany gave notice of withdrawal of contract. At the expired time of 
said notice, April 12, 1905, it was agreed to charge five cents per 
message between New Paris and Syracuse. This arrangement con- 
tinued until a toll line was built between tiiese exchanges. On Julv 
10 the Syracuse companv and this company entered into a contract 
to build a toll line between them and gi\-e subscribers free exchange. 

In order to assist the accommodating and courteous operator, 
Mrs. Ellen Whitehead, and her assistant, Neal Whitehead, to handle 
the increasing business and to give better service to all. it became nec- 
essary, on AAigust ifi, 1904. to purchase a new switch-board of 240 
dro]) capacity, equippe'l for two oi>erators. with equipments of the 
latest designs. This board took the place of a loo-drop board which 
had been installed in Jinie, 1902. .\ power generator had been in- 
stalled in May, 1903. 




^/> 



U^; 



^^/ 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 549 

was known as one of the }'Oung and successful teachers of the county. 
His pedagogic work was carried on in different localities and he served 
in different capacities, being the incumbent, in 1893. when he left the 
school desk, of the office of superintendent of the Xappanee city schools. 
He resigned his position there in order to become superintendent of the 
Nappanee Furniture Company. After two years of commercial life he 
began his preparation for a legal career. During his career as teacher 
Mr. Deahl \\as almost constantly improving his educational equipment, 
and after his first entrance upon an independent career he paid his own 
way to each successive goal of his ambition. In 1885 he entered the 
Indiana State Normal at Terre Haute, where he graduated in 1888, 
and for twent\-two weeks of his last year there he held a position as 
instructor in the normal. In 1891 he entered the Nortliern Illinois 
Normal School at Dixon, where lie took the special course in language, 
literature and oratory, and in the same year received his diploma in 
those branches. Mr. Deahl entered the law department of the Uni- 
versity of Michigan in 1894, and finished his preparatitju for the law 
by graduation from that institution in 1896, being admitted to the In- 
diana bar in June of the same year. ]\Ir. Deahl is a man of learning 
and culture, and from this breadth of mind comes his intimate sym- 
pathy witli all Ijranches and departments of the world's work and his- 
tory, his intellectual interest being one of his characteristics which most 
impress a stranger. Positi\'e. yet sane in his convictions as to the 
right and the expedient, it is natural that he should have been able, 
more than once, to influence men and affairs in his community and 
impress his personality and judgment upon the civic welfare. Mr. Deahl 
has been in the active practice of the law since 1896, having, since that 
date, been the junior member of the firm of Deahl and Deahl. 

B. F. Deahl is one of tlie most loyal supporters of the cit}- of 
Cioslien in its progress toward the best civic ideals. Emphatic in his 
opinions as to what constitutes the best municipal government, and with 
his belief? strengthened and rendered efTective through concrete expe- 
rience, his fellow citizens, in- a campaign, involving the most important 
policies connected with Goslien's municipal history, elected him to the 
office of mayor in 1898. at first to serve out the unexpired term of J. H. 
Heatwole. and then for the regular term beginning in September, 1898, 
and continuing to 1902. The development of purely public utilities 
was carried forward with remarkably beneficial results during his term, 
and in the course of his administration the municipal policy of Goshen 
as regards jjublic ownership of utilities may be said tO' have been perma- 
nently fixed. ^Ir. Deahl is one of the influential Democrats of Elkhart 
county, a regidar worker for his party, and, being a speaker who com- 
bines a ready rhetoric with effective logic, has for some years been 
called upon for assistance in the political campaigns. His election as 
mayor of Goshen came by a majority of 289, in a city which is normally 
Republican by about three hundred and fifty. 



550 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Fraternally Air. Deahl affiliates with the Knights of Pythias and 
the Impro\-e(l Order of Red Men, and is a memher of the Elkhart 
County Bar Association. As president of the I X-L and Goshen Pump 
Company and the Western Ruhher Company, hoth of Goshen. Mr. 
Deahl also takes a leading part in the manufacturing and Inisiness in- 
terests of the county. 

August 30, 1891, Mr. Deahl married Miss Emma Mutschler, the 
oldest daughter of George and Sarah Mutschler, now of Goshen. Mr. 
and Airs. Deahl have one child, .\llicrt I*"., who was horn into their 
home June 3, 1904. 

W. H. K.NICKERBOCKER. 

Well known in the financial circles of Elkhart county as cashier of 
the First X^ational Bank of Elkhart, and also prominent as a citizen, Mr. 
W. H. Knickerbocker was born in Dutchess county, New York, March 
I/- i853> being the fifth of the six children of Jacob and Eliza D. (Mar- 
tin) Knickerbocker, both natives of New York state. The father, who 
was a merchant, died in 1S57, but the mother lived to be seventy-one 
years old. 

Deprived of the support of his father at the age of four years, Mr. 
Knickerbocker learned to be dependent upon his own efforts at an early 
age. By taking care of a physician's horses in New York he was enabled 
to attend the schools there, and after he came to Elkhart, in 1867, he at- 
tended the schools here for eight months. He obtained employment in 
the lumber office of Herrick E. Alartin and later with B. F. & A. 
Stephais, undertakers, in this city, and on July 9, 1872, at the age of 
nineteen, he began his connection with 1>anking as a clerk in the St. 
Joseph Valley Bank of Elkhart. Pix)gressiveness and business alertness 
have characterized his entire career, and he has never failed of advance- 
ment along the course of business success. In 1886 he became cashier 
of the First National Bank of Elkhart and has ever since been identified 
very closely w-ith the affairs of this institution. 

In politics Mr. Knickerlx)cker is a Republican, although at one 
time a Democrat. He has taken much interest in public affairs, though 
never aspiring to office, and is one of the representative citizens of Elk- 
hart. On Novemlier 20. 1883, Air. Knickerljocker was married to Aliss 
Nellie Jane \\'inchester, who was liorn in Alichigan, a daughter of 
Charles H. and Harriet W. (Howard) A\'inche.ster. 

.\. A. L Al'GHLlX. 

A. A. Laughlin. jiresitlent. secretary and manager of the Union 
Canning Civinpany nf Nappanee. a manufacturing institution \vhich is 
described in an earlier jiart of this history, is a nati\-e of Hardin 
county, Ohic Ixirn April 4. 1875. His parents. R. W. and Alartlri 
(Brovs-n) L.aughlin, were natives nf Guernsey count}-. Ohin, and are 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 551 

now residents of Santa Clara, California. The father is a farmer by 
occupation and for many years followed agricultural pursuits in order 
to provide for his family. 

A. A. Laughiin is the fourth chilil and eldest Sdu in a famil}' of 
seven chilflren. Pie was educated at Ada, Ohio, in Hardin county, 
and in the Ohio Normal University, from A\hich he was graduated 
with tlie class of 1898. Having studied in the law department he 
completed the course in 1901 and was admitted to the bar of Indiana 
by examination at Indianapolis in the same },ear. He remained a 
resident of that cit\- for about six months. He located permanenth' 
in Napixmee in 1902, and, associated with his brother, H. H. Laugh- 
iin, held large interests in an extensive tract of land in the vicinit>- of 
Nappanee devoted to the raising of onions. The c-anning company, 
with which he is now connected, was organized in 1900 with Charles 
Mutschler as its first manager. He was succeeded liy Mr. Uline in 
T901. and in December, 1904, Mr. Laughiin assumed the manage- 
ment. Since that time he has purchased the interests of many of the 
stockholders, .so that the members of the companv are now A. A. 
Laughiin, S. D. Coppes and Hartman Brothers. Mr. Laughiin. how- 
ever, owns the controlling interest, and under his management the 
business has constantly increased and the shipments are made in car- 
lots. Employment is furnished to as many as sixty men in a season 
and there are large shipments of product annualh-. The trade is con- 
tinually increasing and is developed along modern Iiusiness lines, 
thereby instuMng a desirable success. 

Mr. Laughiin is a Prohibitionist in his political principles and is 
an active and prominent member of the Presbyterian church, in which 
he is serving" as trustee and as superintendent of the Sunday-school. 
.Vnything that tends to better conditions for mankind elicits his in- 
terest and recei\-es his co-operation. His life has been guided by hon- 
orable principles, his actions are manly, his motives sincere, and he 
enjoys in full measure the confidence, respect and good will of those 
with whom he has business or social relations. 

STANFORD \\TLL.\RD. 

Stanford W'illard, whose real estate and agricultural interests 
in Harrison township and \\'akarusa give him a place of first consid- 
eration in the historv <if this part of the county, was for a period of 
twenty-five years identifieil in a \ery substantial wa\' with the cause 
of educational progress in Elkhart count}', and although in recent }'ears 
business affairs have absorbed his time it is as a successful educator 
that his career is especially interesting at this writing. A man who 
is just now in the prime of his powers and years, his period of effecti\"e 
usefulness to himself and society has by no means been completed. 

Of English lineage through a long line of descent. Mr. ^^'illard 



552 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

was born in Scliuylkill CDunty, Pennsylvania. November 4, 1858. tbe 
yonnger of tbe two chilcb-en of Jonathan and Catbarine (Scbwahn) 
\\'illar(l, he i)eing now the only one of tbe children living. His father, 
will I was born in Dauphin connty. Pennsylvania, ]\larcb 15, 1827, and 
died August 23, 1900, was formerly a cabinetmaker and later a farmer. 
He was reared in his native state, to his majorit}-. and in consequence 
of being left an orphan when a boy received a meager education and 
from an early age shifted for himself. Tn 1848 be joined a company 
that started for the Pacific coast, but at a point in Iowa, diverted from 
their quest of gold and ad\-enture on tbe Pacific slope, they stopped and 
laid out tbe site of a new town, which they named Marysville. Tbe 
father had tbe tlistinction of building tbe first bouse in this place. Dur- 
ing bis .sojourn there bis mother died in Pennsylvania, and in 1853 he 
returned to his native state, where he lived until be came to Elkhart 
connty in 1863. Settling in 01i\-e townsliip. where be purchased fortv 
acres of partly improved land, be and bis famil\- bad for their first home 
a log cabin. His farm was later increased to> fifty-two acres. Polit- 
ically be was Whig until tbe organization of tbe Republican partv. and 
thereafter till bis death be advocated that party. He adhered to tbe 
Lutheran faith. Jonathan ^^'illard was a son of John \\'illard, a native 
of New Vork, and bis wife. Anna Velker. a native of Pennsylvania. [Mr. 
Stanford Willard's mother was born in Schuylkill county. Pennsylvania. 
August 21. 1836, and is still living in Elkhart county, at the age of 
sixty-nine years. She lived in her native connty until her marriage, on 
June 29, 1856. She is a member of tbe German Baptist church. 

Mr. \Villard"s career, which has been identified with Elkhart county 
since he was seven years old, has been xevy successful from many points 
of view. Endowed with unusual gifts of mind and practical judg- 
ment, be has ne\-er wasted opportunities nor failed ti) "hitch bis wagon 
to a star" when be thought that course would take him from tbe ruts 
of mediocrity and commonplace success. Beginning his education in 
the country schools, supplemented later by tlie curriculum of the \\'aka- 
rusa high school, which be completed with excellent records, when lie 
was seventeen years old be received his first teacher's certificate, and 
soon thereafter embarked upon the educational career which gave him 
so much prestige and esteeni in this part of the state. His first school 
was one mile west of W'akarusa. and thereafter for several years he al- 
ternated lietween teaching and attending school. In 1877 he took a 
course in tbe formerly well known Elkhart County Normal and Class- 
ical School in Goshen, followed in 1879. after a period of teaching, with 
entrance in ihe Fort Wayne College. In this excellent Methodist in- 
stitution the standard amount of work prescribed was four studies, but 
on his arrival young Willard applied to tbe president, \\'. F. Yocum. 
for special dispensation to carry nine studies, with the condition that, 
should his \\ ork not 1>e up to grade, the number of subjects should l>e 
scaled down to within reach of bis abilities. No instructor e\-er re- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 553 

ported any dissatisfaction over the record of this amijitious stndent, and 
the nine stndies were carried tlirongh to completion. More than that. 
he aided the school as a tutor in special branches and made himself so 
indispensable in other wa}'s that he received remuneration for his extra 
work. .\ young man of so much force of character and energy could 
hardly escape some disparaging remarks as to his efforts, but all aver- 
ments to the efifect that he was favored by those in authority were 
quieted in the face of examination tests, where his high marks told the 
story of earnest and independent work. He has three teacher's certifi- 
cates granted 1;y examinations which ranked one hunilred per cent for 
everv branch recorded, which is an extraordinar}- showing. In 1880 
he entered the Elkhart Normal and Classical School for another course. 
and he and his classmate, Frank Blakemore, were the-onh" ones to win 
diplomas in one hundred and forty-six students. He took first prize in 
drawing, ornamental penmanship and landscape sketching, both in 
school and in the two counties of Elkhart and St. Joseph, the judges of 
the contest having been ap])ointed from outside the county. The major 
part of Mr. Willard's successful career as an educator was spent in Har- 
rison township, where he taught foiurteeii years; twO' years in Locke 
township, two years in St. Joseph county, and seven years in 01i\'e 
township. 

Communit}' of interests, as well as compatibility of nature, led Air. 
Willard to ally himself in marriage with another veiy successful school 
teacher. He was married May 19, 1888, to Miss Anna E. Holdeman, 
and they have one little daughter, Una Frances E. Mrs. Willard was 
born in Elkliart county, December 10, 1864, a daughter of Joseph and 
Anna (Nusbaum') Holdeman. Educated in the common schools, the 
Wakarusa high school and the Northern Indiana College, she gained a 
teacher's certificate at the age of nineteen and for the subsequent ten 
}'ears made her influence and \\ork felt as a ^\•oTthy factor in the intel- 
lectual improvement of Elkhart county. She taught four years in Har- 
rison township, six terms in one district, and si.x years in Olive town- 
ship, also six terms being spent in one district of this township. She 
has had three first-grade certificates. She began teaching in 1885, a 
mile west of Wakarusa, then she taught sjx terms in the Mitchell 
school, four miles north, and in all taught ten years, up to 1895. 

Mrs. Willard is a member of a family whose individuals have been 
identified with this county and with life and affairs elsewhere in an 
honora1>le manner for many years. Her mother, Mrs. An:ia Holdeman. 
an esteemed old lady of Wakarusa, was born in Ashland county, Ohio, 
February 26. 1830, a daughter nf Christian and Catherine ('A\'^eiss) 
Nusteum, Ixith natives of Switzerland. Mrs. Holdeman has four liv- 
ing children — Christian, Catherine. Margaret, and Anna (Airs. Wil- 
lard). Joseph Holdeman, Mrs. Willard's father, who was torn in 
Pennsylvania in 1823, settled in Olive township in 185 1, at a date when 
\A''akarusa's site was covererl with timber and when the old postoffice. 



654 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

nanietl Salem, was the center of the coniinunit}-. Air. Huldeinan erected 
the first log" churcli in southwest Ohve township for the Alennonite 
church. .V well educated man, he taught eighteen terms of school ir. 
Ohio and Indiana. He died August 19, 1894, one of the honored 
pioneers of this part of Elkhart count} . 

In 1901 Mr. W'illard retirerl from his long career as educator, and 
has since given his attention to business and financial affairs. He deals 
in bonds, real estate deals and transfers and insurance, and his ability 
and acumen in this department of activity have been displayed to not 
less advantage than his former career in educational work. He is the 
owner of three hundred and eighty-six and a half acres of land alto- 
gether, situated in Harrison and Olive townships and within the corpor- 
ate limits of Nappanee, and also owns a nice home propertv in W'aka- 
rusa. .\ Republican in politics since he \()ted for Garfield, he has lent 
his influence and assistance to ad\'ancement in all community interests. 
A man of affairs and instinct with the business spirit which accom- 
jjlishes things, he at the same time holds himself aloof from all petty 
methods or taking- advantage of others' weakness, for which reason bis 
success is all the more commendable. Of all the mortgages that have 
fallen due on. farms in this vicinity, he has never yet had to sue one of 
his delitors, and he seems to have found the happy medium for tran.sact- 
ing business along profitable lines and at the same time showing con- 
sideration and favors to those with whom be has dealings. 

WILSON H. ROOD. 

Tn the li\es of its best citizens will be found the histoiy of a nation, 
says the Sage of Concord, and b\ placing Mr. Rood in this class we itot 
only do his career and character justice, but at the same time give his 
jjersonal history all the introduction necessary to the readers of this his- 
tory. His ancestry traceable to English forefathers. Mr. Rood was born 
in Mercer county. Ohio. August 16, 1856. the youngest of five children, 
four .sons and one daughter, born to Loren P.. and Susannah (Colder) 
Rood. Four of the children are living. John resides in Elkhart; Nelson, 
wb.o was educated in the common schools and normal and was a teacher. 
is engaged in the brick and tile manufacturing at Nappanee, where he and 
his familv reside: Lizzie is the wife of Eli McQuate. a farmer of this 
coimty. 

Loren B. Rood, the father, now deceased, is commemorated in the 
following obituary notice : " Loren B. Rood was born in Middlese.x 
conntv. Massachusetts, near Boston, .\pril 27. 1812. while his father 
served in the war of 18 12. At the age of six years be moved with his 
parents to Litchfield county. Connecticut, where he remained until 1836, 
when he and a brother started for the west and entered land in Mercer 
countv. Ohio, near the scene of St. Clair's defeat in 1791. and where 
deneral Wayne subsequently liuilt I'ort Recovery, in memoiy Tif which 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 555 

there is a tliriving town bearing the name Fort Recovery. During" the 
winter of 1836 and 't,"/ he returned to Connecticut, travehng the entire 
distance on foot, and returned to Ohio the following summer. He was 
one of the first .school teachers of Fort Reco\'ery and took i>art in the 
first election held in that townshi]i. In 1867 he removed with his family 
to Jefferson township. Elkhart cnuntw where he was engaged for some 
time in the manufacture of drain tile, his factor}^ being the first of the 
kind in northern Indiana. Fie died of paralysis Februarj- 22, 1897, 
aged eighty-four years, seven months and twenty-five days, leaving his 
wife, three sons and one daughter to mourn his loss." In politics he was 
a Whig, voting- for " Tippecanoe and Tyler too." and later gave his 
support among the first to the new Republican party, being firm in his 
anti-slavery princi]>les. The widow of Loren B. Rood, who is now a 
bright old lady of eighty-six years and resides on the old homestead in 
Jefferson township, was lx)rn in Pennsylvania in April, 1819. 

A boy of eleven years when he accompanied his parents to this 
count}- in 1867, Mr. Rood has spent all the remaining years of his life 
here and recei\-ed a good practical training at home and in the schools 
of his county, b'or fourteen years he followed, during a part of each 
year, the profession of teacher. He is a practical tile-maker, and made 
tile during the open portions of the year, while teaching in the winter. 
His teaching was in Jefferson. I'nion and Harrison townships. On 
reaching his majority he had alxiut three hundred dollars in cash and 
property, and from this capital has progressed intO' a successful position 
in the world's affairs. In 1881 he and his brother Ixiught one hundred 
and twenty acres in Harrison township, and, locating their tile factory 
thereon in 1882, continued this partnership until 1895, when Mr. W. H. 
Rood took entire charge of the factory. His tile products average alx)ut 
four thousand dollars a year, and this industry as an adjunct to his gen- 
eral farming enterprise affords him a comfortable yearly income. He 
has recently increased his facilities for manufacture by building a new 
kiln and otherwise enlarging his plant. He owns two hundred and ten 
acres of choice land in Harrison township, and all the excellent improve- 
ments on the farm he placed there himself. His pretty countn,- residence 
he erected in 1887, and his excellent barn with concrete-floor stable he 
built in 1890. He takes great interest in the good grades of stock, being 
esjjecially proud of the O. T. C. hogs, a breed that he has been very suc- 
cessful with so far. 

A stanch Reiiuitlican, he cast his first vote for Gai-field. He has 
sen^d his c<in-imunity in various relations, having been elected trustee 
of his township in 1890, and in 1900 was again elected to this important 
])ositii)n. During his trusteeship he had four brick schoolhouses erected, 
kept ui> the school libraries, and attended to all the administrative func- 
tions of his office in such an efficient manner as to reflect credit upon 
himself and at tlie sanie time |)ut his tnwuship in the first rank among 



fi56 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

the like divisions of the county, so far as school inipro\-ements and the 
maintenance of good roads and bridges are concerned. 

Mr. Rood married, in 1887, Miss Cora Bemenderfer. They have 
two children. Winifred B., who received her diploma from the common 
schools in 1903, has just completed her second year in the Goshen high 
school, where she is a member of the high school orchestra, having taken 
instruction in instrumental music. Ralph, the son, is in the third grade 
of school. Mrs. Rood, who is a daughter of Heniy and Rebecca (Prince) 
Bemenderfer, was born in Elkhart county September 30, 1857, and was 
reared and educated here. She and her husband ha\'e made themselves 
a very cosy and delightful home, furnished in comfortable and tasty style, 
and they are recognized as substantial members of their community. She 
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, her place of worship 
being Bashor Chapel, \\hich is one of the ten religious edifices in Harri- 
son township. Mr. Rood possesses the second oldest deed of its kind in 
this part of Elkhart county, a parchment deed signed by the hand of 
President Van Buren and bearing the date March 15, 1837, the vear of 
the great panic — one of the valuable and interesting documents which 
are a feature of very few households. 

W. S. CLINE. 

The history of a community, state or nation is tcjjd in the li\-es of 
its representative citizens and to this class in A^ew Paris W. S. Cline 
belongs. He is a man well known for stability of character and hon- 
esty of purpose, and in the village he is connected with the grain trade, 
meeting with good success. He represents one of the pioneer families 
of Jackson township, his birth having occurred in Elkhart county, Octo- 
ber 16, 1857. He is now the only surviving member of a family of 
two' sons and two daughters, who were born to Samuel T. and Delilah 
(Cart) Cline, who are represented on another page of this volume. 

He was reared in his home township and still resides in the house 
where he was born. Following a course in the common schools he 
continued his studies in the Goshen Normal School and for one year 
engaged in teaching in Union township before he had attained his ma- 
jority. He spent about six years of his life as an agriculturist, and 
in 1882, at tlie age of twenty-four years, he became connected with the 
railroad service of the Cincinnati, Wabash & Michigan Railroad, now 
a part of the Big Four system. He was first employed as a clerk in 
the Warsaw office and he remained there for about six months, after 
which he went to Niles, Michigan, again occupying a clerical position. 
While thus engaged he also learned telegrajahy under the direction of 
a practical railroad man. He remained in Niles from April, 1883, until 
April. 1884, when he was appointed station agent of the New Paris 
office. Here he has remained continuously since 1884. and he occupied 
the position of station agent until i8g8. Avlien he determined to embark 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 657 

in ihe grain liusiness. He then formed a partnership witli W. J. Char- 
pie, with w honi he w as connected for two years, when lie again accepted 
his former position, acting in that capacity continuously since 1901. 
His duties in this connection have ever been most faithfully and 
promptly discharged and his courteous treatment of the patrons of the 
road and his obliging manner makes him a popular official. 

Air. Cline was married February 22, 1882, to i\Iiss Anna Yost, 
who was lx>rn in Fultonham, Ohio, October 2, 1862, and was reared 
and educated in her native state. They have two' children, Maud E. 
and Lena E., who were graduated from the New Paris high school 
with the class of 1903. The former has also been instructed in music 
at the Dan\ille, Indiana, Musical College and she is a member of the 
Century Clul\ a literary organization of New Paris. The other daugh- 
ter. Lena, is now pursuing a scientific course of study at the Danville 
Normal School, and slie has her teacher's certificate and will teach in 
her home township. 

Both Mr. and l\Irs. Cline are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church and Mr. Cline is serving as one of the trustees and as a mem- 
ber of the board of stewards, while his wife belongs to the Ladies' Aid 
Society. He has also been superintendent of the Sunday school for 
about fourteen years, and under his guidance the school has maintained 
a healthful growth and the work is being carried steadily forward. Mr. 
Cline is a stanch Republican, supporting the party since casting his 
first presidential \-ote for James A. Garfield, and he has frequently been 
elected a delegate Xo tlie county conventions. In 1894 he was chosen 
township trustee and was instrumental in securing the erection of a 
new brick schoolhouse in district No. 6, and also in the building of 
three iron bridges, one being one hundred and ten feet in length. Also, 
during his administration, the high school course of study was estab- 
lished in New Paris. He was appointed postmaster here in 1888, under 
President Harrison, and every public trust reposed in him has been 
faithfully performed. Mr. and Mrs. Cline have a pretty home in New 
Paris and also own eighty acres of fine farm land in Jackson township. 
He is one of the reliable citizens of his locality, having a wide and 
favorable acquaintance. 

WILLIAM REDDEN. 

William Redilen. who for seven years has been a resident of Elk- 
hart ci.nnity, has now reached the seventy-second milestone on life's 
iourney and in a re\iew of his history there is found much that is com- 
mendable, an.l not the least important chapter in his life record is that 
whicii jlls of liis defense of the Union during the dark days of the 
Civil war. He is a native of Kent county, Delaware, born on the 8th 
of .\pril, 1833, the fourth in a family of seven children, fi\-e sons and 
two daughters, wh.o were born to Samuel and Sarah ( Curtis) Redden. 
Tlie father, likewise a nati\-e of Delaware, was born in 179J and died 



558 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

June 9, 1842, when fifty years of age. His father had l^eeii a soldier 
of the Revokitionar}- war and thus his descendants are entitled to mem- 
bership in the organization known as Sons and Daughters of the Revo- 
lution. 

Samuel Redden was a merchant by occupation and about 1840 
emigrated from Delaware to the state of Michigan, settling in Berrien 
county, near Xiles. He remained there for a few years and was then 
called tn the home beyond, in politics he was a strong Jacksonian 
Democrat, but he cared little for political preferment. He was respected 
by his fellow-townsmen for his integrity of character and genuine 
worth, and liis entire life was in harmony with his profession as a 
member of the Methodist church. His wife also belonged to the same 
denomination and both did everything in their power to advance the 
cause of Christianity in accordance with the teachings of Methodism. 
Of their family four are yet living: Mary is the widow of D. K. 
Perry, a resident of Chicago, who was a soldier of the Civil war, serv- 
ing with the Army of the Cumberland. Samuel \\'.. who went to Cali- 
fornia in 1849, attracted by the discovery of gold on the Pacific slope, 
there met with success and afterward became a prosperous merchant. 
He is now married and at this writing lives retired in Buchanan, Mich- 
igan. William is the third of the surviving members of the family. 
John, the }"oungest, who is married and lives in Buchanan, where he 
follows the occupation of farming, is the father of triplets — daughters — 
now twenty-twO' years of age. 

William Redden was a lad of almut seven years when he accom- 
panied his parents on their removal to Michigan. They settled there 
in 1840, when many of the evidences of pioneer life were still found. 
The red men yet roamed in the forest and pitched their wigwams under 
the tall trees, hunting the wild game which was still plentiful. William 
Redden obtained his early mental discipline in a log schoolhouse. such 
as was common at that time. He had to make his way to school by 
a trail through the forest that was indicated by blazed trees. The 
little " temple of learning " was a typical structure of the time, lieing 
a building about sixteen feet square, constructed of logs. Its furnish- 
ings were crude, the desks being made of a board raised upon wooden 
pins driven into the wall, while the seats were formed of rude slaljs 
upon wooden legs. The old-fashioned goosequil! pen was in use, the 
teacher manufacturing these for the scholars, and various kinds of text 
books were found, mainly such as the pupils could obtain in their own 
homes. The school was conducted on the subscription plan and Mr. 
Redden says that some paid about four cents and others one dollar. 
He used the Elementary spelling book, Daboll's arithmetic and Kirk- 
ham's grammar. As the years have come and gone, however, he has 
seen these pioneer schoolhouses pass away, while in their place are pretty 
brick or modern frame structures. The high school, the college and 
universit\- have also founfl their wav to the west, having all been estab- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY o.jt) 

lislied here since Air. Redden took up his abode in the Mississippi val- 
ley. He pursueil his studies large!}- through the winter months, while 
in the summer seasons he worked on the home farm, remaining with 
his mother until he had attained his majority. In the farm work he 
used the old-time four-fingered cradle and threshed the grain out on the 
barn floor, the horses tramping it from the chaff. Mr. Redden has 
everywhere witnessed as remarkal>le changes in farm life as in ine 
school system, and in his own work to-day he uses the best im])ro\ed 
farm machiner}'. 

(Jn the Sth of Octolier, 1857, occurred the marriage of William 
Redden and A.Iiss liniily E. Baker, who was born in LaPorte county, 
Indiana, August 2O, 1S39, and is a daughter of Stephen T. and Mar- 
garet (McLain) Baker, in -whose family were three daughters, born in 
this county, of whom two are living: Mrs. Redden and her sister, 
Frances. The latter is the widow- of Charles AVells and a resident of 
Oklahoma, lieing one of the successful ]ieople -who obtained a clain-i on 
the strip of land which was set aside I\v the government for the use of 
the white people. Mrs. Redden was a maiden of ten summers when 
she accompanied her parents to South Bend, Indiana, there residing' 
until sixteen years of age, when the family removed to Buchanan, Mich- 
igan, \\herc she formecl the acquaintance of Mr. Redden and was mar- 
ried. The young couple began their dniuestic life nn a farm, where 
the_\- ren-iained until after the war. 

During the first year of hostilities Mr. Redden, in the month of 
August, responded to his country's call for aid, enlisting in Company 
B, Ninth ^Michigan Volunteer Infantry, under Captain O. C. Rounds, 
his regiment being assigned to the Arn-iy nf the Cumlierland under 
Ceneral " Pap " Thomas. j\lr. Redden acted as the old general's clerk, 
but previously was in the quartermaster's departn-ient, where he met 
(ienerals Grant, Sherman and Benjamin Harrison. He participated in 
the battle of Fort Donelson and afterward went to Chattanooga, re- 
turning in time to take part in the engagement at Murfreesboro. There 
he -was taken prisoner by the Confederate troops and with other Union 
soldiers was sent up the mountains, where thirteen hundred of the fed- 
eral troops were paroled. Mr. Redden then returned to Columbus.. 
Ohio, and later was exchanged, after which he returned at once to the 
front. He then took part in the battle of Chickamauga. lasting two 
days, and he witnessed the battle of Missionary Ridge. WH-iile at the 
front he was also in the hospital, suffering from an attack of smallpox. 
In .September, 1865, he received an honorable discharge, having served 
his country for four years and one month. 

Following his return to the north \\'illiam Redden resumed the 
operations of civil life and for two years was engaged in farming. He 
then sold his property in Michigan and removed to Delaware countv, 
Iowa, where he purchased a grist mill, which he owned and operated 
for twentv-two vears. meeting with good success in that undertaking. 



560 HISTORY OF ELKH.\RT COUNTY 

He then returned to ^Michigan, where he again engaged in the niilHng 
lousiness tor two years, after which he came to Elkhart county and 
purchased the Elkhart \'alley Rolling Mill Company in 1898. Here 
he has since remained, having for seven years made his home in this 
county, during which time he has gained the favorable regard of many 
friends. In ad(litif)n to iiis milling" property he owns seventy acres of 
good land, on which stands a pretty and comfortable home. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Redden have been born seven children, three sons 
and four daughters, of whom five are living. Effie is the wife of Henry 
Drybread, a successful general merchant of Greeley. Iowa. Emma 
Margaret is the widow of William McPherson and resides at Rocky- 
ford, Ccloradd. In iier girlhood days she attended the common schools, 
was afterward graduated from the Presbyterian college at Hopkinton, 
Iiiwa, and deviited almost fifteen years of her life to the profession of 
teaching, in which work she was very successful. She was the first to 
introduce the synthetic methcxl in Delaware county, Iowa. Lulu i.s the 
wife of Charles McElwain, who is cashier of the Hartley State Bank 
of Hartley, Iowa, proving a popular bank oflicial and prominent citizen 
there. Mrs. McElwain was also a successful teacher. LeRoy, a miller 
by trade and now living in Jackson township, was educated in the com- 
mon sciiools of Iowa and Michigan and wedded Miss Bertha Ross, by 
whom he has two children, Marie and Charles \\"illiam. John is a 
]iractical miller, residmg with his parents and assisting his father in 
his business operations. 

In his political views j\Ir. Redden is a Democrat wlm aihocates 
the principles promulgated by Jackson. Both he and his wife have 
gained manv friends during their residence in Xew Paris. They have 
in their home some interesting relics, including an old Bible printed in 
1820 and a quilt which was cpiilted by the wife of George Hamilton 
when Andrew Jackson was president of the United States. In business 
and militarv life Mr. Redden has made a creditable record and deserves 
the esteem which is so unifnrmly accorded him. 

THE COPPES FA^HLY. 

The members nf this well known and distinguished family in Elk- 
hart countv. Indiana, h;i\e become noted as practical, honorable, shrewd 
and successful business men. who have made the most of their advan- 
tages and have always grasped at opportunities for bettering their finan- 
cial, moral and social conditions. They come of good old Puritan stock, 
and the ]3rogenitor of the family in this country settled in Mount Bethel 
township, Northam.pton county, Pennsylvania, which neighljorhood was 
the family seat for a number of years, in all proljability for nearly two 
generations. The Coppeses originally came from luigland, where today 
there are large estates belonging to the family, but their right to this 
valuable propertv can nut be directlv traced up to the present time. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 501 

Of tlie early members of tlie Coppes family Re\'. Samuel D. Coppes 
was among ihe most prominent. He was born in England, came to 
America during the early history of this country, became a wealthy 
landholder of Xorthumberland county, I'ennsyh-ania, was \erv popular 
throughout that section, owing to his kindly disposition and charitable 
nature, and became eminent as a successful practicing physician, for the 
duties of which he fitted himself in England. He won golden opinions 
for himself as a medical practitioner, for besides being- remarkably skill- 
ful he was very philanthropic and bestowed his ser\-ices on rich and 
poor alike, never charging the latter for attending them unless they 
were willing and desirous of repa^'ing him. His practice extended all 
over the state of Pennsylvania, as well as a large portion of the state of 
Ohio, and in tlie early days of Indiana he made frequent visits to this 
state. He was also a minister of the Mennonite church, and for manv 
years looked after the spiritual as well as the bodily welfare of his fel- 
lows, and was an able instructor in a righteous cause. He was one of 
the pioneer preachers of his church, and held services in dififereiit por- 
tions of Pennsylvania. Ohio, and Indiana, and his visits to this section 
of the country are well remembered by his people. He was an honor- 
able, upright and God-fearing man, and his example as an earnest Chris- 
tian is still in the minds of those who knew him. He was first married 
in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, to a German lady bv the name 
of Delph, and by her l^ecame the father of the following children : Abra- 
ham, whose descendants are now in Ohio ; Jacol>, who was one of the 
early pioneers of Elkhart county, Indiana: John, who left a family in 
Ohio; Samuel, who also died in that state, and Polly, who married Jacob 
Carver, lived and reared a family in the Buckeye state. The first wife 
of Re\-. Samuel Coppes paid the last debt of nature in Northampton 
county, Pennsylvania, after which he took for his second wife Miss 
Susan Pjin-key. whom he took with him to Ohio alxiut 1834, settling on 
a farm in Medina county. This union resulted in the birth of one daugh- 
ter. Rebecca, w ho married Jacob Shaffer, with whom she remo\ed" to 
Elkhart county, Iridiana, and whose descendants are now living in Har- 
rison township. The second wife of Samuel D. Coppes survived him a 
number of }ears and died in this county at the home of her only 
daughter. ]\Irs. Shaffer. Rev. Dr. Samuel Coppes was called from life 
in Ohio, in 1863, his death being a source of much regret to all who 
knew him. He was well known as a pu1)lic-spirited citizen and politic- 
ally was a Whig. He was a shrewd financier and accumulated a gcxid 
property, which was di\ided among his children in 1863. He was one 
of the oldest settlers of this section of the county, and as an expounder 
of the gospel he was forcible, eloquent, and logical, wielding a wide 
influence for good in the dift'erent sections in which he resided. His 
homes in Pennsylvania and Ohio were many times occupied b}- his pa- 
tients, who had no homes of their own and possessed but little means, 
and thus he carried on his nolile work imtil tleath overtook him and he 



:62 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

passed td Iiis reward. All nf his smis and daughters married and reared 
families nf their (jwn. and in the different localities in which they made 
their homes thev were held in high esteem, and having inherited many 
of their noble father's r[ualities were honored and respected. 

His second son, Jacob, was born in Northampton county, Penn- 
sylvania, about ]8i2 or 1813. and was brought up to the healthy life of 
a farmer's Ixjy. Upon reaching man's estate he took for his wife Sarah 
Fravel, who was born in the same coimty as himself in 1822, and who 
was one of twelve children reared 1>y Daniel and Fannie (Myers) 
Fravel, the former of wdiom was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, 
and was of English parentage. He was left fatherless wdien a small 
child and w-as reared by strangers, and upon starting out in life took a 
wnfe from the same county as himself, and by her reared a large family 
of children. 'as follows: Jessie. Polly, Catherine, Fannie, Joseph. Re- 
becca, Elizabeth. Susan. Sarah, William, Daniel and IMatilda. Jacob 
Coppes and his wife removed to Ohio at the same time that Rev. Dr. 
Samuel Coppes settled in this section, and there he remained for a period 
of about eight years, following the trades of shoemaking and mill- 
wrighting. Tn 1844 he came to Indiana and settled in Harrison town- 
ship, Elkhart county. For the first few years of his residence here his 
efforts were not prospered and he met with various reverses which kq>t 
him in straitened circumstances for some time, but he kept perse- 
veringly at work, and by the help of his oldest children managed to keep 
the wolf from the door, and at last secured enough means tO' purchase 
forty acres of land in Locke township, on wdiich he resided until death 
called him home in 1874. Notwithstanding the hard luck which he met 
in his career through life he was never known to wilfully wrong any 
one. and was honest, industrious and public-spirited, ever casting his 
influence on the side of wdiat he considered justice and right. In earlv 
life he supported the principles of the Whig party, and lata- the stand 
taken by the Republican party commended itself to his excellent judg- 
ment. Vv'ith his wife he was a member of the Mennonite church, and 
his daily w'alk through life showed that he was a Christian. He was 
very domestic in his tastes, was devoted to his home and family and 
never cared to fill any public, position, the strife and turmoil of politics 
having no charms for him. His children are as follows : Daniel. Sam- 
uel. Amanda, Susan, Eliza, Rebecca, Saloma, Lucinda, John D.. and 
Frank. Three children died m infancy — Amanda. Susan and Rebecca. 
.\ brief sketch of the members of this family will not come amiss. 

Daniel was born in Pennsylvania, was reared on a farm under the 
watchful care of his father, and when still quite young began learning 
the painter's trade, at which he worked in Goshen, where he became a 
w^ell known and popular young man. He was one of the first to respond 
to his country's call at the opening of the rebellion, and became a member 
of Company K, Thirteenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, at 
Goshen, wdiere he became a commissioned officer. He was faithful and 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY SBS 

fearless on tlie battlefield and was greatly loved by his regimental com- 
raiies. who considered him not only a model so'ldier but also a trae and 
trusted friend. At the battle of Murfreesboro he was wounded by a 
gunshot in the leg, and during the three days and nights that he lay on 
the liattlefield he suffered indescribably. He was at last taken by his 
friends to a private residence, which had been turned into a private 
hospital, to be cared for, but there breathed his last the tenth day after 
receiving his wound. So dearly loved was he by his comrades that he 
was not biu'ied in a ditch like most of the dead, but with willing hands 
and sad hearts they made him a rough board coffin and buried him be- 
neath a large oak tree on that historic battle ground. He was unmar- 
ried. One of his companions in battle saw him fall, and placing himself 
beside him tried toi cheer him with encouraging words, and said : " Dan, 
I will stay with you or die," and in order to deceive the enemy placed 
himself beside his wounded aimrade and pretended to be dead. He was 
discovered, however, taken prisoner and carried away, and for three days 
and nights the unfortunate young soldier, Daniel Coppes, was exposed to 
the rain and sleet which was falling and which without doubt caused his 
death. He was a brave and gallant soldier, the pride of Company K, 
and is still remembered with re.spect and affection by the old residents of 
Goshen, and in the hearts x^f his old comrades the memory of the brave 
young soldier who gave his life for his country is still kept green. 

Samuel D. Coppes is a prominent banker of Nappanee, a more ex- 
tended notice of whom appears elsewhere. Eliza married Benjamin 
Yarian and died a few years later, leaving a family of fi\e children, all 
of whom are living with the exception of the youngest. The eldest of 
these children was Elizabeth, who married Daniel Zook, a prominent 
business man of Nappanee ; Prank was a journalist of Goshen, now de- 
ceased: Ella, now the wife of Rev. R. J. \\'ade, pastor of the M. E. 
church of Kendalville, Indiana, has two children : Edward wedded Miss 
Ida Sloat, resident of Nappanee. and she is one of the bookkeepers in the 
Coppes, Zook & Mutschler Company establishment of Nappanee; Lu- 
cinda died at the age of three years. The m(;ther of these children died 
in 1876. 

The next child born to^ Jacob Coppes and his wife was Saloma, who 
married Benjamin Frazier, of Nappanee. by whom she became the mother 
of five children, the eldest of whom, Milo, was killed at the age of ten 
years in a wheat elevator at that place, by being .sucked into^ a wheat bin 
and smothered; Nettie is now Mrs. William Lesh, of Ohio; Sadie, hav- 
ing lived with .Samuel Coppes for a number of years, is now deceased; 
Laura, wife of V. D. Weaver, county auditor of LaGrange county, In- 
diana ; Medie resides in Nappanee. Their mother was called from life 
in 1876. 

The next of Jacob Coppes" children was Lucinda, who married 
lolm C. Mellinger. a prominent resident of Nappanee, by whom she has 
four children : Ella, who is Mrs. Harvev Banta of Goshen, and is the 



564 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

mother of three chihh't'ii. Tliis represents now living- in Nappanee four 
g-enenUinns of tlie family. 'Jhe younger memhers of the family are 
Mahel L., John F. and Fred. The sisters of Mrs. Banta are Sarah, who 
died in infancy, and Emma, deceased, and Jeannette, wife of Ora Stout- 
mour, of (ioshen. The next child liorn to Jacoh Coppes was John D., 
of whom a sketch is given in this work, and Frank, a prominent resident 
of Najjpanee. It can he truly said of Jacob Coppes and his wife that they 
were very worthy residents of the count}', and showed much heroism in 
braving- the dangers, hardshij-js and discomforts of pioneer life in order 
to provide a home for their children and ohtain a competencv for their 
declining- years. 

JON.-VS CHRISTOI'HEL. 

Emerson has said that the true history of a nation is best told in 
the lives of its representati\ e citizens. .\n eminently representative citi- 
zen of Flkhart count}- Mr. Jonas Christophel certainly is, and his biog- 
raphy ^viIl add one more link to the chain of historic facts which are set 
down in complete forn-i in this volume in order to compose an enduring- 
record of Flkhart county. Air. Christophel during- his active career has 
manifested the strength of character and resourceful ability which make 
bim a man of prominence in his home township of Harrison, and he 
therefore needs no further introduction to the readers of this history. 

Born in Elkhart county, February 18, 1853, he was the second of a 
family of ten children, five- sons and five daug-hters, whose parents were 
John N. and Elizabeth (Reed) Christophel. Jonas is the oldest of those 
living, tlie others being; Noah E., who is a farmer in Lancaster county, 
Pennsyhania, and is married. Jacob W. is a prosperous farmer in Har- 
rison township. Hannah, the widow of Jacob Smith, lives on the old 
Christophel homestead in 1 1,'irrison township. Harriet is the wife of 
Jacob Blosser, a farmer of L'nion town.ship. Sarah resides on the old 
homestead with her mother. 

John N. Christophel, the father, who was born in Pennsvlvania in 
1821 and died October 24, icjoi, was reared and lived the life of a tiller 
of the soil. .\t the age of thirteen he accompanied his parents to Ma- 
honing county, Ohio, where he married, and in 185 1 he brought his 
family and effects, by wagon and in true pioneer fashion, across the 
intervening country tO' Elkhart county, where he arrived after a jom'ney 
of three weeks. .\ purchase of eight}- acres of land in section thirty-two 
in Harrison township furnished him a l(;cation, and a log cabin home 
soon gaxe shelter to his faniily. Politically he was a Whig, and he and 
his wife were strict members of the Mennonite church. His w-ife, who 
\vas born in Virginia, March 15, 1825, is still living, an aged and much 
beloved old lady who has seen the passage of fourscore years. 

The first school that the hoy Jonas attended was in the woods of 
Union township. It was a round-log cabin, with a clap-board roof, 
heated hv a box stove, the fuel partially cut by the larger lioys. and the 



HISTORY OF ELKH.\RT COUNTY otio 

desks, seats and other equipments were of very primitive sort. It is the 
privilege of Mr. Christophel to look back upon these crude surroundings 
of his youth and compare them by actual experience with the schools 
which his own children attend, and thus reckon the progress that has 
Ijeen accomplished in a lifetime. When he was twenty-one years old 
and ready to lea\-e the parental home, Mr. Christophel did not possess 
twenty-five dollars in capital, sO' that the prosperity which has come to 
him in later years is the result of his own efforts. He began as a wage- 
earner at eighteen dollars a month, continued that six months, and then 
remained with the same man for four years as a renter. 

Octoher lo, 1878, Mr. Christophel married Miss Salome Buzzard, 
and of the eight children, three sons and five daughters, born of their 
liapp3' marriage, five are yet living. The son, Walter B., who, after fin- 
ishing the common school course, took four years in the. Elkhart high 
school and then followed teaching in Indiana and one term in Livingston 
county, Illinois, near Emington, chose medicine as his life work and is 
now working for his M. D. degree in the medical department of North- 
•\vestern University at Chicago. He married, June 8, 1904, Miss Alta 
Kurtz, a daughter of Jonathan Kurtz. She was educated in the common 
schools and the seminary at Elkhart, and studied stenography and type- 
\\riting and is also an, art student. The son. John B., who received a 
common school training", is a practical farmer and stockman on the home 
farm. Anna E., who received her diploma from the common schools 
in 1899 and then took the three years' teacher's course, passed her first 
examination for a license at the grade of ninety per cent and is now one 
of the successful teachers of this county. She has also studied instni- 
mental music. Bertha M., who recei\-ed her diploma from the public 
schools in 1903, is a student in the Latin-Scientific course in Goshen Col- 
lege. Elsie Mabel, the youngest, is in the fifth grade of school. 

Mrs. Christophel was born on the old Buzzard homestead, where 
she and her husband now reside, in section 27 of Harrison township, on 
Octoljer 20, 1852, and was the fourth in a family of five children, one 
.son and four daughters, born tO' John and .\nna (\A'el(ly) Buzzard. Only 
two of the children are living, her younger sister, .\nna. being the wife 
of Abraham Kercher. a farmer in, Elkhart township. John Buzzard, the 
father, was born in Northampton county. Pennsyl\-ania, December 15, 
18 1 1, and died April 14, 1897. Spending the first twenty-four years of 
his life in bis native state, he then came to ^Medina county, Ohio, where 
he married his first wife, and in October. 1849, arri\'ed in Elkhart county. 
He was a blacksmith by trade, but in this county purchased the one 
hundred and sixty acres of land in section 27, Harrison township, which 
composes the old farmstead. He paid twenty-two hundred dollars for 
the land, which was partially improved, and his first house was of hewn 
logs, in which }klrs. Christophel was born a few years later. He was a 
Republican in politics, voting for Lincoln, and he and his wife were 
members of the Mennonite church, in which he was a trustee at one 



506 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 

time. The mother of Mrs. Christophel was born in Westmoreland 
county, Pennsylvania, May lo, 1810, and died August 25, 1885. At the 
age of three years she was taken to Tuscarawas county, Ohio, where slie 
was reared. Both the Buzzard and Christophel families were pioneers in 
Elkhart county. 

Mr. and Mrs. ClTristo]3hel Ijegan tlieir married life as renters in 
Union township, but after a year Ijought seventy-seven acres in Jackson 
township for thirty-five hundred dollars. Four years later they sold this 
and took charge of the Buzzard homestead, which in its entirety of one 
hundred and sixty acres has been operated by them since 1890. Their 
old home being destroyed by fire on June 18. 1893, in tlie same year they 
erected what is one of the most beautiful countr^^ homes in this vicinity. 
It is built of brick, two stories in height, finished in Georgia pine and 
heated with a furnace, and is one of the model residences of Harrison 
township. The ground dimensions are twenty-eight by twenty-six feet, 
with an addition twenty-six by eleven, and every detail of the farmstead 
shows the neatness and thorough supervision of careful and enterprising 
owners. Mr. Christophel has given considerable attention, to the l^etter 
grades of live stock, for some years raising the Shropshire sheep, and 
now devoting more of his attention to the registered shorthorn cattle 
and the Hambletonian and Norman horses. In politics he is a stanch 
Republican, having cast his first vote for Hayes, and he and his wife are 
members of the Mennonite church near their home, he being a trustee. 
They are also interested in the Sunday school, and in all the forces of 
education and moral uplift in their part of the county. 

SIMON FETTERS. 

Horn in Elkhart county, August 10. 185 1, Mr. Simon Fetters ranlvs 
among ihe most capable and progressive of the native sons of this county, 
and he has been intimately identified with the affairs of Harrison town- 
ship for many years. Having made agriculture his choice of occupa- 
tions at an early age, he has followed it with increasing success from the 
]irimitive days of forty years ago to the present. His lifetime has also 
witnessed the wonderful development which has characterized all of 
northern Indiana in material, social and moral affairs, and he considers 
it a matter of gratulation that his career has been cast not only in the 
old but in the new order of events and circumstances. 

Wv. Fetters belongs to a family that is well known in the history of 
I'llkhart countv. He was the third in a family of five children, three 
.sons and two daughters, born to Peter F. and Nancy (Clark) Fetters. 
He has a brother and two sisters living: Benjamin, a farmer of Harri- 
son township ; Ellen, wife of Daniel Knisely. a farmer in northern Michi- 
gan and also a minister of the German Baptist church : . Catherine, a 
widow, and a resident nf Harrison township. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 507 

The father, who was Ijorn and reared to inanhood and married in 
Oliio, came to Elkhart county at a time when civilization, had made little 
progress in the transformation of tlie country from its virgin state. 
There were no railroads, nor had the Indians left their ancient haunts, 
and the first home of the family was a log cabin situated about four miles 
from GcTshen in Elkhart township. He was a Whig, and later a Re- 
]>ublican. and he and bis good wife belonged to the German Baptist 
church. 

]Mr. Fetters grew up in this county during what could .still be called 
its pioneer jjeriod. and his own early experiences are those that l>elong 
to a past and, to the present generation, ^'ery unfamiliar epoch. He was 
a pupil in a sixteen l)y twelve log school in Harrison Center, where the 
desks and seats and entire furnishings were of that iji-imitive sort de- 
scribed in the general history of this w'ork. He did his writing with a 
pen fashioned liy the master from a turkey or goose quill. Although 
his advantages in an educational way were limited, he has teen a prac- 
tical man of affairs from early life, and by diligent application and intel- 
ligent effort has made a place for himself in his community. He has 
spent all his life on the homestead farm, and has made an unusual degree 
of success in his enterprises. One of his early experiences was in swing- 
ing a foiir-fingered cradle and a mowing scythe, imjilements now seen 
only in curiosity shops, but he has labored with them from sun to smi 
for many a day. The first threshing machine that entered the county 
created a lasting impression on his mind, as did also' the first binder. He 
has also participated in the work of developing Harrison township for the 
better conveniences of civilization by assisting to cut several highways 
through the dense woods, and he has been familiar with A\'akarusa's 
site from the time when it was covered v. ith trees. 

A stalwart Republican, wdio has cast his vote regularly for Grant, 
Blaine, Garfield. McKinley and Roosevelt, he has always stood on the 
principles of the Oand Old Party, and at various times has been chosen 
delegate to state, county and district conventions. Elected precinct com- 
luitteeman in 1893. be held this office till 1903, and he has in many other 
ways supported his party and shown his public-spirited interest in the 
welfare of his community. 

June 27, 1875. Mr. Fetters married INIiss Hannah Krupp. They 
have become the parents of four children, one son and three daughters, 
one of whom is deceased. Bertha is the wife of George Shank, of Har- 
rison township, and they have a little daughter, Gale. Joshua has com- 
pleted the common school course and is a practical farmer on the home 
place. Elsie is in the fifth grade of school. Mrs. Fetters was bom in 
Ohio, January 23. 1848, a daughter of Joseph and Mar>' (Hunsberger) 
Krupp. She has been a resident of Elkhart county since she was nine 
years old. Mr. and Mrs. Fetters have resided on their present farm- 
stead since 1902, and in tbe same year erected their pleasant country 



568 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

home. They ha\e made man}- improvements, and as successfnl and 
enterprising people they lia\e gained the esteem of their entire com- 
munity. 

HOX. JOHN E. THOAH^SOX. 

As one of the foremost stockmen in Elkhart count}', we have else- 
where had occasion in these pages to refer to Hon. John E. Thompson 
ant! his valuable work in advancing the live-stock industry. But Mr. 
Thompson has a many-sided career, and in more ways than one his 
accomplishments and character have interest tO' the history of his county. 
A man whose individuality and efhcienc}' have left their impress so 
permanently upon the county, he needs no introduction more than the 
mention of his name. 

A[uch space has been given to the pioneers of the count}, and de- 
servedly so, and in describing the career of Mr. Thompson we speak of 
one whose memory goes further back in the history of the county prob- 
ably than any other li\'ing man. Mr. Thompson ^vas born in Wayne 
county. Indiana, September 20, 1828. and has been more or less con- 
tinuously identified with this county since 1829. His parents, Mark 
B. and Jane (Thomas) Thompson, also had two daughters, iDUt they 
are deceased, and ]\Ir. Thompson is the onl}' survivor of this genera- 
tion. 

A truly great character was that of Mark B. Thompson. Born 
in Orange county-. New York, in 1802, the thread of his life being 
drawn out to threescore and ten. until June 27,. 1872. in youth he learned 
the tanner's trade, 1>ut later gave his energies almost entirely to agricult- 
ure. In chihlhood his parents emigrated from the old Empire state 
via the Ohio river to Cincinnati, and settled in Butler county, Ohio, in 
1803, only a year after Ohio' had Ijecome a state and in the same year 
of the purchase by the government of the great wilderness since known 
as the magnificent Eouisiana Purchase. Mark B.'s father had entered 
eighty acres of land in Wayne county. The latter was of a roving 
nature, had fought under Jackson at New- Orleans, and fared among 
men and changing scenes throughout his life. Mark B. Thompson mar- 
ried in Favette county, Indiana, later moved to Wa}-ne county, and 
in 1829 emigrated to Elkhart county, and settled on the homestead 
where bis honorable son now resides. He pre-empted, at the south end 
of the famous Elkhart prairie, a quarter section, and. obtaining the pre- 
emption of a friend, increased his holding to three hundred and tw"enty 
acres. On this truly magnificent estate there was a grove of six hun- 
dred sugar trees, justly famed for its produce during former years, 
and some of these old trees are still standing. At this place, then a 
dense forest and domain of nature, the family arrived on the 5th of 
April, 1829, and until a log house could be constructed a provisional 
shelter was made of rails, which the head of the household split from 
the trees. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 56!» 

Only a pioneer such as Mr. Thompson can picture in his mind the 
true circumstances of hfe at that time and the picturesque surroundings 
in which the first-comers hved. The Pottawottomie Indians hved in 
neighborly and peaceable juxtaposition to the whites, and one day the 
child John and his two sisters, their mother being away from home, 
A\ere talcen by some squaws down to the camp, where the daughters 
of the forest endeavored to entertain the little folks. On her return 
the mother at once missed her children, and we can imagine the sus- 
pense and anxiety endured by her until she found her children happy 
and contented among the pappooses of her red neighbors. Mark B. 
Thompson was one of the leaders among the early settlers of the county, 
held an influential place by reason of his strength of character, his suc- 
cess in affairs and general popularity among his neighbors. He was 
one of the stanch Whigs in this portion of the state, voting and taking 
part in the famous log-cabin and hard-cider campaign, and at a later 
time was equally strong in his advocacy of Republican principles. His 
wife. Jane Thompson, was born in Wales in 1805, being a child when 
she came with her parents to this country. 

John E. Thompson was seven months old \\hen he became a resi- 
dent of Elkhart county, and the county had not yet been organized. 
The seventy-six years that have since slipped around in the cycles of 
time have dealt kindly with him. He stands as straight as an Indian, 
his clear eye and ruddy complexion show the wholesome life he has 
led, and many a man of fifty is not able to bear the alternate storm and 
sunshine of the world as well as he. During his lifetime the \^ictorian 
age has showered upon the world of the abundance of its gifts, and it 
has been Mr. Thompson's privilege to witness what no other generation 
of mankind is likely to behold — the development of railroads into vast 
trunk systems, several of which cross this county, the introductidn of 
the telegraph an.d telephone, the application of electrical energy in won- 
drous ways in performing the work of hunianit}-. and countless other 
changes which have transformed ci\'ilization within less than a single 
lifetime. 

The first sclnu)] he attended, a sixteen-foot square log cabin, stood 
near his father's estate, was equipped with punclieon floors, slab seats, 
rough board desk around the wall, heated by fireplace, and for text 
books there Avere the English reader. Elementary spelling book, Daboll 
and Pike's and the Davis arithmetic, Olney's geograi^hy, and Graham 
and Kirkham? grammar. The school was maintained by suljscription. 
Schools have changed, and how striking is the contrast between that 
old log school of his memory and the beautiful high-school in Goshen 
only a pioneer like Mr. Thompson can fully realize. Manv <la\s he 
has swung the four-fingered cradle or tb.e even more priniiti\e sickle, 
and a scar on his little finger still bears witness to his use of the latter 
implement. Not a custom or condition of pioneer life in this county 
but he has experienced. 



570 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

W'lien the Ci\il war came nn he enlisted at the call for troops sent 
out in August. iS()i, and at (ioshen was enrolled in Company K, Thir- 
tieth Indiana Infantry, under Captain Hawks and Colonel Bass, being 
assigned lirst to the -\rmy of the Ohio and later the Army of the Cum- 
lierland. under ( lenerals Shermrui, P>uell, and Kosecrans. From a pri- 
\'ate he \vas promoted to the rank of captain at Murfreesboro. He 
fought at Shiloh, at Stone l\i\er, where his comrades, Hapner and 
Coppes, were killed at l.is side, ;it Chickamauga, at Liberty Cap, in the 
campaign to and about Atlanta., where he was under fire one hundred 
and thirty days, and although having many calls he escaped without 
wounds or (h'sability. and after a little more than three vears' ser\'ice 
recei\ed his final discharge at Indianapolis. September 29. 1864. 

Januar\- 1, 1873. he married Miss Ann.a C. Jackson, a daughter of 
Colonel John rmd Catharine ( Carr ) Jackson. She was born in this 
county. ]\la\' 4, 1837, and was reared and has spent all her life as a 
resident here. Mr. Thompson in 1875 erected a beautiful brick resi- 
dence on his estate, and the Thompson homestead is knoAvn all over the 
county for its beauty and agricultural excellence and for the genial per- 
sonality of its owner. He has a hundred and thirteen acres of fine land, 
situated in Jackson townshij), and his stock and general farming inter- 
ests still receive his personal attention and supervision. In 1853 Hon. 
Thompsijn went to the state of Iowa and at that early date there was 
not a rail or niilroad tie across the Mississippi river, where now in 1905 
it is gridironed with trunk lines of railroads. 

Formerly a Whig and casting his first vote for Ceneral Scott. Mr. 
Thompson now advocates the principles of the old Jefiferson and Tack- 
son Democracy. In 1858 he was elected to represent his county in the 
state legislatiu^e. and the choice of his fellow citizens returned him to 
the assembly in 1873, in 1877, 1881 and 1887. He was in the legis- 
lature which \-oted the construction of a new capitol. and \\as still a 
member when the assembly first met in the new state house. 

MICHAEL WENGER. 

Michael ^\'enger, representing the German sturdiness and American 
enterprise wlrich have been factors of first importance in developing the 
material resources of this counti"y during the last half century, has lived 
in Elkhart county since boyhood, and in Harrison township, where he 
has lived for fifty years, he has long held a jilace as a foremost citizen 
and successful man of affairs. 

Mr. Wenger was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, Novem- 
ber 2T,. 1844, the fourth child in a family of seven, four sons and three 
daughters, whose parents were Christian D. and Mary (Wenger) Wen- 
ger. Fie now has only a brother and a sister living : Eli, who is a 
farmer in Harrison township and is married and has five children : and 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 571 

Fannie, wife of Cliristian \\'ea\er. a farmer of Harrison township, and 
they have four living children. 

Christian Wenger, the father, whci was Ijorn in Lancaster comity, 
Pennsylvania, January 2^. 1809, and who died in, this county Octoter 
II, 1882, followed the occupation of miller many years, and then devoted 
his energies to farming- during the latter part of his life. From Penn- 
sylvania he moved to Canada in 1856, and, being a bright and all-observ- 
ing boy of eleven years at the time, the son Michael distinctly remem- 
liers most of the incidents of the journey, which was made by rail. In 
particular does he recall how he and the rest of the family walked across 
the suspension bridge over the Niagara falls. The father did not remain 
long after locating' in Waterloo county, Ontario, and in October of the 
same year came to Elkhart count)-. The first land he. owned was in 
section 16 of Harrison township, and he afterward purcha.sed the farm 
where his son Eli now- resides. For some years after their arrival here 
the ^\'enger family lived in a story-and-a-half log house, having a barn 
of like material. The father followed the fortunes of first the \\niig and 
then the Republican party, and he and his wife were memliers of the 
Mennonite church. The mother, who was born in Pennsylvania, Janu- 
ary 30, 1817, died September 25, 1900, after attaining the great age of 
eighty-three years and eight montiis. 

Since he w-as only eleven years old when he came to this count}- Air. 
^^'enger received most of his education after his arrival. He was 
brought up on the farm, trained in farm duties, and lias followed agri- 
culture all his career, wnth most successful results. Remaining w-ith his 
parents till he reached his majority, at that time his father gave him a 
three-dollar ax, and with this implement as his stock-in-trade he earned 
his first money by cutting cord wood at from forty-five to seventy-five 
cents a cord. He also- hired out to work by the month at wages of 
eighteen dollars. Although during his earlier years he prospected 
through the .states of Illinois. Michigan and elsewhere, Elkhart county 
has been his actual home through all his active career, and his efforts 
have been identified in a verv important way with his home tow-nship. 
Beginning with no capital, he has g'ained success above the ordinary 
through the application of industry and good management. The first 
real estate he owned was a lot in the city of Elkhart. This he traded 
for ten acres of timlier land in Flarrison township, which he later sold 
for four hundred dollars. In 1887 he purchased his present place of 
eighty acres at sixty dollars an acre, going in debt for part of it, but his 
thrift and diligent effort have since cleared ofif all incumbrances. In ad- 
dition he has placed innumerable improvements on his farm, so that it 
now ranks among the model farmsteads of the tow-nship. 

January 5, 1893, Mr. \\'enger married Miss Saloma Troxel. Four 
sons and a daughter w^ere bom to them, and the four still living are : 
Allen, in third grade of school; Nora, in the second grade: John, in the 
fir.st grade ; and Harvey. Mrs. W'enger. who w-as born in St. Joseph 



572 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

county. June 26, 1868, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Killer) Troxel, 
was reared and educated in St. Joseph county and lived there till her mar- 
riage. 

A Republican and a loyal supporter of bis party, Mr. W'enger has 
nut participated to any extent in practical politics, but in all matters that 
affect the welfare and progress of his community his effort and influence 
are counted upon as factors of first importance. He has made one of 
the most efhcient road superviso-rs in Elkhart county, having served for 
sixteen years in that office. It is claimed tliat no other township in the 
ciiunty has better roads than Harrison. He has also served on the ad- 
\isory board, along with Peter Berke}-, another public-spirited citizen, 
and they have had the confidence of the entire township in their acts. Mr. 
and Mrs. Wenger are members of the Mennonite church. 

J. D. UMEEXHO\\'ER. 

John D. L'nibenhowei; is a man too well known in Goshen and 
through Elkhart county to require any lengthy introduction for his life 
history. Having lived here nearly forty-five years, for many years en- 
gaged in business in dift'erent parts of the county and adjoining counties, 
having been the incumbent (,)f various public positions, he is however 
best known by the work he has accomplished for the cause of music. 
The most universal of the arts, appealing almost without exception to all 
persons, music as a personal accomplishment and its awakening and culti- 
vation as a permanent taste in thousands of individuals, has been the 
basis of Mr. Umbenhower's career, and it is a source of profound satis- 
faction to him that he has enriched the character of so many j^eople by 
educating and training their musical talents. 

Mr. Umbenhow^er was b.f.irn in ^Massillon, Stark county, Ohio, May 
27. 1S42. His grandfather, Jacob, of German descent, was bom in 
Virginia and died near New Paris, Indiana, May, 1870, aged eighty 
years. The father, John Umbenhower, was a substantial farmer, having 
moved to this coimtv in IMarch, 1861, and he die<l at the age of sixty 
years, .\ugust 21, 1874. His wife was Elizabeth Ritter, born near 
Canton, Ohio, and died at the age of seventy-four, at Goshen, September 
14, 1890. They were the parents of five children: two' daughters, Sarah, 
wife of George A\'. Rule, Gi),=.ben druggist, and Mary .\., of Chicago; 
three sons, William S., a farmer li\'ing near Crnmwcll. Indiana, and 
Lewis PL, deceased. 

John D., the third scin, sjient the first eight years in his native 
county; then from Stark moved to Wayne county, Ohio, and at the age 
of eighteen jjast, in 1861, moved to Elkhart county, Jackson township, 
in which county he has resided ever since. Almost entirely self-educated, 
he has selected that kriowledge fmm the wurld's sture which has been 
most beneficial to him, and along the lines which his mind and amljition 
have followed. He speaks with the authority which is b<:)rn of long 



HISTORY 01-" liLKllAirr COUNTY 573 

experience and eager inquiry to the bottom of things. During the Civil 
w.iv he was twice drafted for the ser\ice. He received this high honor 
of being drafted the second time, and hired two substitutes, paying one 
hundred and twenty-live dollars for the first one and eight hundred and 
fifty dollars for the second one. i\nd yet, as the war records show, he 
served nine months in the t'ifty-seventh Indiana Infantry, but has never 
received a cent in compensation from the United States government for 
services rendered. His career as a singing school teacher began in 1861. 
His first term of thirteen lessons was taught in. New Paris; second term 
at Groveland school house. Union township; third term at Ott's church, 
Solomons Creek. He taught on till the fall of 1862, when he was drafted 
for service, and with many others went to Indianapolis, Camp Sullivan, 
where were found eight thousand drafted men. On return from service 
and partial recovery of his health, he began the musical work again and 
continued therein until now he has taught the wonderful number of over 
four hundred terms (a term is thirteen lessons) — a record which upon 
Ijest authority cannot be surpassed in the United States — and at the 
same time is teaching" yet, and for the last several years is devoting much 
time to evangelistic services over the country. Recently five of the lead- 
ing music publishing houses of Chicago complimented Mr. Umbenhower 
upon his ability and record by presenting him eleven hundred pieces of 
music, which are highly appreciated by Mr. Umbenhower. 

In addition to the above, Mr. Umbenhower has held scores of con- 
certs and for many years has been the musical director at county teachers' 
institutes, Sunday school township institutes, for several years leading 
in ten diflferent township institutes ; also often at county conventions. 
Mr. Umbenhower always took an active part in the discussions, being 
a natural debater. He had offered to him the professorship in three 
colleges, but saw fit to decline them all, and in many ways his record 
among music instructors is unique and interesting. In the year 1876, 
Centennial year, August 10, up to- this time having taught two htmdred 
and twenty-five terms, he concluded to give his scholars and friends a 
musical treat called Jubilee Day, held seven miles southwest of Goshen, 
in Stewart's Grove, Harrison township, on Saturday, August 10, 1876, 
from 10 a. m. to 5 p. m. The day was lovely. The program consisted 
of solos, quartets, duets, anthems, glees, comic songs, choruses and a 
ch'irus class of oiver five hundred voices, orchestra and New Paris cornet 
band and good addresses, made liy Rev. Boxer, who' made the musical 
oratifin; Prof. A. Blunt, Hon. Lew Wanner, Rev. B. H. Crider and Dr. 
Hunt, all of Goshen except Dr. Munt. The citizens of near Southwest 
postofiice (Jubilee grounds) took a great interest and beautified the 
grounds, erected a large music stand ; also presented one of the finest 
(linners tiiat was ever enjoyed. Chief among those present were Mc- 
Dowells, Bowsers, Shivelys, Rarricks, McDonalds, Hartmans, Cripes, 
Bechtels, Hoovers, Benners, .\lfords, Kerchers. and many others. They 
came from far and near, and the number in attendance was over five 



574 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

thousand, the largest musical gathering ever held in the county. Sheriff 
Samuel R. Miller and Prosecuting Attorney 1. A. Simmons were present. 

Mr. L'mhenhower was the first to estalolish the closed door system, 
in ]86i, which proved a great blessing and other teachers adopted it. 
^Ir. Umbenhower ne\'er in all his school life had a class broken up, disci- 
pline lieing one ot his strongest characteristics. He also invented one of 
the finest music charts e\er ])lacc<l before ;; music class — a self-instructor. 

In 1868 he Ijought a half interest in the dr)- goods, grocery and 
general store of M. A. Ferrell, of \\ aterford Mills, and resided and con- 
tinued said store at Waterford for four years, then removed the store to 
New Paris and continued till May 3. 1876. wheu the store l>iu"ned: loss, 
five thousand dollars., owned by J. D. Umbenhower & Co., his father being 
the company. In 188 1 he mo\-ed to Goshen. \\'hile at New Paris he 
was agent for Hartford and Ohio farmers' lire insurance companies, 
which agency he held for nineteen \ears and did a very prosperous busi- 
ness. In 1892 he began again in the grocery business with his son, 
Frank J., on East Lincoln avenue, at the same time teaching, working 
insurance, etc. His son, Frank J., organized the Umbenhower Goshen 
Cornet Band, of which Frank J. was leader. In June. 1898. he moved 
his store building and stock up to 510 Reynolds street, Goshen. Janu- 
ary 2, 1899, he sold the stock of goods to M. Kelly & Son. who rented 
store Ijuilding and did business to September 9. 1901, when the building 
and stock ^^•as destro^-ed by fire. Mr. L'mbenhower proceeded at once to 
erect a new frame two-story and basement, metal-roof stxrire-room and 
dwelling, occupied by Howard F. Sarbaugh since 190 1. 

Mr. Umbenhower was with Cyrus Seller in the county treasurer's 
office during his four years : also with Frank G. Romaine his first two 
years. From 1871 to 1881 Mr. Umbenhower served as justice of the 
peace in Jackson township, holding that position till he moved to Goshen. 
Mr. Umbenhower was secretarw general manager, director of the Peo- 
ple's National Building and Loan Association from its inception until it 
ceased business, and with such ability did he direct its affairs that the 
institution was solid as a rock in its finances, and not one member paid 
one cent of fine or ]>enalty. Neither was there a single forfeiture, and 
.'dl members receivecl their claims in full. The first officers were: C. L. 
Landgraver. J. .\. Arthur. J. D. L'mlienbnw er. P. C. Messick. .\nnther 
point of note is that during his career as a justice of the peace, witli a 
record of over five hundred cases, there was not pne a]Dpeal taken nor an}' 
Ijusiness furnished to the circuit court, which is mar\-elous. And while 
for six years as collector in the treasurer's offfce he never made one levy, 
but with kindness collected the ta.\es. which is an unheard-of incident 
and proves to a certainty that Mr. LTmbenhower is the poor man's friend. 
One of the. highest compliments ever paid Mr. l^ml"venhower was con- 
tained in an address made by Judge H. D. Wilson, of the circuit court. 
in district No. 4. Harrison township, when Judge Wilson said to a large 
.-mdience that ]\lr. Umbenhower had done more for Elkhart countv than 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY .m.-. 

any person that ever lived in it, a trilnite which, in view of the tacts 
already narrated, was entirely merited. 

Mr. Uml>enhower married, in 1865, Miss Malinda Messick, a sister 
of P. C. Messick and a daughter of je\vett Messick. She was horn in 
Rocking-ham county, Virginia, and after a happy married life of over 
thirty years she passed away, happy in the Lord. October 7, 1898. There 
were two children. Prof. Frank J., who is one of the leading musicians 
of the county, who was musical director of the Hammond Cornet Band, 
1S99 and 1900, and during the years 1901 to 1903 was the musical 
director of the famous Elk Band of Logansport, and for the year 1904 
was leader of the cornet band at .\lamogorda. New Mexico. He is at 
present located in Chicago. 

Charles F., the other child, died when si.xteen months old. Mr. 
Lhnbenhower has been a lifelong Christian and an active worker in vari- 
ous Christian organizations. He voted the Republican ticket from Lin- 
coln to Garfield, and in 1896 voted for Wm. J- Bryan on the issue of 
free coinage of silver: Ixit prior and since votes the Prohibition ticket. 
Mr. L'^mbenhower is Prohiliition secretary of Elkhart countv. also town- 
ship chairman of Elkhart township. !\Ir. Lmbenhower is considered a 
very good violoncello ])layer, has played that instrument for over forty 
years, and thousands of people have heard him sing and play. his big 
gospel fiddle, as he calls it. Mr. Umlienliower played tuba in New 
Paris band for over four years. Mr. Umbenhower also plays the organ. 

j.\Mi':s ka\'.\x\(;h. 

fames Ka\'anaL;ii. seninr member of the well known grocer\- house 
of Kavanagh and I'ullard, whose laisincss was established in l-llkhart 
over a quarter of a century ago. was born in \\'ethersfield. New York, 
May 26. 1842. The greater part of his career has l;een spent in Elk- 
hart, and the cit}- owes Inm much for his public-spirited acti\-it\- in its 
l>ehalf. His fath.er. Charles Ka\anagh, was born, reared and married 
in Ireland, and, coming to this country in 1838, followed his trade of 
shoemaker in \A'ethersfield and in Brooklyn. The father died at the age 
of fifty-one and the mother aged seventy-two. They had a large family, 
twelve children, eight of whom are living at this writing. 

i\[r. Kavanagh, wlio was the third child, was reared and educated 
in his natixe state, obtaniing a common school training. In 1861, at 
the age of nineteen, he enlisted in the Lnion army as a ]iri\ate in Com- 
pany A, One Hundred and Fifth New York Infantry. He saw active 
service until the second battle of Bull Run, at which he was taken 
prisoner. He was finally paroled and sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, but 
was not exchanged and did not rejoin his regiment. He returned home, 
went west to Chicago, where he followed the trade of machinist four 
years, and in 1872 located permanently in Elkhart. He was p\t boss for 
the Lake Shore Railroad the first fi\-e vears. after which he went into 



570 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

the grnccrv Imsiness. In the Juh- fulliiwiiii;" his entrance into the h'Usi- 
ness he took John B. Pollard as a partner, and they have nmv been in 
Imsiness together for twenty-seven years. Theirs is one of the most 
successful grocery houses in the city of Elkhart, enjoying a large trade 
and carrying the finest selection of staple and fancy goods. ]\Ir. Kav- 
anagh has also l>een identified with other enterprises of this city which 
have, directly or indirectly, promoted its prosperity and insured its sub- 
stantial development. He was a director in the St. Josq>h \'alley Bank 
lip to 1904, at which time he disposed of hi^ interests in the institution. 
He assisted in the organization, of and is nn\v a director and stockholder 
in the Home Telephone Company. He ^\■as at one time manager and 
a director of the Elkhart Street Railway Companw and ])rnm()ted the 
building of the same. 

Though a stanch Kepuljlican all his life. Air. Ka\anagh has never ac- 
cepted an opportunity for political preferment and has been content to 
perform his civic duties quietly and as a private citizen. He was a 
charter member and one of the directors of the Century Clul), and is 
now an bonnrar\- member of that well kmiwn sucial and business or- 
ganization. 

Air. Kavanagh married, October 8, 1873. Aliss Alaria O. Good- 
speed, ■ who died in 1S81, leaving three children — Charles H., Ellen 
Marie, and John M. On October 22, 1884, Mr. Kavanagh married a 
sister of his first wife, Henrietta S. Goodspeed. She was born near Ann 
Arbor, Michigan, No^'ember 8, 1834. and her father, Hiram Good- 
speed, was liorn in Warsaw, New York, in 1810, and was an early set- 
tler of Michigan. 

HON. LOU W". \'.\IL. 

Lou W. A'ail, for nxer a quarter of a centiu'y j)rominently identified 
with the bar of Elkhart count)', former state senator, and a leader in 
business and professional affairs, was born in Benton township of this 
county, Januar}- 20, 1851. 

.His honored father, Jesse D. Vail, now deceased, one of the pioneer 
merchants of Benton, was born in Fayette county. Pennsylvania, March 
29, 1814. The Quaker ancestors — and the members of the family have 
remained in tb.e faith of the Friends down to the present time — came 
across the waters and made settlement in Pennsylvania in 1682, with 
the great founder of the colony, William Penn. Jesse D. Vail and an 
(ilder brother, Charles G., came to Indiana in 1836, and were engaged 
in merchandising at the new town of Benton, where they were quite 
prosperous until overtaken by the disastrous financial panic of 1844, 
when they and many others went down in the crash. Jesse D. then took 
up school lands in the county and, clearing out a home from the forest, 
continued the occupation of farming until his death, on December 4, 
1900, passing to his rest after a long and useful career. His first wife, 
VAiv.a Cope, also a native of Penns_\l\-ania, and the mother of Lou ^^'. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 577 

Vail, passed away in ]S68 at the age of tifty-six, their chihhen l)cing": 
Sainuei C. who died in 1S75 ; Sarah, wife uf Ceorge Kinnisun, presi- 
dent of the News-Times Printing Company of (joshen, and Lou W. 
Jesse D. Vail afterward married Sarah Prickett, widow of Elmer Prick- 
ett, and they had one child, Emily, wife of ,\masa Hoovens, of Goshen. 

Successful as a farmer, Jesse D. Vail was also^ active in affairs of 
citizensliip. During the existence of those parties, a Whig and a Free- 
Soiler, during the years just preceding the war he became one of the 
organizers of the Republican party in Elkhart county. Throughout the 
Civil war he served as a county commissioaier, and in that capacity per- 
formed a very \'aluable part to his countiy, in enlisting soldiers for the 
war and looking after the disabled soldiers and widows. He main- 
tained an acti\-e interest in politics until his death. 

Air. Li)U W. Vail began his education in one of the old-time log 
schoolhouses which formerly dotted the county of Elkhart, and in 1868 
went to Adrian, jNIichigan, and entered the Quaker school, the Raisin 
X'alle)' Academy, and completed his education in Earlham College, 
Richmond, this state. In the meantime, and altogether for some ten 
years, he taught school during the winter terms in the country districts 
and later at Alillersburg, Benton and Wakarusa. In the spring of 1871, 
when a young man of twenty, he went out to the tlien wild pioneer 
country of western Kansas and took up a homestead adjoining what is 
now the townsite of Smith Center. After three years of this experience 
he returned to this county, in June, 1874, and continued school teach- 
ing. Taking up the stud}- nf law in the spring of 1877, in the office of 
Judge tlemy D. Wilson, he gained his admission to the bar in Decem- 
Ijer, 1879, '1''^^ 'I'^s since been located in active practice at Goshen. He 
is now the senior member of the firm of Vail and Wehmeyer, whose 
high standard of ability and success is recognized throughout the county 
and northern Indiana. I'or the first five years of his practice he was in 
partnersliip with Daniel and Aaron Zook, and then for five years, as 
deputy prosecuting attorney, conducted many of the important trials 
on tlie docket during that period. He was elected to the city council in 
1 89 1, but in the following )'ear, on his nomination for the state senate, 
resigned in order tci conduct his campaign, in which he was successful. 
He ser\ed creditalily in the state legislature during i893-'95, ^"d has 
since been devoting his energies to his practice. In 1900 he was a candi- 
date for circuit judge, and on the first ballot received the highest vote 
of any of the candidates at the greatest mass conxention e\er held in 
this section. 

I\Ir. Vail is a director in the .State Bank of (joshen and in the Elk- 
hart County Loan and Trust Company, and also in the News-Times 
Printing Compan\-. He served as county attorney for six years, from 
189G. Fraternally he is a Master Mason and a member of the Knights 
of Pythias and order of Elks. 

lanuarv 20, 1881. ]\lr. \'ail married Miss Orelia Whittani, of 



5TS HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Cedar Rapids. T(j\va. Their one son. J. l^ean N'ail. was educated in the 
University of Alichigan and is now a ci\il engineer tor the Lake Shore 
Railroad. 

FRANK M. BECKNER. 

There is no better proof of the attractiveness of Elkhart county as 
a place of residence and of the advantages which it ofifers to its citizens 
than the fact that so many of its representatives have retained their resi- 
dence here from boyhood down to the present time. To this class Mr. 
Beckner belongs, being one of the native sons of this portion of the 
state. His birth occurred on the Elkhart prairie. January 21. 1841, 
and he is the eldest in a family of seven children, five sons and two 
daughters, whose parents were Isaac and JMarv (Ulrey) Beckner. Only 
two of the children are now living, the brother of our subject being 
Levi L. Beckner, who is employed by the Big Four Railroad Company. 
The father was a native of Pennsylvania, horn about 1816. and his death 
occurred in 1872. His youth was passed in Pennsylvania and Ohio 
and he acquired a common school education. Reared to the occupation 
of farming he always followed that pursuit, and in an earl}- day he 
removed from the Buckeye state to Elkhart county. Ijecoming a pioneer 
resident here. He purchased eighty acres ai partially improved land 
and his first home was a log cabin, typical of the times and of the prog- 
ress which then marked the advance of the county beyond its primitive 
conditions. As the years passed he carefully tilled his fields and culti- 
vated his crops, becommg a successful farmer of his community. His 
early political allegiance was gi\en to the \\'hig party and upon the 
organization of the new Repul)lican party he joined its ranks, remaining 
one of its stalwart advocates imtil his death. He and his wife were 
members of the German Baptist church and aided in the erection of the 
first house of worship of that denomination in their locality. Mrs. 
Beckner was born at Johnstown. Pennsylvania, aliout 18 15. and her 
death occurred when she was about fifty-six years of age. 

Frank M. Beckner has spent his entire life in Elkhart county and 
can rememijer liack to the time of the little log schoolhouse. His father 
was one of the pioneer school-teachers. ,\t a later day substantial frame 
schoolhouses were built and the son enjoyed better educational priv- 
ileges. He was reared to farm life, eariy Ijecoming familiar with the 
duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and be con- 
tinued to engage in the tilling of the soil until, feeling that his first 
duty was to his country, he enhsted on the 5th of August, 1862, enroll- 
ing his name with the boys in blue of Company E, Seventy-fourth 
Indiana Volunteer Infantry. There were two other sons of the family 
in the ser\ice — Jacob and Levi, the former dying of typhoid fever while 
in the army. Frank M. Beckner joined his regiment at Goshen, although 
the organization was effected at Fort \Vayne. He was under command 
of Captain William Jacobs, and the regiment was assigned first to tlit 




^.yi'hd^^x B'lp c4l 



n^^.J^^ 




f^U^uj^ 0^ rD^e/Zc 



/o4/IjC<. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 579 

Army of the Oliio, but was afterward transferred to tlie Army of the 
Cumberland, under General Thomas, who was famiHarly and affec- 
tioTiateh- called " Pap " Thomas by his troops. The first action in . 
which Mr. Beckner participated was the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, 
and he took part in the l\attle of Stone Ri\er in the summer of 1863. 
His next action was at Tullahoma, Tennessee, and there he with others 
sufifered a sunstroke so that he was off duty for about a week. He then 
joined his regiment at Winchester^ Tennessee, where the troops were 
encamped, but he was left in th.e hospital there while his command took 
part in tb.e liattle of Chickamauga. He was also in the spectacular 
engagement of Missionary Ridge and had made the charge up the 
mountain side with his regiment, reaching its summit and within ten 
feet of the rebels when a minie-ball struck his left hip below the pelvic 
bone, and the bullet passing around toward the front was extracted by a 
surgeon in the center of the abdomen. The wound was a very serious 
one and it disabled him from active ser\ice, after which he was trans- 
ferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, at Jefferson\-ille, Indiana, acting 
there as orderly in the quartermaster's office. It was on the 25th of 
November, 1863, that he was wounded ami he afterward remained in 
the cpiartermaster's deijartment until honorably discharged at the close 
of the war on the 27th of Jnne. 1865. On the field of battle he dis- 
played marked valor and his loyalt}- was e\'er above question. The 
nation rejoicing in the surrender of General Lee's army on the gth (if 
April. 1865, was, however, plunged into gloom five days later when 
the news of the assassination of President Lincoln was received. Those 
are two dates that Mr. Beckner will never forget. His military service 
co\'ered two years, ten months and twenty-two days and then with an 
honorable record as a soldier he returned to his home. 

Almost a year had passed, however, before Air. Beckner recov- 
ered from his wound and was able to take up the duties of life as an 
agriculturist. He first worked as a farm hand for a time and later 
procured a t'arm of his own. He was married Xovemlier 6. 1870, to 
Miss Susan Rohrer, who was Ijorn in Elkhart county, January 2. 1836. 
She was educated in the common schools, has been a faithful companion 
and helpmate to her husband and in the care of their home and the 
rearing of their children. Her father. Samuel Rohrer, was born in 
Montgomery county, Ohin. near Dayton, in 181 1, and died in 1873. 
He ^\■as a young man who came with bis ]iarents to Elkhart count)-. 
Indiana, settling in Jackson township amid pioneer conditions and envi- 
ronments. He entered upon what proved to be a successful business 
career and in addition to agricultural interests he was a local preacher 
in the Methodist Episcopal church. Both he and his wife were very 
devoted Christian people, laboring untiringh- for the growtb of the 
church and the extensi<in of its influence. There were only two chil- 
<li-cn in their family, the sister of Airs. Beckner being Alary Rohrer. 
who diei' in Januar\'. 1904. The parents ha\'e also passed away. Airs. 



580 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Ruhrer. whi.i was Ijorn in Treble C(_)unt_\', Ohio, about 1816, died in ^lay, 
1896, at the age of eighty years. To Mr. and Airs. Beckner have been 
born two daughters : W'ihna is the wife of \V. H. Farris, an agricul- 
turist, residing near Kendallville, Indiana, where he has a fine farm. 
They ha\'e twn children, Leah and Marie. 

Florence Eeckner became the wife of John May. a resident of 
North Manchester, Indiana, and they have one child, Lure. Mrs. ]\Iay 
was educated in the public schools of New Paris and Leesburg, LnHana. 
Mrs. Florence Beckner May was b(.ini at New Paris. May 9, 1875, '^''"^ 
was married in 1894 to Mr. iNIay. They have resided at North Man- 
chester, this state, for almost eleven years, but at the present time are resi- 
dents of South Bend, Indiana. Mrs. May is a member of the Christian 
churcii, is past president and secretary of the Ladies" Aid Society of 
the chinxh. is also a member of the \\'oman's Relief Corps, being past 
president and secretary of this order, and also a member of the Ladies' 
of the Maccabees, being past record keqjer and organist of this order. 

At the time of their marriage Mr. and Ivlrs. Beckner kicated on a 
farm south of New Paris, where they li\-ed for five or six years, and 
then selling that property he purchased one hundred and ten acres of 
land in Turkey Creek township. Kosciusko county, whereon he resided 
for twenty years. Again selling out he came tO' New Paris, where they 
now reside, and Mrs. Beckner's mother made her home with them until 
her death. Mr. Beckner well deserves the rest which has lieen \(iuch- 
safed to him and is now one of the honored, retired farmers of the 
county, having in pre\ious years lived a life of such intense and well 
directed activit_\' tliat he is now enabled to put aside active business 
cares. He cast his first presidential xote for Abraham Lincoln and has 
never faltered in his allegiance to the Republican party since that time. 
He has been selected as a delegate to county conventions, but has never 
been an aspirant for political honors and offices. He and his wife are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mrs. Beckner belongs 
to the Ladies" Aid Societw Both are interested in Sunday-school work 
and j\Ir. Beckner has been one oi the clnuTh trustees. They enjoy the 
unqualified confidence and good will of all who know them and are 
surrounded by many friends in the ]iretty little \-illage of New Paris, 
in which they now reside. 

E.\RNEST A. SKINNER. 

Earnest A. Skinner, who has been a member of the Elkhart county 
bar since 1899. in which lime he has taken his place among the many 
able lawyers of this count\-. lioth in legal prestige and in clientage, was 
Ixirn in Orion, Oaklanfl county, [Michigan. April 2S. 1875. He is a son 
of Lucius A. and Ida (i. (Cornell) Skinner, natives of Michigan, who 
now reside in Elkhart, having taken up their residence there in 1899. 

Mr. Skinner, who is the only child of liis parents, at the age of 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 581 

two years was tal<eu Iruni his l)irt'n])lace tn Gaines, Michigan, anil a 
year later to Laingshurg. same state, where he spent the remainder of 
childhood and youth, securing a high school eclucation. He has al- 
ways heen a hard worker, applying himself to every task in hand with 
the painstaking care and diligence which produce results in e\"ery voca- 
tion of life, but which are at the very bottom of success in a legal career. 
It was in Owosso, Michigan, that Mr. Skinner began his preparation 
for the legal profession, studying there in a law office two years, and 
then attended the University of Michigan, where he took the three 
years' course in the law department and graduated in 1899. In July of 
the same year he located at Elkhart, and was admitted to the Elkhart 
county bar, November 8, 1899. having previously, June 19. 1899. been 
admitted before the supreme court of Michigan. 

Mr. Skinner has identified himself thoroughl}' \vith the cit)^ of his 
residence, and is well known not onl_\" professionally jjut as a citizen 
and social factor. He served two years as member of the Elkhart city 
council, giving his time and talents without reserve to the administra- 
tion and improvement of his city. In politics he is a stanch Repulilican, 
fraternally i? a Master Mason, an Odd Fellow and a \\'ondman of the 
\\'orld, and is a member of the Congregational church. 

Mr. Skinner married, in 1899, on December 27, Miss Bertha A. 
\\'i{ler. She is also a memljer of the Congregational cluu'ch. 

GEORGE M. YOUNG. 

INIr Young is a native of this county and was born February 28, 
1S61. He is the youngest of six children — five sons and one daughter 
— born to Edward and Catharine Young. Five are living. ^lary is 
the wife of Owen Dorsey. a resident of Oswego. Kosciusko county, who 
is an agriculturist. William is a resident of the city of Goshen and be 
is a wholesale lumlier dealer. Fremont is a resident of Adrian, Mich- 
igan, and is a lumber manufacturer, and is married. Charles is a 
resident of Morris. Illinois, and be is an attorne}' at law, successful in 
his profession. 

Father Young was burn in Ohio in 1820 and died in 1861. He 
was reared in bis native state. He was a cabinet maker. He emi- 
grated to this county many years ago. when the county was new. 
He was a stalwart Republican. He ami his wile were adherents of the 
Lutheran faith. He died in Centon township. 

IMother Young was a native of Pennsylvania and came from the 
old Pennsylvania German stock. She was de\'out in her faith. She 
was Ixini 1823 and died October if). 1884. 

^.Ir. Young was reared in his nati\e county till the age of nineteen, 
when he went to La Salle county, Illinois, and was there two years as 
an agriculturist. He has been reared as a tiller of the soil anrl was in 
business as a buver and seller of lumlier in Elkhart count\'. He received 



5S2 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

a common scliool educativ)ii. At tlie age of twenty-one all tlie cash cap- 
ital he had was ahout $400, which he had earned hy honest effort. So 
we may say he began at tlie Ixsttom of the ladder of life. 

Air. Young wedded Miss Cynthia V. Hawkins, October 18, 1884. 
One son was born. Osman J., who died at the ag'e of sixteen. Mrs. 
Yonng was !x>rn in Benton township. February 23, 1864, and is the 
fom'th in a family of five children born to Joseph and Mary J. (Coons) 
Hawkins. Only tw'O children are living — Ceorge Hawkins, a resi- 
dent of Mason City^ Iowa, and Mrs. Young. 

Father Hawkins was Ijorn in Elkhart county in 1834 and died in 
1896. He was a cooper and sawyer by trade. He was in the Civil war, 
a member of the One Hundred and Fifty-second Indiana Volunteer In- 
fantry. He was Republican in politics and voted for Lincoln. He was 
a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at Ligonier, and then at 
Alillersburg. 

Mother Hawkins was liorn in \\"ashington count)-. Oliin. July i, 
183 1, and is yet li\-ing m Benton, aged three-quarters of a centm-y. She 
is a member of the Methodist church. 

It was in 1897 when Mr. and Mrs. Young located on their present 
farm of sixt\' acres, and he has twenty acres more in Benton township. 
They have one of the cosiest cottage homes in the township, and Airs. 
Young's house is a model of neatness. He is a stalwart Re]>ublican and 
cast his first presidential vote f<ir Blaine. In igoo Air. Young was 
elected to the position i.f Trustee of Benton township. During his ad- 
ministration he erected one large iron bridge o\-er the Elkhart river, 
and Inhlt a great deal of gra^•el roads. He left his township in a siilen- 
did financial condition. Fraternally Mr. Young is a member of the 
Knights of Pythias, No. ' 328, at Millersburg. Mr. and Airs. Young- 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Benton. 

EFXJAAIIN I'RANKLIX \\Tl!TAll':k. Al. D. 

Benjannn h^ranklin W'hitn-ier, for many years one of the best 
known ami nn "-t successful Elkl-iart county physicians, was l)orn in 
Snvder county. Pennsylvania. January 3T, 1838, and for forty years 
has de\-oted his energies to the medical profession. His parents were 
Henrv and Alary (Stahl) AM-iitmer, both born in Pennsylvania, the 
father of English and Cerman descent, and they were marrietl in the 
Kevstone state, and the father died when the son Bejamin was iouv 
years old. There were five children in the family. 

Dr. A\"hitmer passed his early years in Snyder count)-, where he 
attended first the country schools and then those at New Ijerlin and 
Selinsgrove. For a serious occu]-jation he first directed his attention to 
shoen-iaking. learning the trade and working thereat for six months, 
and later spent a year at the tailor's trade. The more vigorous pursuit 
of s'lwmilling ne.vt commanded his lalr.jrs, and lie was engaged in that 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 583 

wijrk for se\-en years. To acquire a better education he attended L'nion 
Seminary, graduating" in a three years' course, after which lie once more 
\vorked at sawmilHng. He tlien began tlie study of medicine, and with 
interims of practice he continued until his graduation, in 1868, from 
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. He practiced for six ^months 
in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and then entered the army as a sur- 
geon, serving during the last three years of the Civil war, and after the 
war also continued as army surgeon in the Eighth Infantry of the regu- 
lar army until 1867. He practiced at ^lillersburg, Pennsylvania, until 
1874, for the following two years was in Philadelphia, and then came 
to Elkhart county, which was henceforth to Ije his permanent field of 
practice. He had his office at iNIillerslnu-g for six years, and then moved 
to Goshen, where he has Ijeer. caring for a large and profitalile business 
to the present time. 

Dr. Whitmer affiliates with the Grand Army of the Republic and 
is also a Master Mason. He married I\Irs. Louisa Slate, who died some 
years ago-. 

GEORGE W. FLEMING. 

George \\'. I'deming, deputy clerk of the Elkhart circuit court, has 
been more or less actively identified with the official and business life of 
the count)- for the last ten years, beginning before he had attained his 
majorit}. As a }'oung man, of progressive and energetic character, of 
steady business ability and popular and engaging personality, he has per- 
formed an excellent part in the affairs of his countv and promises well 
for his future career. 

]\Ir. Fleming belongs to the county 1i_\- liirth. baxing been burn in 
the city of Elkhart, on June 3, 1878. His parents were Denton A. and 
l-"rances (Brodrick) Fleming, who were both born, in the state of Mich- 
igan. The mother died in 1893. The father, who resides in Elkhart, 
has a most creditable record as a railroad engineer, having pulled the 
throttle for the Lake Shore road for some thirty-seven years. Three 
sons and one daughter made up the family, but George and his sister are 
the only children now living. 

Mr. Fleming grew up in his native city, where, liesides attending 
the public schools, he was a student in the I-dkhart Commercial College, 
and some years later became a student in Woods' Commercial College at 
^^'ashingto^, D. C. where he gradriated in June. 1902. His connection 
with the official affairs of this county began in 1896, when he was dep- 
uty clerk of tlie Elkhart circuit court, under George FI. Fister, under 
whom he served three years, and then for a year under Louis A. Den- 
nert. Resigning, he accepted a position in the census bureau at Wash- 
ington, D. C and it was while in that position that he attended, e\"en- 
ings. the business college in that city. On his return to Elkhart he ac- 
cepted a position in the Indiana National Rank as assistant bookkeeper. 
January i. 1903. he once nmre came to the circuit clerk's office, as de]>- 



5S4 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

ut\' umlei" Al. !1. kinney. and tliese duties still occuin' his time and at- 
tentiiin. 

]\Ir. Mcniins^' married. April 19, lyoo. Miss limma Leah Lindslev. 
of Goshen. They have one child. Florence. Mr. Fleming is a stanch 
Republican, having cast his first presidential vote for IMcKinley. Fra- 
ternallv he affiliates with the order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and 
the I\Iodern Samaritans. 

CHAUNCFV DALLAS SHERWIX. 

Chauncc',' Dallas Shcrwin. one of the oldest lix'ing nati\e sons of 
Cioshen. who has spent most of the years of his active career in this 
count}', .-ind who has taken a prominent part in business, legal and ])olit- 
ical affairs, is at present the honored incumbent of the office of post- 
master at (ioshen, a position which his efficiency and public-spirited 
energy ha\e enabled him to fill to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. 

I\Ir. Sherwin was born in Goshen, November 27, 1845, being a son 
of Leander and Elizabetli (Stevens) Sherwin, the former a nati\e of 
Vermont and the latter of New York state. The parents were mar- 
ried at Batavia, New York, and in 1837 came to Elkhart count}-, dur- 
ing the pioneer epoch, settling in the oJd town of Waterford. The 
father later mo\-ed to Goshen. For many years during his later life he 
was an in\-alid. He died in 1888, at the age of eight}--seven, and his 
wife passed awa\' in 1869, aged sixty-three. They were the parents 
of live children, but Chauncey and a sister are the only survivors. 

]Mr. Sherwin was thrown on his own resources at a very early age. 
and practically from the time he was twelve years old was the mainstay 
of his parents. He has thus been the architect of his own fortunes, a 
self-made man who^ has deserved all the rewards wdiich the world has 
given him. His education, very limited in extent, was received in the 
Goshen public schools, and later he took a commercial course in East- 
man's Business College in Chicago, but this was after the war. At the 
age of eighteen he enlisted, in .'\pril, 1864, in Company D, One Hundred 
and Thirty-sixth Indiana Infantry, and served his term of four months, 
when he was honorably discharged. He began railroading in the em- 
ploy of the Michigan Southern, continuing until October, 1867, \vhen 
he become a clerk for the Hawks dry-goods firm. In 1869 he went to 
Minneapolis, and after a short experience there became a salesman of 
notions and white goods for a Chicago house. He was on the road five 
vears. ^\■hile employed in a Ijrick yard at Goshen he became a good 
friend of ^Nlr. Thomas Dailey, and on the latter's election to the office 
of couiit\- clerk in 1874 became his dqxity, a position which he filled for 
eight vears. W'hde discharging the duties of this position he at the 
same time applied him.self diligently to the .study of law. and in 1878 was 
admitted to the bar. In 1882 he was a candidate for the office of county 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 58o 

clerk, but escaped election by fifty-two votes. Twice previous to this he 
liad served as chairman of the Repulilican county committee. From No- 
vember, 1882. to July, 1884, he was bookkeeper for John H. Lesh and 
Company, and at the latter date went to Nebraska. Retuniing- to tin.-; 
city in 1886, he continued the practice of law, which he had iDCgun at 
Sargent. Nebraska, and for some years was with the firm of Baker and 
Aliller. On February 14, 1902, he became postmaster of Goshen through 
appointment by President Jvoosevelt, and has -faithfully served Uncle 
Sam and his numerous constituents to the present time. 

ilr. Sherwin has twO' children, Ethel and John D. He has affilia- 
tions with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and has been 
actively identified with Howell Post No. 9, G. A. R., since its org-aniza- 
tion, having" been the first arljutant of the post. 

SCHUYLER COLFAX HUBBELL. 

Schuyler Colfax Hubbell. who is a true son of Elkhart county, born 
and reared and always making his home in the co'unty, has for the past 
ten years been one of the successful and able lawyers of Goshen, attending 
to an increasing practice and gaining a place of influence among the men 
who care for the legal interests of the county. 

Mr. Hubbell was born on a farm half a mile southeast of the town 
of Benton, January 25, 1869. Of one of tlie pioneer families of Elk- 
hart county, his grandparents, Elisha and Millie Ann Flubbell, came here 
during the primitive times. His grandmother is still living, making her 
home with her daughter, Mrs. E. R. Lacy. Mr. Hubbell's father was 
Merrill E. Hubbell, who' was born in this courtv. and who' served three 
years as a soldier in the Twenty-first Battalion of Indiana Light Artillery. 
After the war he returned, married and began farming near Benton, but 
his career was cut short by death in 1873, '^^'hen his only son and child. 
Schuyler C, was but four years old. His wife was Julia Butler, and 
she resides in Gosheni, being sixty-one years old. She continued to live 
in Benton for some time after her husband's death, and when her son 
was fourteen years old she moved tO' Goshen. 

Mr. Hubbell was well advantaged in youth and early manJiood from 
an educational standpoint. Attending the public schools of Benton and 
Goshen he graduated from the Goshen liig'h school with the class of 1S87. 
after which he continued his preparatory work in the Ann Arlwr high 
school for two years. After a course of two and a half years in the literary 
department of the University of Michigan he entered the law dqjartment 
there and was graduated with a degree in 1895. In the meantime, in 
1894, he had been admitted to the bar at Goshen, and as soon as he left 
school he took up active practice in this city — at first alone, then the firm 
O'f Davis, Hubbell and Davis, and in 1901 the firm of Miller, Drake and 
Hubbell. He has a good practice, is noted as a keen attorney and a 



586 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

persistent wdrker. In p<jlitics lie votes the Repul)lican ticket, and fra- 
ternally is a Knight of Pythias. 

Mr. Hubbell married, in 1897. Aliss Harriet, a daughter of the late 
Judge Joseph A. S. ]\Iitchell. 

SIMOX P. CL'LP. 

A nati\e son of Elkhart county, of a family long noted for integ- 
rity of character and for the success and usefulness of their individual 
careers, Mr. Simon P. Culp is an enterprising agriculturist of Harrison 
township who well represents both his county and his family. Born 
here June 14. 1861, he was next to the youngest of the eight sons and 
four daughters of Anthony and Susannah (Bixler) Culp. Nine of the 
children are still living, and all in Elkhart county except Jacob B.. the 
eldest, who is a farmer at Hutchinson, Kansas. 

The father was torn in Pennsyhania, Augaist 19, 1814, and died 
in 1892, when nearly eighty years old. He accompanied, when young, 
his father to Ohio, and from that state drove a wagon through to In- 
diana in 1852. Settling in Harrison township, he purchased one hun- 
dred and sixty acres of land, and this is the farm which comprises Mr. 
Simon P. Culp's homestead. The first home of the Gulps in this county 
was a log cabin, and it was in this primitive abode that Simon was 
born. The first cutting of grain which they made was done with an 
old-fashioned sickle, the use of this ancient implement being made neces- 
sary by the stumps and trees in the hastily cleared field. The father 
adhered, politically, to the Whig party, voting for " Tippecanoe and 
Tyler too," and at the liirth of the Republican party espoused its prin- 
ciples. He and his wife were Mennonites, and aided in the erection of 
the first church near his home. His wife was born December 2^. 1821, 
and died May 2'/, 1900. 

Reared in this county, accjuiring his education in the country schools 
and by personal application, Mr. Culp's life has been cast along those 
lines which would entitle him to the distinction of a self-made man, for 
the success he has attained has been lhe result almost entirely of his 
own efforts. At the age of twenty-one he received a horse, but other- 
wise had no caiiital except character, honesty and physical .strength. He 
was a renter on his father's farm and also worked by the month, spent 
one \'ear in Kansas, and on his return be and his brother Anthony N. 
found a tract of one hundred and sixty acres that they desired very 
much to buy. Without money enough to complete the deal, their father 
came to the rescue with two thousand dollars, saying " Here's the 
money, toys, now make your mark." .\ year later they had repaid the 
two thousand dollars and within two years had cancelled all the indebt- 
edness against their farm, an accomplishment not gained, however, ex- 
cept bv the hardest kind of work, rigid economy and close attention 
to liusiness, which would bring success in any undertaking. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 587 

On Ma}' lo, i8qi, Mr. Gulp married Miss Marelda Parsel, by whom 
he has three children. Claude C. is a bright young student now in 
the fifth grade; Chloe M. is in the first grade; and the youngest is Mary 
P. Mrs. Culp was born in St. Joseph county February 22, 1868, being 
a daughter of John and Mary (Tintzman) Parsel. Her father, now 
deceased, was a farmer, and her mother is yet living at the age of 
more than three score and ten, her home being with Mrs. Culp. 

Mr. Culp now owns the old homestead of one hundred and sixty 
acres, being as choice land as can be found anywhere in this part of 
the county. His two-story and basement brick residence is one of the 
comfortable homes for which the township of Harrison is noted. He 
has constantly improved his farm, and, without a dollar of incumbrance 
against it, he may well be proud of what he has acquired during the 
years of his active career. Mr. Culp is a trustee of the Mennonite church 
in Harrison township, and also assistant superintendent of its Sunday 
school. A broad-minded man, able in the performance of duty, reliable 
in business and affairs of trust, he has long held an esteemed position in 
liis community, and the stor}- of his career deserves more than passing 
mention. 

H'iVIX J. BECKNELL. M. D. 

]nin J. Becknell. physician and surgeon, has conducted a large 
and lucrative practice at Goshen since 1898, ami his ability and skill 
have placed him among the foremost representatives of the medical pro- 
fession in this part of the .state. Flaving been in active practice for 
some thirty years, he not onh' has broad experience and the prestige 
that comes therewith but his theoretical training has teen as complete 
and thorough as any medical man in the county can claim. 

Born on a farm in Carroll county, Ohio, December 8, 1847, Dr. 
Becknell was a son of Ananias and Catherine (Weimer) Becknell, who 
were Ixith born in Somerset county. Pennsylvania, the father in 1819, 
the mother in 181 7. Both sides of the familv are worthy of mention. 
The paternal grandfather, Charles Becknell. a native of Germany and 
during his earlier years a sailor ()n the high seas, married in America 
a woman of his own nativity, and they, as did also the maternal grand- 
father, Jacob ^^'eimer, settled in Ohio at an early day and passefl the 
rest of their lives there. Cirandfather Becknell, who settled in Stark 
county, taught school for thirty-three years. He was a well educated 
man for that day. taught both English and German, and was a fine i>en- 
man. In connection with teaching he carried nn farming. Grand- 
father \\'eimer located in Carroll county, and was a farmer by (Occupa- 
tion. Both of these forefathers lived to a great age, and longevity has 
l>een a marked characteristic of the family. Dr. Becknell's parents had 
eleven children, he being the fourth in order of birth, and three sons 
and three daughters are still living. The parents were German Bap- 
tists, and the father, in political stani]). was first a \Miig and then a 



5SS HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Republican. In September, 1853, the parents brought their family to 
Indiana, settling near Milford in Kosciusko county, and later they 
moved to the town of Milford. where they both passed away in 1897. 

Dr. Becknell was reared on a farm, where he early tecame familiar 
with the principles of hard labor as a factor in life. Beginning his 
education in the country schools, which he attended only a few months 
eacli year, in 1866 he entered the University of Notre Dame, where 
he was a student two years, and then spent one term in Hillsdale 
(Michigan) College. Securing a teacher's certificate, he taught in Elk- 
hart county, and alternating that with student life he spent two more 
years at Hillsdale. He began the study of medicine under Dr. A. C. 
Jackson and Dr. P. D. Harding, of Goshen, being under their preceptor- 
ship at intervals for three years, but meantime, in 1871, he entered In- 
diana Medical College at Indianapolis, where he was graduated in 
March, 1873. By competitive examination before graduation he was 
assigned to position of assistant physician in the city hospital of In- 
dianapolis, and while in tliis position he took a course in the College 
of Physicians and Surgeons of Indiana, graduating" from the same in 
March, 1875. A short time afterward he located at Milford, Indiana, 
Ixit remained there only about a year until he married and went east 
to New York for the purpose of pursuing a course in Bellevue Hospital 
Medical College, from which, one of the best institutions of its kind 
in the United States, he graduated in the spring of 1877. Returning 
to Milford he continued his practice there until July, 1898, at which 
date he located in Goshen. In the spring of 1S79 he received the honor- 
ary degree of M. D. from the Medical College of Indiana, the medical 
department of Butler University. 

Dr. Becknell stands high in his profession, and is a member of 
various professional bodies; namely, the Elkhart County Medical So- 
ciety, the District Medical Society, the Indiana Medical Society, the 
Tri'State Medical Society, the -\merican Medical Association, the Big 
Four Railway Surgeons, and the International Association of Railway 
Surgeons. He is secretary of the Elkhart county board of health and 
secretan,' of the board of United States Pension Examiners at Goshen. 
While a resident of Milford he took a very active, part in developing 
the industrial interests of that town, and to him was due much of the 
progress and material prosperity of that place. Two additions to the 
town bear his name. In politics he is a Rqniblican. 

October 26, 1876, while living at Milford, Dr. Becknell married 
Miss Sarah E. Zook, of Goshen. They have two sons. Guy G., the 
elder, graduated at Northwestern University with the degree of B. S. 
anfl is pursuing his post-graduate studies there, which he w-ill complete 
June, 1905. having won a fellowship in that institution. The younger 
son is Ralph H., now taking a civil engineering course in the Interna- 
tional Correspondence School at Scranton, Pennsylvania. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 589 

ROBERT E. CHATTEN. 

Robert E. Chatteii, deputy sheriff of EJkhart county, has a record of 
continuous identification wit!: the shrievalty of Elkhart county, either 
in his present capacity or as sheriff, which, for length as also for 
etificiency and faithfulness and courage in the performance of duty, has 
very few if any parallels in the state. On more than one occasion he 
has exh.ibited that personal 1>raveiy and quickness of wit and action 
which are so essential in an officer charged with such grave responsi- 
bilities and dtities as is the case with sheriffs. 

Mr. Chatten, despite his nineteen years of active official life, is 
yet in the prime of his powers and 3^ears. He was born in Adrian, 
Michigan, April 2. 1857, and has lived in Elkhart countj' since he was 
twelve years old, at which time he was brought here by his parents, 
Robert and Charlotte (Elude) Chatten. His father, now deceased, was 
a shoemaker by trade. Being thrown upon his own resources when 
quite young. Mr. Chatten had to edticate himself largely, profiting liy 
only a brief attendance at the public schools. At the age of twenty- 
two he had decided to study law in the ofiice of the late Henry C. Dodge. 
but just at tjiat time was offered the position of deputy sheriff under 
Sheriff Charles E. Thompson, and held that place for two terms, or 
four years. He was then, in 1886, elected sheriff of Elkhart county 
by a majority of 1.488 and re-elected in 1888 by t,^88 majority. For 
four years he was dejjuty under Sheriff H. F. Kidder, four years un- 
der Sheriff W'm. O. Elliott and three years under Sheriff Manning-. 
He has alwavs been ;i stanch Repulalican. Fraternally he is a Knig'bt 
of Pythias. 

Mr. Chatten married, in 1885, Miss Anna Darr. and the\' lia\-e 
one child, iMadge. 

GEORGE S. COBB. 

(leorge S. Cobb, a long established and well known citizen of this 
count}', for a number of years engaged in educational work and more 
recently a factor in the trade circles of Goshen, has been honored by 
election to and is n<jw serving in the office of township trustee of Elk- 
hart township. This is a position of great responsibility, and a faith- 
ful and ])ublic-spirited discharge of its duties is a matter of moment to 
everv citizen of the township, tiie schools, bridges, roads and public im- 
pro\cments generally coming under the direct supervision of the trus- 
tee. Mr. Cobb has both deserved the honor of this office and has ac- 
quitted himself most creditably in its work. 

Born in Smithville, Chautauqua county, Xew York, September 
12, 1870, Air. Cobb was early brought to this county and was reared 
to manhood in Cioshen. He received the excellent education afforded 
in the ]iublic schools ni this city, and rben attended the Tri-State Nor- 
mal at Angola. Indiana. Recei\'ino- a certificate to teach, he was for 



590 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

ten years one of the successful instructors of the young in the schools 
of this county. Sirice the spring- of 1898. and in connection with his 
teaching duties, he has conducted a hicycle shop and salesroom- in 
Goshen, an enterprise which he has made one of the substantial busi- 
ness institutions of the city. 

On the death of Mr. J. B. \Valk, who then held the i_)tftce of trus- 
tee of Elkhart township, Mr. Cobb was appointed to fill the vacanc}', 
and at the regular election for this office, on November 8, 1904, he was 
elected to the trusteeship. A Republican in politics, Mr. Cobb has 
taken an active interest in g^eneral ptjlitics and is a man of sound ideas 
as to world affairs as well as local politics. For three years he 
served as a member of Company C, Indiana National Guards, and has 
an hiinorable discharge from the same. Fraternally he affiliates with 
the Knights of Pythias and the Modern ^^'nodmen of .\merica. and 
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 

In 1898 Mr. Cobb married Miss Cassie Yoder, who is a daughter 
of Manassas Ycder, of this county. They have two children, namely: 
Charles and 'Mabel. 

J. B. ANDREWS. 

One (if the nmst prominent and respected citizens of Goshen is J. 
B. Andrews, who for a number of years has occupied a prominent place 
in its manufacturing circles. Starting out for himself early in life, 
he has steadily worked his way upward, gaining success and winning 
the public confidence. A native son of Ohio, he was born in Hardin 
county, near Kenton. November 2, 1863, a son of Samuel Mont- 
gomer\' and IMartha (Caryj Andrews, the former a native of Penn- 
sylvania and the latter of Worthington, Ohio. The father was num- 
bered among the early settlers of Hardin county, where for many years 
he was a tiller of the soil. His death occurred in Hardin county. Ohio, 
March 4, 1905. He was of Scotch descent. The mother is living, and 
they were the parents of five children. 

J. B. Andrews, the youngest child in order of birth in his parents' 
family, was but thirteen years of age when he started out in life for 
himself, first securing employment as news agent on a railroad, later 
being made a brakeman, and finallv rose to the position of conductor. 
In 1886 he went to old Mexico, where he served as a conductor for 
three and a half years, and for six months was superintendent of the 
Mexican Central Railroad. The year 1890 witnessed his arrival in 
Goshen, since which time he has been prominently identified with its 
interests as a harness manufacturer. He first engaged in that occupa- 
tion with his bjrotber, J. F. Andrews, but in 1893 purchased his 
brother's interest, antl has since been alone in the Ixisiness. His plant 
is well equipped with the latest improved machiner\^ for carrying on 
the work, and he also conducts the largest retail store of the kind in 
the state of Indiana. His success is largely due to his capable manage- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 501 

ment and splendid executive alaility, and his reputation in commercial 
circles is above question. In addition to his large manufacturing inter- 
ests he is also engaged in the loan and brokerage business. 

On the 20th of Octnl>er. 1890, ]Mr. Andrews was united in mar- 
riage to Eftle Ahlefeld. and their home is a ha]>py and attractive one, 
where warm-hearted hosi^itality is always to be found by their numer- 
ous friends. Mr. .-\ndrews is a life-long Republican, and fraternally 
holds membership relations w ith the ^lasonic order. 

JOSEPH H. LESH. 

Joseph H. Lesh, president and treasurer of the Lesh & Young 
Company, is ijne of the progressive }-oung business men of the Maple 
City, interested in all matters tending to the welfare of the city, and 
in many ways has aided in making the name of Goshen known through- 
out the conntry. 

Mr. Lesh was born in \\'abash county, Indiana. July 6, 1868. a 
son of John H. and Mary E. ( Chn- ) Lesh. Tiie father was a native 
O'f Montgomery county, Ohio, born March 19, 1846, a son of Joseph 
Lesh. In 1850 the family home was changed to Wabash count}-. In- 
diana, where John H. was reared to farm life. It was in 1873 that his 
first venture in lumber was made. Inve.sting the few dollars that he 
had saved in li\-c timlier, he cut it, hauled it to the mill and had it con- 
verted into lumber, and when that was sold he found that he had made 
a neat profit and secured a start in life. Moving to North Manchester, 
Indiana, he at once embarked in the lumber business, where his efforts 
were also attended with success, but four years later he established a 
lumber office in Chicago and moved his family to Goshen;. After two 
years he closed out his Chicago business and invested his earnings in 
Goshen, organizing the firm of John LI. Lesh & Company. Gradually 
the business grew in proportions, and at the time of his death he was 
president of the I,esh, Sanders &: Egbert Company, Goshen ; president 
oif Lesh, Prouty & Abbott Company, East Chicago: president of the 
State Bank of Goshen, besides having vast real estate interests. Goshen 
lost a strong man and an estimable citizen when John H. Lesh passed 
away February 15, 1898, at the height of an active business career. He 
\vns a power among men,, and e^^'er active in the interests of the city, 
of which he .served at one time as mayor. In his fraternal relations 
he was a member of the Masonic order and the Kniglits of Pythias. 
He married Mary E. Clay, whose people were early pioneers of Elk- 
hart county, where her father, Henry Clay, was long eng-aged in agri- 
cultural pursuits. They became the parents of two children, and the 
daughter, Mamie, is the wife ')f J. W. Latta, of Goshai. 

Joseph H. Lesh. the elder of the two children., was about seven 
years of age when the family home was estalilished in Goshen, and in 
its schools he received his educational traim'ng. \\'hen alxiut seven- 



592 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

teen years of age he engaged in the hiniher Inisiness witli his father, 
learning the business in all its details, and upon the death of the latter 
all of the vast interests fell to him, Ixit his training placed him in a 
position to efficiently continue its conduct. He is now president of the 
Lesh & Young Company, Adrian, Michigan ; \-ice-president of the 
Lesh, Prouty & Abbott Company, Chicago ; treasurer of Schuh-Miller 
Lumber ComiDany at Selma, Alabama, and Berclair, Mississippi: and 
a director in the State Bank of Goshen. He is also^ the proprietor of 
tlie Lesli Stock Farm, well known to all lovers of horses, and a part of 
which is within the incorporated limits of Goshen, consisting of sev- 
enty-h\'e acres. A fine one-half mile track has been constructed for 
training purposes, and the stable can accommodate many head of horses. 
.\mong those he values most liighly may lie menti,oned Online, with a 
mark of 2:04: Ontonian, 2:073/^; Junius, 2:07)4; Greenline, 2:07^; 
Onotn, 2:07 '4- He also owns many other valuable horses. 

In 1893 Mr. Lesli married Catherine Wanner, the daughter of 
Judge Lew Wanner, of Pennsylvania, where Mrs. Lesh was born, and 
they ha\e one daughter, Catherine. Mr. Lesh is a stanch supporter of 
Repul^lican principles, and is an, active worker m the ranks of his party. 
He is now serving" as president of the Goshen board of education. His 
fraternal relations are with the IMasonic order. 

GEORGE W. C.\RT. 

The Cnited States ma}- well feel proud of the veterans of the 
Civil war whose efforts perpetuated the Union and made possible the 
history of the greatest republic on the face of the globe. As long as 
memory remains to the American ]3eople will they cherish the record 
of what occurred upon the battle fields of the south, and the soldier is 
honored everywhere because of the deeds he ]jerformed in order to save 
his country's honor. Of this class Mr. Cart is a representative, being 
one \}i the worthy soldiers of Indiana during the Civil war. He is also 
one of Ihe pioneer residents of Elkhart county, having taken up his 
alxxle here many years ago. He was born I'chruary 6, 1838, and is the 
eighth in order of liirtli in a familv of twelve children, four sons and 
eight daughters, who were liorn to Adam and Elizabeth (Nickell) Cart. 
The father was a native of ^Monroe county. West Virginia, his birth 
having occurred in 1797, two years liefore the death of George Wash- 
ington. He was a blacksmith by trade while in his native state, and 
afterward he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. Emigrating 
westward to Indiana he settled in Rush county in 1829 and purchased 
forty acres of raw timl)erland. Hi? first home was a little log cabin 
and it was in this pioneer structure that the suljject of this review was 
liorn. The county was in its i)rimitive condition and the pioneer settlers 
saw and killed many deer, while at one time a bear was seen in the 
vicinitv of ]Mr. Cart's home. He endured all tlie hardshi])s and trials 



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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 593 

incident to pioneer life and as the years went by lie botli pnrchased and 
sold land but retained possession of the original farm until the time of 
the Civil war. when he sold that pro])erty. While on a \-isit to his 
daughter in Elkhart count}-, he died in Xew Paris. His political support 
was given to the Democracy and he ne\er faltered in his allegiance to 
its principles. He was a man of strong convictions, giving firm alle- 
giance to whatever cause he believed to be right, and both he and his 
wife were advocates and followers of the teachings of the Presbyterian 
church. His wife was a native of West Virginia, born in 1804, and 
her death occurred in iSgi. In her home she was an affectionate mother 
and was a true antl faithful friend. Mr. Cart can also toast of Revolu- 
tionary ancestry, his paternal great uncle, George Cart, having been a 
soldier of the Revolutionary war, and he related events when he saw 
General Washington. Mrs. Cart died in Elkhart county, but both .she 
and her husband were laid to rest in Rush county. Five of their chil- 
dren are now lix-ing: Elizabeth, the wife of John O. \\'ebb. whoi is now 
li\-ing retired in Newton. Illinois: George W. : Sidney A., the wife of 
William Berkey, who is lix'ing retired in Goshen. Indiana : Joseph, a 
resident of ^^'abash countv. Indiana, who is married and follows agri- 
cultural pursuits there: and Louisa, the wife of Henry Myer^^ of \\'abash 
county, this state. 

George W. Cart was reared in the count}- of his nativity, spending 
his boyhood days under the parental roof and acquiring his education 
in the common schools. He |)ursued his studies in one of the old-time 
log schoolhouses, which was about 20 by 25 feet in size, and was built of 
hewed logs. It was heated by a big fire-place and afterward b\- a sto\e. 
.\ desk was made by placing a board upon some wooden pins driven into 
the wall and the lienches or seats were made of slabs with wooden legs 
and without backs. The pupils studied Talbert's or Ray's arithmetic 
and they used an old fashioned goose-quill ])en in writing. Air. Cart 
having made many of these pens. He has witnessed many changes in 
the educational system of the state and reioices in what has been accom- 
plished for ]3roviding superior school privileges for the yovmg. He 
worked upon his father's farm in the days of his boyhood and youth 
and continued at home until after the outbreak of the Civil war. when 
at the age of twenty-five years he enlisted in Battery M. First Indiana 
Hea\-y \rtiller}-. The reginient went to the front. howe\-er. as the 
Twenty-first Indiana Infantry. Mr. Cart joined the army in Rush 
county under Captain .\rnistrong and Colonel John A. Keith, who was 
afterward succeeded by Colonel Hays. The date of his enlistment w-as 
September 17. 1863, and his battery was assigned to the southwest de- 
partment under General Banks. After leaving Indianapolis he reported 
for dut^- at P)aton Rouge. Louisiana. l:ut before reaching that place he 
was under lire at the n-iouth of the Red river. He was often engaged 
in scout duty and was sent to garrison duly at h'ort Williams at Baton 
Rouge and afterward was ordered to New Orleans to pre])are for the 



r,'Ji HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

siege (it .M(il:ile. Alabama. In April. 1X63, the battery went across to 
the point of the mainland of Alabama, expecting to go on the expedition 
against Mobile, but the soldiers experienced many hardships and priva- 
tions in that campaign, and on the 3th of ]\Iay, 1865, Dick Taylor sur- 
rendered. When the explosion of the great magazine occurred at Mo- 
bile on Thursday. May 25, 1863, Mr. Cart was in the city and well re- 
meml)ers the occasion, for it was a scene never to be forgotten. He was 
in acti\-e ser\ice during the sieges of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely and 
saw many incidents which have left an indelible impression upon his 
mind. His wife has prepared a history of his army career from incidents 
of his active service which he related to her, and it presents a faithful 
and true picture of \\ ar scenes. He was a hrave and loyal soldier, inter- 
ested in the cause for which he fought to the extent of facing danger and 
death if need be in an attempt to jjreserve the Union. He will never for- 
get two of the events which occurred during his army life: the surrender 
of Lee and the assassination of Lincoln, the latter occurring when he was 
in the vicinitv of ]\Iobile, .Mabama. From that place he was sent to 
Santa Ruse Island. Florida, with the heavy artillery to do duty there until 
the regulars took charge. Later he returned to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 
where he received an honorable discharge January 13, 1866, after which 
he returned home to don the civilian's garb after an active and arduous 
service of two and a quarter years. He yet has in his possession his 
mother's little Bible which she gave to him at the time he entered the army. 
Mr. Cart returned to his home in Rush county with impaired health, 
but in 1867 he began farming, folk)\ving that pursuit for a few years. 
He then turned his attention to the timber and grain business in Union 
township, Elkhart county, and has since made his home in this county, 
being a respected and worthv citizen here for more than a third of a cen- 
tury. 

Mr. Cart has been married, twice. He first wedded Miss Hulda 
Brothers, and to them was born a son, Carl Clift'ord. He was educated 
in the schools of Goshen, Indiana, and is now a practical farmer residing 
in New Paris. Mrs. Cart was a native of Stark county, Ohio, and died 
October 29, 1879. For his second wife Mr. Cart chose Miss Ellen 
Mathews, to whom he was married October 17, 1883. She was born in 
Elkhart county, September 11, 1831, a daughter of Edwin and Mary A. 
(Mills) Mathews. There were thirteen children, five sons and eight 
daughters, in that family, but only seven are now living, while five of this 
numlier are residents of Elkhart county. The others are Alfred Mathews, 
a mechanic and telegraph operator who now resides in Muncie, Indiana ; 
and Belle, the wife of Douglas Liciitenwalter, a machinist. The father 
was born in Logan county. Ohio, April 30, 1819, and died March i, 
1898. He came to Elkhart county when a lad of fourteen years. His 
educational privileges were limited and he exjierienced many of the hard- 
ships of pioneer life in his youth. He was descended fmm Re\'olutionary 
.-mcestrv, his grandfather having loeen ime of the soldiers (if the .\merican 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 505 

army in the war inv independence, while his uncle. Henry, was a soldier 
in Ihe war of 1812 and ]3articipated in the battle of Tippecanoe. At one 
time Phillip "Mathews, grandfather of Mrs. Cart, was proprietor of the 
hotel in Goshen. Indiana. The Mathews family were descended from 
Welsh ancestry, while the grandmother of Mrs. Cart belonged to an old 
Mohawk Dutch family. The mother of Mrs. Cart was born in Kentucky, 
"February 22, 1826. and is of English extraction. Mr. Mathews, the 
father of Mrs. Cart, followed farming through much of his life. He 
ga\e his political support to the Whig party in early manhood and after- 
ward joined the Rcpidilican party. He held membership in the Method- 
ist church, to which his wife also belongs. She is still living and is a 
^vell preser\ed lady. Mrs. Cart was reared in the county of her nativity 
and acquired her education in the public schools. For six terms she w-as 
a teacher in the schools of Elkhart county and is a lady of strong men- 
tality and superior culture. 

It was in 1883 that Mr. and Mrs. Cart took up their abode in the 
pleasant little village of New Paris in a cozy residence on Main street. 
He may well be called a self-made man. for he has achieved success in 
life entirely through his own efforts. He now has a nice town property 
and eighty acres of fine land in Jackson township. His political alle- 
giance has always been given the Republican party since he cast his first 
presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has frequently been selected 
as a delegate to the county conventions. On the 19th of June, igoi. he 
was appointed postmaster of New Paris, and is the present incumbent in 
the office, IMrs. Mary Geddes acting as his deputy. Tliis is a model post- 
office as regards neatness and cleanliness and also the dispatch with wdiich 
business is carried on. Fraternally Mr. Cart affiliates with William Mc- 
Laughlin Post No. 508. G. A. R., at Milford, Indiana, and has always 
taken great delight in attending the encampments of the members of the 
order, being frequently seen in attendance at the state and national meet- 
ings. He attended at Detroit in 1891, Washington in 1892, Cincinnati 
in 1898, \\'ashington in 1902, Cleveland in 1901, and also in Chicago, 
Columbus and Indianapolis. He now has in his possession one of the 
camp mess implements — a spoon, knife and fork combined — as a relic 
of the war. In 1881 Mr. Cart, accompanied by his mother, w-ent to visit 
her old home in ^Vest Virginia and while there she pointed out to him a 
tract of land which w^as first purchased in 1789 by one of the Pennsylvania 
pioneers and which remained in the possession of the family for ninety- 
two years. The Carts come of German lineage, and the name was orig- 
inally spelled Kart. Mr. and Mrs. Cart are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church at New Paris and he is one of its trustees, while Mrs. 
Cart is recording secretary of the church. and has been a member since 
1866. She is also treasurer of the Ladies' Aid Society. Mr. and Mrs. 
Cart are leading citizens of New Paris, held in high esteem by all who 
ku'iw them, and it is with plea.sure that we present their history to our 
renders. 



590 HISTORY OF ELKHART COL'NTY 

GEORGE W. WEHAHiVER. 

George W. W'ehrneyer, lumljcr dealer and contractDr and builder 
at (ioshen, has been identitied. with the lite and activities of Elkhart 
comity practically all his life, iiaxing lieen Ixirn on bis father's farm 
in Harrison township. Januai'v I'l, 18(14. and ha\ing- li\ed in the county 
ever since except during- the years 1884 and 1885 when he was en-, 
gaged in contracting and buikling at (lirard. Crawtord county. Kansas. 

His father was Frederick \\'e!imeyer. a native of Prussia, Ger- 
many, who came to America and married in I'biladelphia and then came 
to Elkhart county in 1859, locating on a farm in Harrison township. 
He died in Jefferson township in 1880. in his sixty-fifth year. His 
wife, Catherine Henning before her marriage, who was born in Phila- 
delphia of German parentage, died at the age of seventy-three. They 
were parents of eleven children, ten of whom are living. 

Mr. Wehmeyer. who is the tenth chikl and third .son, passed his 
childhood and youth on an Elkhart county farm and attended the dis- 
trict .schools. After following farming as an independent vocation for 
some time, he took up the carpenter's trade, serving his time as an ap- 
prentice and then working as a journeym<in. In 1897 '^^ went intt> 
tire contracting and building Ijusiness on his own account, and in 1899 
increased the scope of his industrial interests b\ establishing a lumber 
vard. He keeps from five to fifteen men in his employ, and has ac- 
quired an enviable reputation in the building circles of the county. 
There are numerous monuments of his enterjirise in Goshen. He was 
the builder of the beautiful new high school in 1904, which ranks 
among the finest structures of its kind in the state and is one of the 
most ornate examples of pul^lic architecture in the city. A number of 
fine residences and business buildings have also been erected by him. 

Mr. W'ehmeyer atfiliates with the Knights of Pythias and the Im- 
proved Order of Red Men, in politics is a Democrat, and for a long 
time has been one of the most active workers in the Lutheran church, 
being one of the deacons and trustees. 

HAIXES EGBERT. 

The qualifications which insure success in Imsiness are manifest in 
the career of Haines Egf^ert. who is a representative of one of the lead- 
ing industries of Goshen. ?le assisted in the organization of the San- 
ders & Egbert Company, which is nf \-alue not only to the stockholders 
l.mt to the entire community, fm- it furnishes employment to many 
workmen and contributes to the commercial activity of the city, and 
it has been tlie extensix-e dealings of this company that has made the 
name of hardwood synonymous with that of Goshen, as the city has 
for years Ixirne the reputation of being the greatest hardwoofl distrilxit- 
ing point in the L'nited States. 

\ native of Milfdrd. Inrliana. born Xoxemlier 5. 1863. Mr. Eg- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 51>7 

liert is of Hnlland descent. His j'atenial grandfather was John W. 
Egljert. and his father also Ixjre the name of John W". Jiglaert, the lat- 
ter having' been a native of Orange county, New ^'ork, but during his 
boyhood days removed with his parents to Milford. Indiana. He was 
a soldier in the Aiexican war and a "49er to California, but finally re- 
turned to iNIilford and in iSC)^ came to Goshen, where the remainder 
of his life was spent, his life's labors being ended in death when he 
had reached the age of sixt\-nine years. During the greater ]>art (if 
his business career lie fullowcd milling", as proprietor of a saw and 
grist mill, but in 1S70 was elected sherifif of Elkhart county and re- 
elected in 1872, discharging the duties of that office in a faithful and 
conscientious manner. His ])olitical affiliations were with the Democ- 
racy, and fraternally he was a member of the Masonic order. His 
widow, who bore the maiden name of Theresa White, was born in 
Orange county, \'erm<)nt, in 1828. and is still living. The^■ were the 
parents of three children: John \\'., a resident of Goshen: Haines, 
whose name introduces this rexiew: and Minnie, deceased. 

Haines Egbert is indebted to the public schools of Goshen for the 
educational privileges which he received in his youth. After attaining 
to years oi maturity, in 1881, he entered the employ of John H. Lesh 
& Company, with whom he remained until 1884. when he went to Chi- 
cago and began work for the Haydon Brothers Lumljer Company as 
a traveling buyer. Resigning that position in 1889, he returned and 
again entered the employ of John H. Lesh & Company, as general su- 
perintendent of their works at East Chicago, Illinois. In 1890 he went 
south and formed the partnership of Reeves, Egbert & Company at 
LaGrange, Arkansas, but two years later, m 1892, the firm was dis- 
solved and Mr. Egbert once more returned to his old home in Goshen, 
where he purchased an interest in the firm then known as Lesh, Penrcxl 
& Compan}'. L'pon the retirement of Mr. Penrod Mr. Egbert was 
elected secretary of the company, and at the organization of the San- 
ders & Egjjert Company he \\as made the vice-president and secretary. 
Since the age of seventeen he has Ijeen interested in the lumber busi- 
ness, perfecting himself in e\ery branch, and for many years he has been ' 
connected with this well known firm. He has charge of the sales of 
the company, and has been an extensive traveler, never losing an op- 
portunity to -further the interests of his company or Goshen. He is 
also one of the directors of the Elkhart County Loan & Trust Com- 
pany, and a director in the City National Bank. 

In 1892 Mr. Egbert w-as united in marriage to Miss Alice Kreider, 
a daughter of Martin Kreider. and they have had two children : Lill- 
ian and John K.. Init the last named is deceased. In his fraternal re- 
lations Mr. Egbert has attained the thirty-second degree in ]\Iason,n" 
and is also a member of tlie Knights of Pythias. Politicallv he is iden- 
tified \\ ith the Democracv. and for three vears was a member of the 



598 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

scliool board, the cause of education ever finding in him a warn: and 
lielpful friend. He is an honored member of the Presljjterian church. 
in wliich lie is serving as a trustee. 

WILLIAM H. ANDERSON. 

Wilham H. Anderson, occupying the position of postmaster at 
Elkhart, is a native of Lyons, Iowa, and a son of Robert and Letitia 
(Stewart) Anderson, both of whom came to this country from Bel- 
fast, Ireland, in the early fifties. They had lived for several years in 
that city, although both were natives of England. Robert Anderson 
was born in England but \vas of Scotch ancestiy. His wife was born 
in Coventry, England, and belonged to one of the fine families of that 
country. Her father, John Stewart, was a prominent ofificial of Eng- 
land, and her maternal uncle. Dr. Anderson, was distinguished as phy- 
sician to Queen Victoria. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were married in 
Belfast. They were first residents of New York City and subsequently 
established their home in Lyons, Iowa, where the father died during 
the infancy of his son William. Mrs. Anderson sun'ived her hus- 
band and died in Elkhart, November 28, 1903. 

Mr. Anderson of this review is entirely a self-made man aiid 
has attained his present prominence in the business world through un- 
tiring effort, through study and enterprise. After the father's death 
the mother returned to New York City and later became a resident of 
Michigan, whence she removed to Elkhart. At the age of eleven years 
William Anderson left school and began learning the printer's trade 
in Elkhart. He worked on the Democratic Umon, subsequently on 
the Obsen'cr and later entered the employ of A. P. Kent in the Rcvicv.'- 
office. His close application and fidelity during these years made him 
a thorough printer, and leaving the case he took up reporting and edi- 
torial work on the Revicu'. displa}'ing excellent a1)ility and becoming 
Elkhart correspondent for a number of metropolitan dailies in Chi- 
cago. Saint Loitis, Indianapolis. Cincinnati, and New York. He was 
veiy successful in originating special stories and news features and 
gained continuous promotion in journalistic circles. 

During all these years Mr. Anderson devoted his leisure hours 
to acquiring a better education on private tutelage. For more than a 
year he walked a mile each night to the home of a teacher who' assisted 
him in his studies, and even under greater disadvantages he pursued 
his studies in Latin. He also began reading law and was admitted to 
the bar in Elkhart in 1894. He then entered upon the practice of his 
chosen profession which he continued successfully until appointed post- 
master on the 14th of March, 1898. He has since been re-appointed, 
so that he is no'W serving for his second term. The business of the 
office is constantly growing, gaining nineteen thousand dollars in gross 
receipts in 1902. The office has a first-class record for the small amount 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY i>W 

of expenditure compared w illi llic aniouiit of business transacted in 
those offices of tlie first class. A larger ^•olume of Ixisiness is done here 
than in offices of other cities of similar population on account of the 
large number of prominent industries here which handle a big mail and 
send out tons of advertising matter. 

Mr. ;\nderson has for years lieen a prominent Republican, untir- 
ing in his efforts in behalf of the party. He was secretary of the Mc- 
Kinley Club in 1896 and has rendered valuable service in campaign 
times, being widely recognized as a leading political worker in the Re- 
publican party. He served for one term as a member of the board of 
city commissioners. He was fonnerly vice-president of the Centur\- 
Club, a local organization among the business men of Elkhart, and is 
now one of its directors. He is also an Odd Fellow and he is a mem- 
ber of the Elkhart Lecture Association. A man of unswerving integ- 
rity, he has gained and retained the confidence and re.spect of his fel- 
lowmen and is distinctively one of the leading citizens of Elkhart, with 
whose interests he has now long been, identified. 

GEORGE R. HARPER. 

George R. Harper, a successful young lawyer wIk.) has well estab- 
hshed himself in practice at Goshen during the past seven or eight years, 
was born at Syracuse, Indiana, March 4. 1873, the date of Grant's sec- 
ond inauguration as president. 

Mr. Harper is a son of Charles A. and Mary K. (Hattel) Harper, 
prominent and respected citizens of Goshen. Tlie father was born in 
Lcesburg, Kosciusko county, Indiana, and the mother at Chambers- 
burg, Pennsylvania. William G. Harper, the paternal grandfather, 
who was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, spent his early life in Athens, Ohio, 
and married Emily Sargeaiit, whose father. Erastus Sargeant, was a 
prominent physician of Lee, Massachusetts, and was also a soldier in 
the Revolutionary war. The maternal grandfather was Jacob Hattel. 
who, born in Alsace Lorraine, Germany, came to America in 1825 at 
the age of four years, and for thirty years was one of the leading citi- 
zens of Goshen during its formative history. Charles A. Flarper and 
wife were married in the city of Goshen In 1868, and with the excep- 
tion of a brief residence at Syracuse, this state, have spent their entire 
married life here in this city, where they .still reside. The father for 
many years was a shoedealer, and is now in the wool and grain busi- 
ness, having had a prosperous business career. He is a Reptiblican, a 
member of the Methodist church, and, having served two and a half 
years in the rebellion as a member of Company D, Twelfth Indiana 
Cavalry, is one of the active and much esteemed members of Howell 
Post No. go, G. A. R.. at Goslien. There are but two living children. 
the daughter Katherine and George R. 

Mr. George R. Harper grew up to manhood in the citv of 



coo HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

(ioshen. and attemled the ])u1)lic schouls, luuing lieen graduated from 
the high school with the class of 1891. He became a law student in the 
office of \\'ilson and Davis.- and was admitted to the bar in 1895. In 
1894 he entered the University of Michigan, where he was graduated 
Irom the law department in 1898. since which time he has teen in active 
practice at Cioshen. He served as deputy prosecuting attorney from 
the fall of 1900 to the fall of 1903, and also as United States com- 
missioner, through appointment by Judge John H. Baker, from Sep- 
temlier 4, u)oi. to the fall of 1903, when he resigned. In connection 
with his law i^-actice he does considerable real estate and insurance 
business. Air. I-lar])er"s law nfhce is located over The State Bank at 
116 North Main street. 

Air. Harper is a Republican in politics, and fraternally is a Alaster 
Alason and a member of the Phi Gamma Delta College fraternity. He 
is secretary of the Masonic lodge. In 1900 he was vice president of 
the Elkhart County Bar Association. His chmxh connection is with 
the Afethodist denomination. September 21, 1904. he married Miss 
lima Harrington, of Oskaloosa. Iowa. 

JOHN HUGHES. 

John Hughes, a contractor and dredger of Nappanee, whose exten- 
sive business interests mark him as a man of unabating energy and enter- 
])rise. was born in Ireland, .\ugust 12. 1850. and when about four years 
of age was lirought lo America Ijy his parents who located near Cincin- 
nati, Ohio. There lie was reared until he reached the age of eighteen 
vears, w hen the familv came to Indiana, settling in Marshall cotinty, l>e- 
tween Plvmouth and Bremen. He continued imder the parental roof 
until be bad attained his majority, when be started out in life on his own 
account, following any pursuit that would yield to him an honest living. 
He worked i>y the da}' or the month as opportunity ofYered, following 
farm labor or other employment. He was married when between twenty- 
two and twentv-three A'ears of age, and this giving added impetus for 
further effort he began contracting. In this dq^artment he was first em- 
ployed in digging small ditches among the farms, and be followed that 
line until 1886, when he turned bis attention to dredging. His first con- 
tract was acci)rded him in St. Joseph county, Indiana, under the state 
law, and his next contract was from Elkhart county. All his work has 
Ijeen done under the state law, and one of the large contracts awarded 
him was the army ditch in Kosciusko county, which he completed in 1900. 
His largest contract up to the iiresent time, 1905, was the Turkey creek 
ditch in Kosciu.sko and Elkhart counties. Many other important con- 
tracts, however, have been given him, so that bis life has been one of 
unceasing acti\'ity and bis labor has foimd a just reward in the excellent 
income \vhicb be now annually enjoys. At the ]iresent writing- he has a 
contract amounting to forty thciusand dollars. He owns machinerv to 




MRS. JOHN HUGHES 



en 

> 

a 

m 
d 
o 
w 




HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 001 

the value of twenty thousand dollars — machinery which is modern and 
effective, and he also employs many men, giving work to a number during 
the winter season in the building of the Burling mill ditch. In addition 
to his business interests along this line, Mr. Hughes owns two farms, ag- 
gregating one huridred and twenty acres of rich land, and that property 
adds a considerable fund to his yearly income. 

In 1871 was celebrated the marriage of John Hughes and Miss De- 
lila Kizer, and to them were born nine children, of whom eight are yet 
living: Dollie, the wife of A. Ipe, also a contractor and dredger: .Mice, 
the wife of John McMann. a farmer: Annie, the wife of Peter Yoder, 
who is assisting her father and makes his home in Xajipanee: Mae, 
Hattie, Maude, William H. and Peter J., all of whom are at home. 

Mr. Hughes has a wide and favoralile acquaintance m the northern 
part of Indiana, having been identified with many movements and meas- 
ures for the miprovement in the field of progress in this section of the 
state. He and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal 
cluu-ch and some of their children are also identified with this denomina- 
tion, while one is a member of the Evangelical church. In Nappanee his 
worth as a citizen is widely acknowledged. He has contributed to its 
material impro\'ement through the erection of a brick block in 1900, and 
he has also built some dwelling houses in the town. His investments in 
real estate have been judiciously made and have been an indication of his 
keen business discernment and marked enterprise. Starting in life as a 
common laborer he is to-day acknowledged as one of the representative 
and prominent business men nf Elkhart county, owing his position and 
success entirely to his acti\'ity and well directed energy. 

CPIARLES E. SILVERS. 

Charles E. Silvers, who is chief of ])<ilice in the city of Elkhart 
and in that capacity as well as for his sterling worth honored through- 
out the city, began life on his own responsibility when a mere boy, 
without capital and without friends, worked at hard physical labor to 
secure a start, and by integrity and inborn grit won both friends and 
influence and a position of great responsibility in his city. ,\ self- 
made man, he has deserved his success, and a resume of his life corrobo- 
rates every praise that is bestowed ujion him. 

He was hern in Berkeley Springs. West X'irginia, Septemljer 29, 
1867. When he was twelve years old he lost his father, George W. 
Silvers, who died at the age of thirty-eight, and the mother. Susan 
(Schriver) Silvers, married again, and she is still li\-ing. From the 
time of his father's death Mr. .Sih'crs has depended on his own exer- 
tions. He had a limited Cdnimon school education, and at the age of 
fifteen left his native state and went to Ohio. Almost penniless, he 
went to work on a farm near Sidney, and for eight years was a farm 
hand, at small i)av and with much lalxjr. He then arrived in Elkhart 



602 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

county and fnr the first t\>ui months worked in a brick yard in Baugo 
tcjwnshi]) at one dollar a day and board. Coming to Elkhart, he was 
employed as a hod carrier, then became a helper in the blacksmith 
shops of the Lake .Slujre and ALchig-jui Southern, and in 1893 was 
given a position xm the police force of Elkhart. On the organization 
of the ^Metropolitan police system, be became a <lri\'er of the hook and 
ladder wagon in the iire department ; two' years later was made assis- 
tant superintendent of the water company, and continued as ."^ucb until 
he was appointed superintendent of police on December 3, 1899. He 
has maintained tlie police organization at a high state of cbscipline and 
efficiency, and to him is due no small sliare of the credit for the excel- 
lence of the Elkhart poh'ce department. 

^Ir. Silvers affiliates with the Independent (Jrder of Odd Fellows, 
the Benevolent and Protecti^/e Order of Elks, the b'raternal Order of 
Eagles, the Modern Samaritans of the ^Vorld, and the Firemen's Be- 
nevolent Association and is a member of the Century Club of Elkhart. 
He was married. October 7, 1895, ^o Miss Ora .Storner. They have 
two children : Vera I. and Thelma C. In politics Mr. Silvers is an 
active supporter of the i>rinciples of the Republican party. 

PORTER TURNER, M. D. 

Porter Turner, M. D., who has attained prestige as a physician 
and surgeon of Elkhai't, was born on a farm in Osolo township, this 
county, July 5, 1852, and his entire life has been spent in this county, 
nearly twenty years of it ha\-ing been de\'oted to the profession which 
he early chose for a career. Dr. Turner is a son of Lyman and Tamar 
(Wilkinson) Turner, who, natives of New York and Ohio respectively, 
took up their residence in Elkhart county in 1849, ''^"d from that date 
until his death, in 1889, the father was a successful farmer in Osolo 
township. His widow still siu'vives. 

Dr. Turner began his life on a farm antl amid healthful rural sur- 
roundings, but since early yxiuth Elkhart city has been his permanent 
home. He received a liberal literary education in tlie city schools, and 
he took up the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. A. L. 
Fisher. Entering Hahnemann Medical College at Chicago, he grad- 
uated and received the degree of M. D. in 1886, and, opening his office 
in Elkhart the same year, has since been engaged in a very active and 
successful practice. He is well known and popular among the fratern- 
ity, being a memlser of the Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan 
Homceoijathic ^Medical Society and the Indiana Homceopathic Medical 
.Society. He is supreme medical examiner for the supreme congress 
of the Modern Samaritans of the World, also having fraternal affilia- 
tions with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights 
of Pythias. He is honored as the originator of the well known Clark 
Hospital in Elkhart, and was medical director of tlie institution fi\-e 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 003 

years. Public-spiritetl in every way and deeply interested in the wel- 
fare of his city, he was elected to the office of mayor of Elkhart in 
i8g8, and remained the incumbent of that office four years. 

Dr. Turner married, in 1872, Miss Charlotte Titus, of Elkhart, 
and the)- have five children : Willie F.. Nellie. Minnie. Lillian and 
Carrie. 

DAVID K. BUZZARD, D. A'. S. 

A successful representati\e of the modern profession of \-eterinary 
surgery, a science which has been brought' to a high state of perfection 
within the past quarter of a century, Dr. Buzzard, of Harrison town- 
ship, has become one of the most useful members of his commtmity. 
and in the cure rmd prevention of disease and the sav:ing" of life in 
domestic animals his services have more than once proved invaluable 
to his neighbors. In the course of a dozen years he has built up a prac- 
tice that takes in all the surrounding country and over into St. Josq>h 
comity, and by skill and thorouglmess in his work has demonstrated 
that the veterinary surgeon is one of the most useful adjuncts to mod- 
em agriculture. 

Born in Elkhart county, December 20, 1863, and identified with 
the ccunty by life-long residence. Dr. Buzzard is one of the best known 
men of the southwestern r[uarter of the county. He was the second 
in a family of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, born tO' 
Jacob C. and Elizabeth (Kreider) Buzzard, and he has the following 
brothers still living; Alpha, who is married and is a farmer at Free- 
port, Illinois : John, married, who is a prosperous farmer and dairyman 
in Harrison township, and also feeds horses for the market : Joseph, 
who is a member of the class of igo6 at Purdue LTniversity. where he 
is studying mechanical engineering: and Rufus, who resides in Harri- 
son township. 

The father, who was born in Medina county. Ohio, in 1838. and 
who died in this county in 1879, was a successful farmer. At the age 
of nine coming to Elkhart county, which was then a very- new countrv-, 
and where he gained most of his education and later taught school, 
he began his agricultural career on an eighty-acre timlaer farm Avhich 
his father had given him and by industry and successful management 
he accumulated a large property before his death, having, in addition 
to his landed possessions, some four thousand dollars at interest. Fie 
was first a Whig and then a Republican, and the five years tefore his 
death he was a ntinister of the Mennonite church, of which he had al- 
w.iys been a devout member. His wife, who was torn in Medina 
county, Ohio, about the same year as Iter husband, is still living, at the 
age of sixty-seven years. 

Dr. Buzzard spent the first twenty-four years of his life on the 
home farm, being educated in the common schools of his district. 
Early disclosing 1 bent for ^•eterinar^■ surgery, circumstances over 



GOi HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

which lie liad nn cnntrol made it impossible to prepare for the profession 
while a ydutli. hut when his opportunity came he grasped it at once and 
made such excellent use of it that liis advancement came rapidly. He 
entered the Veterinary College of Detroit in 1892. followed up the 
\\'ork of the ciu-riculum with c<inspicuous results, and was graduated 
with the class of 1894, passing the examinations with the highest grade 
percentage and winning the gold medal for highest efficiency. Arriv- 
ing home after liis graduation with only five dollars in cash capital, 
he at once began his career of usefulness, and his success in actual prac- 
tice has been as marked as that while a student. In the summer of 
1895 he estaljlished himself in Nappanee but a year later returned to 
his home township. He has recently erected on his premises in Harri- 
son township a model barn to serve as an operating room, hospital or 
office for his animal patients. It is thirty-four by sixty feet in ground 
dimensions, with eighteen foot ]30sts, hip roof, and concrete floors. Box 
stalls with iron gratings are provided for the stock, and the entire 
building was planned with a view to perfection in veterinary practice, 
and most of the work on tlie structure was done by Dr. Buzzard him- 
self. He has a com]:lete equipment for his practice and his reputation 
is causing ever-increasing demands tO' be made on his ser\'ices. His 
professional library, of which he makes constant use in order to keep 
.abreast of the times and in continuous progress, contains the standard 
works, such as Moller on operative surgery, \\'illiams on theory and 
practice, Dunn and Greswell on niateria medica, Friedberger and Froh- 
ner on pathology and therapeutics for domestic animals, and Cadiot's 
principles of surgery, etc. 

Dr. Buzzard married, in 188S, Miss Saloma ]\Ioyer, and the three 
children born to them are all daughters: Edith, who recei\"ed her di- 
ploma from the public schools in 1902 and w"ho has shown cmisiderable 
musical* taste : Myrtie, in the class of 1905; and Mable. who is also in 
schoiil. Mrs. Buzzard, who is a native of Elkhart county and recei\-ed 
her education in the common schools, has co-operated with lier husband 
and made herself a factor in his success, and is one of the esteemed 
women of her community. They are members of the Mennonite church 
and active in Sunday-school work. Politically Dr. Buzzard gives his 
support to the Republican party on national issues, but in all essentials 
of politics and life in general is iiide])endent in thought and action. 

MRS. ELIZABETH H.VRl'ER. 

Mrs. Harper was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in August. 
T836. and she is the fourth in a f.-imily i;f seven children, three sons 
and four daughters, born to lolm mid Ivinali ( .\rniinsoii ) Mihier. There 
are four living: William, a resident of Jefferson lo\\n>^hii> and a iiros- 
percus agriculturist: Mrs. Harper is next: Hannah is widow of W'ni. 
Dorsev. a resident of Kosciusko countv : she was a teacher in sexeral 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 6U5 

counlies in Indiana. Rosa is wife of Harvey Thomas, a resident of 
Fort Wayne and a merchant. She was also a successful teacher. 

Father Milner was born in Yorkshire, England, in September, 
1803, and died in September, 1876. He was an agriculturist. He 
resided in England until his marriage, and his first child was born in 
England. 

It was in 183 1 when they bade adieu to England and landed in 
Quebec, Canada. He then went to Rochester, Ncav York, for one year, 
aiid thence to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and there he located and pur- 
chased land, and resided there till 1854, when they moved to Elkhart 
county, in Benton township, just one-half mile east of Mrs. Harper's 
homestead. This was his residence till death. Formerly he was a 
Whig, then a Free Soiler and a strong Abolitionist. At diis death he 
was a strong advocate of the Republican party. He and his good wife 
were ardent iVIethodists. He was one of the pillars of the first Meth- 
odist church founded in Benton township. 

Mother Milner was also a native of Yorkshire, England, b-orn 
in 1800, and died in 1855. 

Mrs. Harper was reared to young womanhood in her native county. 
Her educational training was in the common schools, and also at a 
seminary at Farmington, Ohio. She taught in her native state three 
years, and she also taught in the state of Indiana. She spent nine 
years of her life in the profession. She wedded John Harper in 1861, 
and had seven children, two sons and five daughters. Six are living: 
Rosella is wife of Milton C. Lint, a resident of Kansas City. Kansas. 
He is a government meat inspector and veterinary surgeon. Mrs. Lint 
was a graduate of the Valparaiso Normal School at Valparaiso. She 
was one of the successful teachers in Elkhart county. They have two 
children, Henry Clay and Reva E. Edward is a resident of Silverton, 
Colorado, and is engaged in the mining business. He received his 
education in Ft. Wayne and at the Valparaiso Normal. Albert S. is 
a resident of Benton township, and is an agriculturist. He married 
Miss Grace Weaver and has one little son, John H. Luella resides 
with her mother on the old homestead. Mary is wife of Henry Doll, 
a resident of Benton township, and has one daughter, Dorothy. ^lag- 
gie is wife of Colby E. Noble, a resident of Jackson township, Laporte 
county, Indiana. They have four children, Myra, John B., Elizabeth 
and Dwight. Mrs. Noble was one of the successful teachers in Elk- 
hart county. 

Mr. Harper was born in Ross county, Ohio, August 9, 183 1, 
;md diefl at his home in Benton township April 21, 1905, aged seventy- 
three years, eight months and twelve days. Mr. Harper was reared 
to agricultural pursuits. He came with his parents to Noble county 
when he was but an infant and resided there till his marriage with Miss 
Milner. He purchased eig'hty acres, part of the present homestead, 
and the first home was a modest frame cottage. The young couple 



eoc, HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

located on this land and prospered in life and added to their possessions 
till at his death they possessed two hundred and forty acres of fine 
land. In 1878 they erected their present beautiftil brick residence, 
which is (^ne of the excellent and ])retentinus residences of the township. 
In former years he was a Democrat, but in the later years of his 
life he advocated the Prohibition principles and took strong ground on 
the subject of temperance. ^Ir. Hrirper was one of the strong pillars 
of the Methodist Episcopal church of lienton townshijj. called the 
Richville M. E. chtuxh. He and hi.s family were heav\' contributors 
in the erection of the present brick" building. 

.WAX! \S WE. 

.\iianias Jpe. a dredging contractor of Xappanee and one of Elkhart 
comity's native sons, was born September 30. 1872. The first rq)resenta- 
tive of the name in this count}- was Washington Ipe. his paternal grand- 
father, who came in pioneer times and is now the oldest man living in 
Uni(}n township. He brought with him his familv, including Henry Ipe, 
father of our subject, and a native of Mahoning county, Ohio. Henry 
Ipe was then but a youth and amid pioneer surroundings he was reared 
to manhood, assisting at an early age in the arduous task of developing a 
farm. He has always followed tlie occupation to which he was reared 
and was numbered among the enterprising and progressive agriculturists 
of Union township. He was a rejiresentative of an old Pennsylvania 
Dutch family, and it was in the Keystone state that his wife, Elizabeth 
Sternberg, was Ijorn. She is still li\ing and the family are people of the 
highest respectability, enjoying the warm regard of many friends in Elk- 
hart county. On June 16, 1905. Henrv Ipe met instant death on a rail- 
road crossing, a sad accident that took awav one of Elkhart comity's sub- 
stantial and honored citizens. 

.\nanias Ipe. the fifth cliild and third son in order of birth in a fam- 
ih- of eleven children, was reared upon his father's farm in Union town- 
ship until his fifteentli year, when he started out to earn his own living, 
accepting anv employment that would yiekl him an honest maintenance. 
In 1892 he entered the employ of John Hughes, a contractor and dredger, 
with whom he worked for about nine years, his fidelity to duty and his 
capability winning him ready recognition until his fre<|uent promotions 
had made him familiar with all of the deijartnients of the business. He 
then began contracting on his o\\ ii account, his hrst contract being a ditch 
in Starke count}-. He was after\\ard awarded a contract in Xewton 
county, and his last contract was the Turke}' creek ditch, for which he re- 
cei\'ed about thirt}-fnur thousand dollars on the com]iletion of eighteen 
miles t)f this ditch. There were two dredgers at work and employment 
\\as furnished to sixteen men. He is now located in LaGrange county, 
working on a fourteen thousand dollar contract. Mr. Ipe justly deserves 
the praise that is conveyed in the term of self-made man, for his industry 
has I'.eeii the basis of his success. No outsifle aid, influence or financial 




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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY <;07 

assistance has l)enefited him. and his lite work proves tlie \-ahie of per- 
sistent labor in the acc|nirement of a creditable financial position. 

In 1892 Air. Ipe was luiited in niarriag-e to Miss Dollie Hughes, a 
daughter of John and Delila (Kizer) Hughes, who are represented else- 
where in this work. The}' now have one son, Murray. Mr. Ipe gives his 
ix>litical allegiance to the Democracy, but has neither time nor inclinaton 
tt) seek office, preferring" to give his undivided attention to his business 
interests, which are constantly growing in extent and importance. 

On West Market street Mr. and Mrs. Ipe have one of the beautiful 
and modern up-to-date residences of Xa]>panee. which is a credit to the 
littie city. 

ELAM B. MYERS. 

Elam B. Myers, well known educator of Elkhart county, whose 
knowledge of the schools of this county dates from the forties and the 
log-cabin school days, was bom in Portage county, Ohio, March 14, 1836. 
His parents. Christian and Susan (StoufYer) Myers, were Ixirn, reared 
and were married in Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio and made settle- 
ment in Portage aiunty in 1834, whence they moved to Indiana and 
located in York township, Elkhart county, in the fall of 1846. Here 
they lived and died, both being buried in the cemetery at Bristol. There 
were fixe children, three sons and two daughters, and two sons and 
one daughter survive. The father was a brick and stone mason by 
trade, but spent most of Ins life on a farm. He died at the age of 
fifty-five and the mntber at forty-fi\e. and they were both Methodists. 

Mr. Myers was a boy of ten years when the family came to this 
county, and be passed the remainder of boyhood and youth on the 
home farm in York township. The era of primitive schools had imt 
yet passed, and elsewhere in this history Mr. Myer's description nf the 
old-time scboolhouse as he knew it, is quoted. 

After leaving the country school he attended the schools of Bris- 
tol and of Elkhart, and at the age of eighteen he was prepared to enter 
upon bis professional career by receiving a teacher's certificate. His 
first school was in Jeffersoii township, .\fter completing his term be 
entered Oberlin College, and for six years continued his efforts to- 
ward gaining a thorough education, teaching school three months of 
each vear and being in college the rest of the time. He graduated in 
1861, and immediately a strenuous life awaited him. Answering Lin- 
coln's first call for troo]5S, iie enlisted on .\pril 23, 1861, in Company 
C, Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, fur three months, and l)efore the 
expiration of that time and while ni camp' be re-enlisted in the same 
cfjmpanv and reg"iment for three years' service. At Cross Lanes, West 
Virginia, he was taken prisoner on .\ugust 26, 1861, and endured nine 
months of imprisonment at Richmfnid, New Orleans and Salisbury, 
North Carolina, after \\hich he was paroled and soon discharged on 
account of disabilitv. 



COS HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Returning to Indiana he taught a term of school, and then from 
i8(.)3 to 1873 ^^^^ hiia.(l clerk and bookkeeper in a general mercantile 
establishment at Bristol. He resumed teaching in 1873, l^^in? princi- 
pal of the Bristol schools two years, was principal at Lima, Indiana, 
three years, was at Edwardsburg, Michigan, a year, and in the fall of 
1880 became identified with the Elkhart schools, so that he has been 
connected with this city as a resident and educator for a full quarter 
of a century. For twelve years he was principal of the fourth ward 
schools, and since then principal of the Central school. 

While never very active in politics, Mr. Myers has been public 
spirited beyond the ordinary and at \'arious times and occasions has 
given his services to the ]nrblic. In 1871 he was elected and seiwed a 
term in the state legislature, and just before going to the assembly he 
served a term as trustee of Washington township. He affiliates with 
Shiloh Post, G. A. R., and he and his wife are members of the Pres- 
byterian church, of which he is an elder. January 31, 1863, Mr. Myers 
married Miss Mary Emma Jamison, and they have two children : Al- 
bert J. is a dentist in Chicago, and Margaret M. is at home. 

A. P. KENT. 

A. P. Kent, editor of the Elkhart Rcvici<.% has for thirty years 
held a foremost rank among the editors and newspaper publishers of 
northern Indiana. He is recognized and generally acknowledged to be 
one of the most forceful and dignified editorial writers among the 
newspaper fraternity, and his paragraphs contain all the " pith and 
moment " of the ephemeral events, and his expressions on local and 
state affairs are marked with keenest discrimination and insight. The 
dean of the Elkhart county press, he maintains a place of lofty regard 
in the minds of all his fellow editors and has given his best life's efforts 
to the uplxiilding of his city and county and to the advocacy of the 
political and moral causes which have appealed most stroaigly to his 
judgment. 

A son of Burton and Caroline (Palmer) Kent, the former a native 
of l^erry. New Hampshire, and the latter of Unadilla, New York, 
^Ir. Kent was born May 19, 1847, in Adrian, Michigan, whither his 
father, who was a civil engineer, moved in 1844, and where he followed 
his profession many years. Mr. Kent was educated in Hamilton Col- 
lege, Clinton, New York, and the year following his graduation from 
that institution in 1870, having already made up his mind to take up 
the profession of journalism, he came to Elkhart and purchased an 
interest in the weekly Reviez^\ His connection with that paper marks 
the beginning of its era of great prosperity. In 1872 the daily Rctnczi." 
was established, and under his editorship the publication of the daily 
and weekly editions has continued uninterruptedly to the present, the 
jiaper growing continually in circulation and reputation. The Rcznen' 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY •'";> 

has the best equipped offices of any newspaper in the county, the plant 
being housed in a substantial brick building devoted entirely to the 
publishing and lousiness department of the paper. The political coui- 
plexion of the Reinezi'i has always been Republican. 

Mr. Kent has been identified with the cause of education in Elk- 
hart, lx3tli through his advocacy of higher standards of education in his 
capacity as editor, and also as superintendent of the Elkhart city schools, 
which position he held from 1879 to 1882. 

In 1874 Mr. Kent married Miss Emma L. Newell, who' was born 
in Concord. New Hampshire, in 1856. 

JAMES H. STATE. 

In a profession where advancement depends upon individual merit, 
where success comes as a result of thorough preparation and correct 
application of legal principles to the points of litigation, James H. 
State has won a place of prominence, being regarded as one of the 
leading lawyers of practice at the Elkhart bar. He was born in Tourin, 
Lewis county. New York, in 1855, and is a son of John and Teresa 
(Riley) State. His father, a native of the north of Ireland, learned 
the trade of tanning in early life and when a young man emigrated to 
America, locating in Lewis county. New York, about 1850. There 
he worked at his trade fur a uumljer of years and in 1870 he came 
to Indiana, settling at Elkhart, where he entered the employ of the 
Lake Shore Railroad Company, with which he was connected through- 
out the remainder of his active business career. He died in 1890 and 
his wife, also a native of the Eimerald Isle, is now living in Elkhart. 

James H. State acquired the greater part of his education in the 
schools of Madison, Ohio, where the family lived prior to their re- 
moval to this city. In Elkhart he entered the Revicza office, learning 
the printer's trade under the direction of A. P. Kent, then, as now. 
the publisher of the paper, and later he did reportorial work. His 
leisure hours were largely devoted to study, especially along legal 
lines, and eventually he entered the 'law office of M. F. Shuey, while 
subsequently he continued his law reading under the direction of J. 
M. VanEleet. In 1876 he was elected city clerk and while in that of- 
fice he continued his reading so that in 1881 he was admitted td the 
bar. He entered upon the practice of his chosen profession and later 
was appointed deputy prosecuting attorney for the Elkhart circuit 
court, serving in that office for several years. He is regarded to-day 
as a valued, capal)le, and prominent lawyer and has been accorded a 
large clientage. His former employer, Mr. Kent, says that Mr. State 
is noted for his absolute fidelity and honesty and that when he makes 
a statement it is accepted by every one as a fact. In the preparation 
of a case he is thorough and ]i;nnstaking and in its presentation before 
court or jury he is logical and forceful, his decisions being presented 



t5lO HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

in a clear, precise manner, while the facts are marshale<l so as to pro- 
duce the desired result. 

Mr. State is a memher of the Century Club, of which he served 
as president for one year. He was also president of the National Un- 
ion, a fraternal organization, and he is a member of the Kenwood 
Golf Clul). Mr. State was married at Elkhart to Miss Katharine A. 
Snvder. and thev ha\-e one child. Mrs. Marg'ie L. Bartley. 

C. C. PIATT. 

C. C. Piatt, superintendent of the yarils and mill of the Sanders & 
Egbert Company of Goshen, and also a stockholder in that \vell known 
manufacturing' institution, was born at LaGrange. Indiana. Novem- 
ber 26, 1867. He is a brother of Walter B. Piatt, the United States 
postofilice inspector, whose residence is also in (loshen. His father, 
Isaiah Piatt, a native of Holmes county, Ohio, where he spent most 
of his life, was a prominent man of afifairs, especially in his home 
county, where he served as county auditor eight years, as county sur- 
\eyor several years, and was deputy state auditor for two \ears. Dur- 
ing the seventies he taught school in Elkhart county, and he died 
while in the employ of the Goodspeed Publishing Compan\ . of Chicago. 
lie was a much-traveled man, and his career was notable in many other 
respects. His wife, Mary Piatt, was born near Bristol, England, com- 
ing to this county in childhood and being' reared at LaGrange, Indiana, 
where she still makes her home. Besides the two sons alreadv men- 
tioned there was a (laughter, who died in childhood. 

Mr. C. C. Piatt, the younger son, was reared and educated in La- 
Grange county, and also attended the business college at LaPorte, In- 
diana. He has been identified as a resident and business factor with 
( ioshen since he was twenty years old. He was connected, successively, 
witii John H. Lesh & Company, Lesh. Penro(r(S: Company, and then 
with the Sanders & Egliert Com]janv. for whom he became superin- 
tendent of yards and mill in 1902. 

Fraternally Mr. Piatt affiliates with the Knights of Pythias, and 
his ]jolitical associations are with the Republican party. He was mar- 
ried in 1890 to Miss Laurinda Tuttle, a daughter of Albert Tuttle. 
Air. and Mrs. Piatt ha\e three 1:)right and interesting' children. Pauline, 
aged tweh'e : John. fi\'e years old, and Doroth\'. two vears old. 

HENRY B. SYKES. 

In the history of the business nien of Elkhart it is imperative that 
mention should be made of Flenry B. Sykes, whose commercial record 
is a credit to the city and whose political career is one that has ahvays 
priived of i)ublic benefit. He was horn in Bennington county. \^er- 
niont. in 1844. his jiarents being Judge Israel Newtnn and Diana ((lil- 
bert ) Sykes. The ancestr\- of the Svkes family can be traced back to 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 611 

1637. in which year the family was founded in America, and at a later 
(lay representatives of the family served in the RevolutionaiT war. The 
father was bom in the same house in w-hich occurred the birth of Henry 
B. Sykes, and was reared' uijon a farm, but when a young man he 
studied law and was later elected to the baich, serving with distinc- 
tion as jutlge for a number of years, his career reflecting credit upon 
the judicial history of liis state. He died in 1896 at the advanced age 
(if ninetv years. His wife, who was also a native of the Green Moun- 
tain state, died there in the eighty-seventh year of her age. 

Henrv B. Sykes acquired his literary education at Burr & Burton 
Seminarv, Manchester, Vermont, and received his commercial train- 
ing in Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie. After complet- 
ing his course he clerked in the store of his brother, G. M. Sykes, at 
Dorset, Vermont, for two years, and the year 1866 witnessed his ar- 
rival in the middle west. He located first at Belvidere, Illinois, where 
he engaged in clerking in a drug store for nine months, being willing 
to accept any honest employment that would gain him a start in this 
.section of the country. He afterward liecame assistant cashier of the 
First National Bank, serving in that capacity for nearly two years, 
wb.en he embarked in the dry-goods business in connection with I). 
D, Sabin, with wdiom he was associated for about sixteen years under 
the firm style of Sabin & Sykes. 

Selling his interest in the store at Belvidere, Mr. Sykes removed 
to Elkhart, Indiana, in October, 1884, and purchased the stock of dry 
goods owned by J. F. Hunt, at No. 22'j and 229 South Main street. 
The business was conducted in a three-story building, and with the 
growth of his trade Mr. Sykes rented and occupied the two upjier 
floors as well as the main floor. In September, 1902, he added the 
corner building adjoining his old ]ilace, occupying two floors of that 
structure, and he now has the entire lilock at Nos. 227, 229 and 231 
South Main street, with a frontage of sixty feet and a deiitli of one 
hundred and twenty-five feet. He conducts a modern nietro])olitan 
dry-goods and department store of the first class, equi])ped with every 
convenience and improvement, having ele\-ator service and emi^loying 
a large number of salesmen. The business has constantly grown un- 
der his .supervision and be has prospered continuously since coming to 
Elkliart. He has also been .-i \er\- imj^ortant factor in the commercial 
and industrial development of the city, iierhaps no one er|ualling him 
in bis efforts in this direction, lie is enthusiastic in bis belief concern- 
ing the future of the chv and inspires litbers with bis own faith. He 
lakes a most ]3rominent and ]iraclical ])art in ])romoting enterprises that 
tend to advance the general welfare, esnecially those which are insti- 
tuted b\' the Century Club, the Inisiiiess organization of the cit)-. Ik- 
is a member of the board of directors of this club and is one of its 
active and \alued members. 

^Ir, S\'kes has also extended bis eft'orts to other lines of trade 



612 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

aside from the conduct of his department store. He is the treasurer 
and one of the directors of the Home Telephone Company, is a director 
of the Building and Loan Association and a member of the board of 
directors, and financially interested in maiiy other important enter- 
prises of Elkhart. 

His devotion to the general welfare led to his selection liy the Re- 
publican party as its nominee for mayor in 1894. He won the election 
by flattering majority and served for four years. He gave to the city 
a business-like administration, introducing the ideas of reform, advo- 
cating progressive improvement, and altogether promoting in large 
measure the welfare and upbuilding of his citv. Socially he is con- 
nected with the Kenwood Golf Club. 

Li 1868 in Belvidere, Illinois, occurred the marriage of Mr. Sykes 
and Miss Louisa ,S. Avery, and to them have been born four children : 
Egbert Newton, Mary Gertrude, Harrj' Aven,' and Walter Blakesley. 

Mr. Sykes is pleasant and genial and very approachable, not as- 
suming the reserved state as many men would when they become 
wealthy. Steadily pursuing- his way upward he has achieved the ]}ros- 
perity of which he did not dream at the outset of his career. Steady 
application, careful study of business methods and plans to be fol- 
lowed, close attention to details combined with an untiring energy di- 
rected by a superior mind, these are the traits of character which ha\e 
brought him success and made him one of the foremost men nt F.lk- 
hart. 

ORRIN M. CONLEY. 

The bar of Elkhart county has never lacked capable and often dis- 
tinguished representatives, whether in general or special branches of prac- 
tice. But in the field of coi-poration and particularly real estate and title 
law Orrin M. Conley, of Elkhart, easily takes foremost rank for breadth 
of insight and judgment and skill born of varied experience in handling 
this department of legal work. He is a recognized authorit}- in his 
special field, and in recent years has confined his attention almost exclu- 
sively to practice as counsel in preference to court and jury work. Eligi- 
ble to practice since 1886, he gained his entrance into the difficult pro- 
fession of the law by hard and persevering work, and since his admission 
to the bar has won his advancement by the same elements of character. 
He is known as one of the earnest, hard-working and intellectually gifted 
lawyers of the county, and is held in high esteem among his fellow prac- 
titioners and the public generally by reason of these qualities and his en- 
gaging personality. In such a county as Elkhart only men of first-class 
ability can rise to eminence in the law. the gates are almost continually 
fast shut against the mediocre, and it is a distinction of the highest merit 
to bear the reputation from year to year of being one of the most success- 
ful and able attorneys in the county. 

.\ nati\'e son of Elkhart countv, born on a farm near the old \-illage 




(yM^^^^^T^' (?^^-^>^^^ 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY HI 3 

of Jamestown, in Baug'o township, July 5, i860, Mr. Conley is a son of 
George W. and Sarah A. (Tov.sley) Conley, who are still living' on the 
old homestead in Baugo township. There are some interesting ancestral 
records which should be detailed at this point before taking- up the life 
of the Elkhart attorney. His father was born in Summit county, Ohio, 
April 25, 183 1, and was a son of Captain William and Elizabeth (Will- 
iams) Conley, the former a soldier in the war of 1812. Captain William 
Conley was a native of Virginia, and his wife was \x>m in Williamsville 
or Elizabeth, that state, she of Pennsylvania Dutch descent and reared in 
Pittsburg. Pennsylvania, and he of Irish lineage. Eli Conley, the father 
of ^^'illiam and the great-grandfather of Orrin M., was born in Ireland. 
Mr. Conley's parents were reared in Ohio and married at Akron. His 
mother, who was born in Akron, was a daughter of Franklin and Sarah 
(Rining'er) Towsley, the latter a nati\e nf Germany. Franklin Towsley. 
who was born and died at Akron, was a son of John and Rebecca 
(Bishop) Towsley. John Towsley. wIto was of Scotch descent but of old 
New England stock, born in Connecticut, was a pioneer to Ohio, and 
died in Akron in 185 1. His wife, who died at Akron in 1858. was the 
eldest daughter of Dr. Bishop of Connecticut. George W. Conley and 
his wife came to Elkhart county in 1854. so that they have been residents 
of the county over half a century. Of their nine children, four died in 
early life, and those living are: Almon O.. of Berrien Springs, Michi- 
gan : Orrin M. : Minerva E., w-ife of Lloyd N. Warner, of Elkhart 
county: Alma R., wife of Joseph Delancy, an Elkhart county farmer: and 
Flora A., at home. 

His father being a lifelong farmer, Mr. Conley was reared on a farm 
and began his education in the country schools. While following the 
plow around the fields his mind was often busied with ambitions for a 
more ample career, and upon the foundation of a sturdy farm training 
and rearing in a refined home he began to build for a professional career. 
Industrious and studious in school as well as a capable assistant to his 
father at home, he was prepared at the age of sixteen to teach school, and 
for some years thereafter he ga\-e his time alternately to attending and 
teaching school, his record as a teacher covering some ten terms. Teach- 
ing was a means to an end. During the vacation intervals he studied 
at the Northern Indiana Normal College at Valparaiso, where he de- 
voted considerable of his time to the study of la\v, after which he enteaed 
the law office of O. T. Chamberlain at Elkhart. Admitted to the bar on 
January 6, 1886, he at once launched out into what has proved a very 
successful career in Elkhart. On February 25, 1891. he was admitted 
to practice before the supreme court of Indiana and on December 1 1 . 
1893, l^efore the United States supreme court. From 1887 to 1894 his 
practice was with Hon. O. Z. Hubbell, now deceased, and since then he 
has formed no partnership. Mr. Conley's professional connections dur- 
ing the past twenty years ha\'e identified him with a large share of the 
most important legal transactions in the C(iunty. 



614 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Air. C'liiley is a Democrat in pdlitics and an able jiDlitical speaker. 
.Mthough nffered ]5<ilitical preferment time and again, his \nve for liis 
profession was too ardent and he refused to give it up fi ^r pulilic Hfe. 
Fraternally he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevo- 
lent Order of Elks, and is a member of the Congregational church. 

On Christmas day of 1887 he was united in marriage to Miss Cora 
E. Griffin, daughter o'f James M. and Alice E. Criffin. of Elkhart, and 
thev have as the fruit of said marriage three sons, Haruld C. James R. 
and Arthur H. 

:\1RS. CATHARINE KOONS. 

Mrs. Koons is one of the good pioneer mothers, who now is past 
the eighty-first milestone, and who came to Elkhart county when she 
was a little maiden of nine years, .so she has seen the great develop- 
ment of this beautiful county from the earliest stages of settlement. 
The red men of the forest roamed at will, and the wild deer were plen- 
tiful, and ofttimes seen upon the premises, and all these early stages 
she has witnessed. She has lived in this county since the year <if the 
Black Flawk viar. She was born Se])tember 25, 1823. in Ross county. 
Ohio, and she is the fifth in a family of children born to Ci:llins and 
Sarah Christie. Tliere were fourteen children in the family and tliere 
are three living: Elizabeth, widow of William Caldwell, resides in 
Savannah, Missouri. Mrs. Koons is next. Sarah. \\idii\\- nf a Mr. 
Retcher. resident of Michigan. 

Tlie father was a nati\e of Oliio. and he was a snldier in the war 
of i8]_'. 

Mrs. Koons Avas a little girl of nine when she became a citizen of 
Elkhart county, and tlie first home of the Christies was a little pole or log 
cal?in, with lioard donr. and it was heated by a kind of a fire place and 
the Indians would come and Imld their hands o\er the mouth of the 
chimnev to get warm. The corn was planted with a lioe among the 
trees. The 'ittle log cabin was the only house standing till Benton 
^\■as reached and tf) the east as far as Ligonier. 

The ox team was the means of conveyance and she sa}'s she has 
gone sleigh-riding behind them. Mrs. Krxms has colored, s]iun and 
woven hundreds of vards nf woolens into cloth for clothing. She >'et 
IvA^ the old loom, reel and big wheel. She, like nianv of the ]iioneer 
mothers, tells of the a]3ple parings, the f|uiltings, log rollings and all 
the old-time j^leasures which are dear to the old people of to-day. 

The school she first attended was ;i log cabin, with clajjboard 
roof, heated with the old-fashioned fire place. She has written with 
tlie old goose-iiuill pens. She wedded William Koons. Easter Sundaw 
.\pril 12. 184C), and three daughters v>ere horn: Matilda, wife of 
W.'irren Mcl'ride, one of the pros])erous agriculturists of Benton. 
Sophia li\-es with her mother and iittends to mother's business. She 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 615 

is a nienil.ier of the Ricliville M. Ii. clvarch. Etta is the wife of Eug-ene 
McBride, resident cjf Syracuse, Indiana, and a manufacturer. 

Fatlier Koons was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born Aug- 
ust 20, 1820. and died No\-ember 23. 1880. He was reared in Ohio 
till manhood, and then came to Lidiana. He was educated in the com- 
mon schools and was an agriculturist. He was a Republican. 

Mrs. Koons resides on her own estate, comprising eighty acres 
of good land in Jackson to\\n.-,hi]). She is surrounded by her many 
and dear friends as well as her children, and all are always g'lad to see 
and greet the kind and motherly face. She has always done her part 
in all ljene\-olences worthy of her, and she aided in the building of the 
new brick M. E. church in Bentt)n township. 

NATHANIEL LONG. 

Mr. Long is so well known that he needs no introduction to the 
people of Benton township. He ih a nati\e of the county of Elkhart, 
of a part of the farm wdiere he now resides, and was born April 1 5. 1858. 
He is the ninth in a family of thirteen children, eight sons and five 
daughters, born to Martin and L}dia (Searfoss) Long. There are 
only three living. Mr. Long, the eldest; James, resident of Ben- 
ton township and a prosperous agriculturist and married, and Mary L., 
widow of Milo Ott, resident of Kosciusko county. 

Father Long was a native of Preble county. Ohio, and was born 
December 6, 181S, and died in June, 1895. He was a tiller of the 
soil. A boy of sixteen, or in 1834, two years after the Black Hawk 
war. he came to Benton township. He was a successful man, and 
had accumulated about four hundred acres of good land in Elkhart 
and Kosciusko counties. The name Long comes from old (Germany, 
as the early progenitors of the Long family came across the water. 
Father Long was a stanch W big and afterward a Rqxiblican. He 
and his wife were members of the (jerman Lutheran church, and they 
helped in the erection -of the church at the \illag'e of Benton, and he was 
a man who aided all benevolences worth)' of their consideration. He 
was one of the j^ioneer fathers of Elkhart count^^ an<l a m;m wliom all 
re.spected. 

?^I<.ther Long was a nati\-e of Northumberland countw I'enn- 
syh'ania, and she was born Julv 2j. 1823, and she was a little maiden 
^vhen she came to Elkhart county. 

Mr. Long was reared and educated in his home township. He 
remained with his jiarents till his marriage at the age of 25. He 
wedded Miss Mahala Hapner, March 18, 1883. -Mrs. Long was Ijorn 
in P)enton township. July it. 1858, and she is the eldest of five chil- 
dren, one son and four daughters, of Abraham and Sarah (Ott) Hap- 
ner. Three are living. Mrs. Long is eldest. Marietta is the wife of 
William .\. Juih'. resident of Benton township and ;i jirosperous 



616 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

icV/mer. ^fatilda is the wife of Jacul) W. Ott, resident of Benton town- 
ship. 

Father Hapner was horn in Benton township, January 19, 1833. 
and he died November 13. i8g6. He came from Scotcli-Irish ancestry. 
He was an agriculturist and a successful man in his business. He was 
tonnerly a ^^l^ig■ and later a Republican. He was one of the trustees 
of the United Brethren in Christ church of Benton, and was one of 
the pillars of the church. He was .tlso a class leader of the church. 

^lother Hapner was burn in Preble county, Ohio, Decemlier 4, 
1831, and she died December 9, 1899. She was a little girl when she 
came to Indiana. 

]Mrs. Long has been reared in her home township. \\'hen the young 
couple began life it was in a little log cabin just east of their present 
beautiful modern residence. He began at the bottom of the ladder as a 
renter. He erected the barn in 1891, and in 1896 he finished their pretty 
home, which is a credit to the townshi]) of Benton. Besides the eighty 
acres at home, Mrs. Long has fifty-two acres of fine land, and all this 
estate lies in Benton township. He aims to keep good stock of all 
kinds. 

'Sir. Long is a Republican and cast his vote first for Garfield. He 
and his wife are ardent members of the United Brethren in Christ 
church, and he was one of the stanch pillars in its support, and they 
take interest in the Sunday school. ?ilrs. Long has been a teacher in 
the Sunday school for fifteen years. 

HER]\IAN BORNEMAN. 

Herman Borneman, who occupies a prominent position in the com- 
mercial circles of Elkhart as the principal memter of the firm of Borne- 
man and Sons, extensive retail dealers in hardware, stoves, etc., is an 
example of the enterprising German-American citizen who, coming to 
this country without capital, by dint of diligence and careful manage- 
ment has attained an influential ]xisition as a man of afifairs, whether 
in business or citizensliip. 

Born in Germany, August 10, 1852, educated there up to the tinie 
he was fourteen years old, at the age of fifteen he accompanied his par- 
ents to America and lived at ]\Ionroe, Michigan, with his father, who' 
was a mason by trade, until he reached his majority. At Monroe he 
served an apprenticeship at the tinner's trade for three years and re- 
mained there in the employ of one man until 1876, which was the date 
of his removal tr. Elkhart. For the first six months in this city he 
worked at his trade .for John dinger, and then for a similar period 
w.'is at Fremont. Indiana, after which he returned to this city and has 
e\er since been prominently identified therewith in a business and 
civic way. He bought out Thfjuias Bigelow's hardware, stoves and 
tinware establishment, a \-ery small shop located on Main street, and 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 617 

in partnership A\ith George Doll undertook to build up a business which 
should have a right to be considered among the leading enterprises of 
the kind in Elkliart. They were successful. In three years they 
moved to the corner of Lexington and Main streets, and in another 
three years bought the corner lot where the business has been con- 
ducted since 1883, the present building having been erected in that 
year. The firm was known as Borneman and Doll for twenty-five years, 
until 1902, when Mr. Borneman bought out his partner and made room 
for his two sons, Herman F. and Edward C, to take a share in the 
business, since which time their concern has been under the name of 
Borneman and Sons. A general hardware stock is carried, and one 
of the most varied and extensive in the county, besides harness and 
other similar commodities. Mr. Borneman is also interested in Elk- 
hart real estate, owning what is known as the Sykes corner, in which 
the IMerchants Hotel is situated. 

Mr. Borneman has been an active Republican since 1896. Public- 
spirited in all things, possessed of that degree of civic pride which is 
the chief factor in a city's development, he has ser\'ed two terms as a 
member of the city council and in various other ways has contributed 
to the upbuilding tif Elkhart. He is a member of the rierman Lutheran 
church. 

Mr. Borneman married, in 1880, ]\Iiss Catherine Wagner, also 
a nati\-e of Germany. They have five children, four sons and one 
daughter, namely, Herman F., Edward C, George, Fred and Rosa. 

ANDREW STEPHENS. 

The late .\ndrew Stephens for over half a century was a well 
known business man and resident of Elkhart. He became identified 
with the city when he was a young man, and his activity in business af- 
fairs never ceased until his death. He is remembered in the city not only 
for the able way in which he conducted his business affairs but also 
for the sterling manhood and spotless integrity which characterized him 
all his life, and which is the best heritage he leaves to his descendants. 

Born in Dauphin county, Pennsydvania, May 29, 1832, he was 
past the age of threescore and ten when death called him away from 
this city on October 9, 1903. He was a son of Andrew and Marv 
(Braden) Stephens, who were also born in Pennsylvania, of Engiisli 
and Irish lineage respectively. The parents had four sons: Joshua. 
John, Benjamin F. and Andrew, and one daughter, Ann. .\ndrew 
was the youngest of the five children, and the only survivor is the 
daughter, who is a resident of Elkhart. The father died in 1832, in 
January, several months before the birth of his son Andrew. He had 
'l)een a soldier in the war of 1812, and by occupation was a farmer. His 
widow continued to reside on the Pennsylvania homestead until she 
had reared her children, and in 1852 she brought her familv out to 



618 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Indiana, making a brief stay in Stcnhen cminty and locating- in Elk- 
liart county the same year. 

The late Mr. Stephens Hved in Elkliart from 1S5J until his death, 
having- located there when Elkhart was only a small town. Having 
become proficient in the carpenter's trade during his youth, on coming 
to this city lie worked at his trade two or three years. Then he and 
his iirother Benjamin F. entered into a ]>artnership and established a 
cabinet-making, undertaking' and furniture business, which was one 
of the pioneer enterprises of the kind in Elkhart. It was conducted 
fnr a little more than twenty years under the firm name of B. F. and 
.\. Ste])hens, and then Mr. Stei)hens became sole proprietor. In 1885, 
on tlie adniission of his son Henry E. to a partnership, the name was 
changed to A. Stephens and Son, and the son is now the successor to 
the Inisiness. This is the oldest undertaking house in the city, hav- 
ing a record extending back fifty years, and it is also distinctive as 
being an exclusive undertaking estal>lishment. the furniture department 
having been discontinued some years age. 

Mr. Stepiiens was prominently known throughout the cit}-. Be- 
fore Elkhart became a city he served as a town trustee, but thereafter 
never sought any political or civic office. He was a Methodist and 
consistent Christian. He married, in t86o. Miss Frances E. Hall, who 
is still living. They were the parents of four children : Lillie, Luella, 
Henry E. and Charles .A. 

Henr\- E. Stephens, the successor of his father in business and 
for a nnniber of years numliered among the capable and progressix-e 
business men of the cit}-, was born in Elkhart. July 3, 1864. He was 
reared and educated here, at the age of se\-enteen entered liis father's 
store, four years later became a partner, and is now ijroprietor of the 
business. In 1885 he married ^liss Margaret E. McElmoil, by wlmm 
he has one child, Irina .\. Mr. Stephens is a member of the Methodist 
ihurch, and has fraternal affiliations with the Masons, the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, Benevolent Protective 
Order of T-llks, t!ie Imjjroved Order of Red Men. and the Modern 
Samaritans of the V\'orld. 

ABR \H.\M L. SEARER. 

.\mong the native-born sons of Elkhart county who have since 
taken their jilaces in die ranks of the able and highly res]>ected citi- 
zens and become successful in their respective vocations, one whr) de- 
serves especial mention for his connection with the agricultural activ- 
ity of Olive townshi)) is INIr. .\brahain L. Searer, a scion of one of 
the f)ld families in the count}- and a man whose career has been passed 
in creditable consi.stency with the record of tlie past and with the best 
standards of the present. 

Born September 9. .1863, Mr. Seai-er is the eighth in order of birth 



HISTORY Ol'^ ELKHART COLWTV 619 

lit the nine children, seven sons and two daughters, who were Ixarn to 
John and Susan (Wentz) Searer. All these children are living and 
all are residents of this county except Christ, who is married and 
is a farmer and miller of Cass county, ^Michigan. The father, who was 
!)()rn in Pennsylvania in 1821, and died in Olive township in 1896, 
came to this county at an early day and in 184Q purchased seventeen 
acres of land in Olive township, to which nucleus he added hy subse- 
f|uent purchases until his estate comprised two hundred and forty acres 
in this township. He had received a common school education, and 
gained an imusual degree of success in life. He was a Republican in 
iiolitics. and a luemljer of the Mennonite church. His wife, who was 
also a natixe of Pennsylvania, died at the age of seventy-eight. 

Reared and educated in Olive township, with part of his educa- 
tion acquired in the W'akarusa schools, Mr. Searer spent the years of 
his life up tt) niaji:rity in the home of his parents, and when he essayed 
an indeiiendent career he began absolutely without capital, except such 
as the inherent forces of his character and physicjue supplied. Hav- 
ing been reared on a farm, he was well prepared for farming as a voca- 
tion, and after spending several years as a renter he bought forty acres 
in Jefferson townshi]> of Kosciusko county. On selling- this he bought 
nine acres in the town limits of W'akarusa. 

Mr. Searer married, in 1890, Miss Mattie Rarick. and of the sou 
n.nd four daughters born to them, four are living, namely: Esther, 
in the seventh grade of the Wakarusa schools; Oscar, in the fifth 
grade: ]\Iabel, in the second: and Clara. Mrs. Searer was born in 
this county in October, 1863, and was educated in the common schools. 
Her i>arents were John and Esther (Creitzer) Rarick. whose eight 
children, three sons and five daughters, are all living. 

In 1901 ^Ir. Searer bought the one hundred and eighty acres 
which forms his present beautiful and \aluable estate and which w^as 
a part of the old Searer homestead. He is a ]3ractical agriculturist in 
every department of his enter])rise. He is cpiite well know^n as a stock- 
raiser, having been very successful in raising Belgian draft horses and 
the Chester White hogs. The ]iolitical views of Mr. Searer coincide 
with the jjrinciijles of the Reiniblican party, and he has been a loyal 
supporter of the party since casting his first vote for Blaine in 1884. 
He has also been liberal in contributing to the su]5]X)rt of the various 
churches and their benevolences, and in many other wavs his ])ublic- 
spirited citizenship has maniie.sted itself. 

jOilX lAIMKE. 

John L'niniel is .1 re])rescntati\ c not nnl\" of the enter])rise and 
business ability which are the foundation of material prosperity but 
also of those civic and moral virtues which give to a community a 
wholesomeness and strength which can never be gained from an\' other 



G20 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

source than character. Physical and moral stamina, strength of pur- 
pose in carrying out worthy ideals, and uprightness in all the affairs 
of life have given Mr. Ummel a deserved pi-ominence among his fel- 
low men, and his career is so well known in southwest Elkhart county 
as to need no further introduction. 

He was born in Elkhart county, November J4. 1861, the eldest 
child and only son of Joseph and Susan (Coffmaii ) Ummel. His sis- 
ters are Mary, wife of Noah Simmons, a farmer of Harrison town- 
ship; and Delilah, wife of J. W, Moyer, a teacher and farmer. 

Joseph Ummel, who was hmn in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania. 
in 181 1, and died in 1884, having followed the life of a successful 
farmer, at the age of twenty-four left his native state and came to 
Wayne county, Ohio, where he purchased a farm and remained until 
1854, in which year he located in Harrison tow-nship of this county. 
Here he bought three hundred and fifty acres of partially improved 
land, and in the log cabin which served as his first home his son John 
was born a few years later. He and his wife were members of the 
Mennonite church. The latter, who was born in Ohio about 1829 and 
who is still living on the old homestead in Harrison township, came 
to Elkhart county in 1836. her father being one of the county's pio- 
neers, and the Indians often came to their door to beg i)ri)\-isions when 
the family had hardly enough for themselves. 

The career of Mr. John Ummel has been spent quietly and use- 
fully in this county, and, without exciting incidents to his life history, 
it is none the less a record of solid achievement and of inspiring suc- 
cess. After obtaining a common school education he remained at home 
till his majority, when he began as a renter on the old homestead, con- 
tinuing that two years. He inherited eighty-three acres of the old 
homestead. In 1886 he sold his farm and. locating in Elkhart, en- 
gaged in a planing mill enterprise, which later merged with a factory 
for the making of folding beds. Manufacturing pro^-ed unfortunate, 
but notwithstanding the loss of a large amount of money Mr. Ummel 
did not allow himself to be daunted in his pur.suit of success. In 1890. 
leaving the city, he purchased eighty acres in section 4 of Harrison 
township, and, with the addition of another twenty acres purchased 
later, he has so managed his affairs as to rank among the most success- 
ful agriculturists of this section of the county. Mr. Ummel has made 
his best success as a potato-raiser, and for extent of operations and 
profitable outcome in this line he probably excels any man in northern 
Indiana. Each year about forty acres of his land are devoted to the 
production of the tubers, and in 1904 his yield averaged the almost phe- 
nomenal figure of 274 bushels an acre. The " Rural New Yorker " is 
liis favorite variety. The product goes to all parts of the United States 
as w'ell as to the local markets, and it stands in high esteem^ among 
all the large buyers. Another department of Mr. Ummel's farming 
enterprise is his apiary, which at this writing contains fifty stands. The 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 621 

Ummel farm is by nature (nie ni" the richest in the county, the soil be- 
ing black timber loam, suited tor unfailing production of large crops. 
It was formerly covered with dense timber, hundreds of trees measur- 
ing four feet or more in diameter, and by hard work he has cleared the 
place and made every acre productive. Fruits, such as peaches, plums 
and cherries, are grown by him in considerable quantities, and the dif- 
ferent branches of his enterprise are managed with increasing profit 
each year. 

November 2t„ 1895, Air. Ummel married Miss Ella Lambert. 
Four sons and two daug'hters were born, and all except a little daugh- 
ter are living, namely: Joseph, who is in the third grade of school; 
Edward, also in school ; Paul, Daniel and Mary. 

Mrs. Ummel, who was born in Lehigh county, Pennsyhania, No- 
vember 29, 1874, is a daughter of George and Amanda (Gehman) 
Lambert, she being the oldest of their nine children, and her seven 
living brothers and sisters are : Edward, who was educated in ^Vaka- 
rusa, is a resident of Elkhart but at present is engaged with Armour 
and Company at Columbus, Ohio. Rose Lambert is a missionary at 
Hadjin, in the Asia minor provinces under the rule of the Sultan of 
Turkey, having been sent there under the auspices of the Mennonite 
church. She has had charge of an orphanage for Armenians, where 
are sheltered many children of those who were murdered in the Arme- 
nian massacres. Seven years of her life have been devoted to this mible 
cause in a far-away land, and in hundreds of ways and occasions she 
has been a ministering angel to those in want not only of spiritual com- 
fort but of the plainest necessities. Before taking- up her work in 
foreign lands she was practically educated and also had considerable 
experience as a nurse in a hospital, so that her skill in this direction 
is also of great value in her work, being able ti3 render nnich needed 
assistance when a regular ph\'sician can not be obtained. She is ex- 
pected on a visit to the United States during- the summer of 1905. and 
relati\-es and friends, as Avell as her church at large, are i>reparing a 
hearty welcome for their belnved sister in mercy. The Lambert fam- 
ily furnished another wurker to the field of practical Christianitv in 
the daughter Emma. who. a resident of Elkhart, is a city missionary, 
devoting herself to the cause of uplift and enlightenment in the desti- 
tute and degraded quarters of our large cities. No> work offers such 
opportunities for social service as this, and her self-sacrifice has brought 
countless l^lessings to the unfortunate and depraved that haunt the low- 
est levels of city societ} . Ira Lambert is a salesman at Gosiien, and 
has a little son. Willis. Nora v\as educated in the city schools and, 
like her sisters, has studied music. Jessie and Marie are at home. Rev. 
Lambert, the father. \\\u) was born in Pennsylvania. Mav ir. 1852. 
and now resides in Elkhart, where he located in i88t and where he 
has since li\-ed with the exce]5tion of a year and a half, is a minister 
of the Alennonite churcli ;ind has tra\-eled extensi\el\- in missionarv 



622 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

labors, having' crossed tlie Atlantic ti\-e times and the Pacific once. He 
has spent much time in Palestine, and in 1897 sailed around the world. 
Mrs. Lan:l)ert ^vas also born in Penns^'l\•ania, June q. 1850, and is still 
!i\-ing'. 

Mrs. L niniel. who was a girl of seven vears when she came with 
her pareiits to this county, has made her home in this county ever 
since, and was educated in the common schools and at Wakarusa. She 
tanglit two years, one year in her old home in Pennsylvania and one 
)'ear in the fifth grade at iSra]>panee. She is a lady of most pleasing 
personality, and has been a great heli> to her husband in the establish- 
ment of their home. She, as well as ber husband, is a de\-out worker 
in Bethel church in Harrison townshii> ;nid the Sunday school. Mr. 
Ummel is a true Christian gentleman. c;irr\ing bis principles of con- 
duct and life where\-er he goes, and has contributed freely to all causes 
which make for the upbuilding' of clnu'cb, education and societ\-. 

WARREN H. THOMAS. M. D. 

!)]•. Warren H. Thomas, a man of scholarly attainments, nf strong 
intellectualitv, who is successfullv engaged in the practice of medicine 
and surgery at Elkhart, is accounted one of the representative men 
of that city, exercising a potent influence in its public affairs and in its 
intellectual, moral . and material development in addition to figuring 
prominently in professional circles. He was bom at (ioshen. Indiana, 
April 28, 1837, his parents being Thomas and Mary (Kelly) Thomas. 

Thomas Thomas was a nati\-e of P>altimore, Marylaufl, born De- 
cember 17. 1792. and was reared in Virginia. He came to Elkhart 
countv, Indiana, in the year 1828. locating two miles east of the present 
site of the city. This was then a wild frontier region. The county at 
that time did not have an existence Ixit was organized by act of the 
.state legislature during the session of 1829-30. There were but two 
wdiite families on the present site of the county at that time — Elias 
Riggs and William Simpson having located there. After spending 
some months on Elkhart prairie Mr. Thomas removed to wdiat was 
then Carey's Mission, now Niles, Michigan, spending a winter at that 
place, but in the spring of 1829 he returned to Elkhart county. He 
was elected its first county clerk and a jjart of the session of the first 
court was held in his log cabin. He took an active and helpful part 
in the earlv development and imjimvcmeut. and aided in laying the 
foundation for its present intellectual, moral and legal status. In 1850 
he removed to Jackson township and in 1852 \vas appointed post- 
master of the Jackson ]X)stoflice, now New Paris. He lived in that 
localitv for several vears and subsequently removed to Warsaw, where 
he died. He was familiar with all of the facts wdiich form the early 
history of Elkhart countv. being a particiiiant in many of these and a 
witness nf others. He was a frequent contributor to local newspapers, 




l^■r-l^^^^^^ 7/7 <<^ 



"i 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COl'XTV ■ 623 

.111(1 his articles concernins^ the ]ii(ineei" development and early progress 
;ire of threat historical \"aliu'. He d.ied December 6. 1883, in his ninety- 
first year, respected by all wlm knew him. and his name shonld be in- 
scribed upon the pages of history because of the active and helpful part 
which he tonk in the substantial growth and progress of this portion 
of the state. The portrait of this ])ioneer citizen and county official 
appears elsewhere in this ^■olume. His wife, wIk) was born in Virginia, 
died at Goshen, Indiana, A])ril d, 1845. 

Dr. Thomas is the onl\- surviving son in a famil\- of eleven chil- 
dren. When fourteen, years of age he left home, entering the business 
world f;ir himself. Making his way to Michigan he secured employ- 
ment in \\'asliington, Macomb county, and later remained for a time in 
Romeo, in that county. He spent two years as a student in Dickinson 
Institute, desirous of supplementing his early educational privileges by 
greater advantages along that line. His love of adventure led him 
to the far west and he spent a portion of his earlier life amid the Rocky 
Mountains and in the gold fields oi Idaho. Such a course is a thor- 
ough test of a Adung man's character, as the pioneer experiences and 
the hardshi]DS which must be endured bring out his native strength or 
expose his weakness, and Dr. Thomas fully stood the test. 

Din'ing his residence in the far west he became imbued with a 
desire to enter the medical profession and to this end matriculated in 
the Hahnemann Medical College, of Chicago, from wdiich he was gradu- 
ated in 1876. Ha\'ing won his degree he entered upon practice, and for 
thirty-one v'ears has been a resident of Elkhart. His ]>rofessional services 
were in constant demand and almost from the beginning he was accorded 
a liberal patronage. He is a high type of the medical practitioner, hav- 
ing due regard for the ethics of the jjrofession and discharging- his duties 
with a sense of conscientious obligation. His professional career has 
likewise been characterized bv continuous progress, for, through read- 
ing and observation, experience and investigation, he has kept in touch 
Nvith modern thought and with the advancement which in recent 
years has brought about logical ideas in the meth.ods of medical prac- 
tice, gradually promoting the efficiency of the members of the frater- 
nity. In addition to the daily performance of his duties as a private 
])ractitioner he is now serving as president of the board of trustees of 
the Clark HonKeopathic Hospital, of Elkhart, has been president of 
the Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan Homreopathic Society 
and is secretary xif the Board of Health of Elkhart. He also served 
for one year as ])resident of the State Homoeopathic Institute. 

On the 2(\ of January, 1867, Dr. Thomas was united in marriage 
to Miss Emma ¥. Hill, and to them was born one son, George .\., who 
is now engaged in the drug business at Elkhart. They also have two 
adopted daughters. Mrs. H. E. \'anderli]i. of Chicago, and Mrs. Vic- 
toria Chartrand, who lives at her beautiful home at No. 211 Marion 
street. 



r.'24 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 

Dr. Thomas has wielded a wide influence in the pubHc Hfe and 
development of his chosen city. He is president of a number of char- 
ities of Elkhnrt county, and is a vahied member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity. Dr. Thomas was a member of tlie Elkhart school board for 
six years : two years of which time he was its president. He is a mem- 
ber of the Century Club. He is also vice-president of the Elkhart 
County Historical Society and since 1886 has been the president of 
the Elkhart Lecture Association, one of the largest and most popular 
associations of this character in the United States. He has every rea- 
son to be proud of his work in this connection and for what has been 
accomplished through the organization, for the association has brought 
to the city many notable lecturers and orators, incltiding Henry \\^ard 
Beecher, Lyman Abbott. Mrs. Mary A. Livermore, Elizabeth Cady 
Stanton. Hon. Justin McCarthy, M.'P., Susan B. Anthony, T. DeWitt 
Talmage, General Lew Wallace, Rev. Newell Dwight Hillis, Rev. Rob- 
ert Collyer, Murat Halstead, James Whitcomb Riley, Professor David 
Swing, Clara Louise Kellogg, Mme. Scalchi and many others. 

Dr. Thomas is a representative nf nur best type of American 
manhodd and chivalry. He is a gentleman wliose courtesy is unfail- 
ing, whose integrity is above question. \\'ithout ostentation or any 
desire for praise he has labored most earnestly for the welfare of Elkhart 
and his efforts liave redounded to the credit and benefit of the city. 

JOSEPH A. BEANE. 

.\s editor and publisher of the Coshen Democrat, the oldest news- 
paper of Elkhart county, Mr. J. A. Beane has been referred to several 
times on other pages of this work. As a monument to the life work 
of father and son the Democrat will always memorialize the Beane 
family, and through its columns have laeen expressed the personality 
and energetic individuality as well as the editorial influence of these 
two men, so that the history of the paper is in many respects the narra- 
ti\e of its best known editors and publishers. 

The present editor of the Democrat was lx>rn in Goshen, ^Nlay 8, 
1863, and he proudly claims this city as his almost constant residence 
from earliest years. He is a son of the late William A. Beane, who 
died in 1893. Born in Preble county. Ohio, in 1828, this well known 
Elkhart county journalist located at Benton in 1835, his boyhood days 
being passed during the period of greatest prosperity in that village. 
Directed by some undisclosed influence toward a journalistic career, 
when fifteen years old, in 1843, 'i^ entered tlie office of the Democrat 
in the employ of the famous Dr. E. W. H. Ellis. an<l thencefcirtli until 
his death, for a half century, was identified with the interests of the 
Democrat, for many years being its editor and proprietor. 

Atten<lance at the Goshen ])uhlic schools gave Mr. Beane his edu- 
cational efiuiimient. and when se\enteen vears old. in 1S80. he entered 



HISTORY Ul- ELKHART COUXTV 625 

the Democrat office. Therein he was ever3l:hing and everybody, from 
devil up to the higher ranks of journahstic honors, and thanks to this 
experience he is acquainted with all the details of modern newspaper- 
making and equipped as few men of his age are for the successful con- 
duct of a large daily and weekly paper. After the death of his father 
he took the management of the paper for the heirs, and later purchas- 
ing the other interests is now sole proprietor. In December, 1893, 
President Cleveland appointed Mr. Beane, who has always been a con- 
sistent upholder of Democratic princijiles, as postmaster of Goshen to 
succeed L. H. Beyerle. This office he filled with credit four years, un- 
til, at the change of national administration. President McKinley ap- 
pomted jMilton A. Cornell to the position. On retiring- fnam the post- 
office in 1897 i\lr. Beane established the daily edition of the Democrat, 
making the third daily for the city at that time — the A^rziiy, the Times 
and the Democrat. 

'Sir. Beane served several years as secretary of the Democratic 
central committee and as secretary of the Thomas A. Hendricks Club 
at Goshen. Fraternally, he became a Knight of Pythias in 1885, and 
for three years was keeper of records and seal and is now a past chan- 
cellor. In 1904 he joined Goshen Lodge No. 798, B. P. O. E. 

January 26, 1886, Mr. Beane married Miss Louise M. Henkel. a 
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles D. Henkel. Her father was born 
and reared in this county, for eight years, 1875 to 1883, filled the 
lX)sition of county auditor, besides other public offices, and belongs in 
history as one of the prominent men who have Ijeen behind the steadv 
progress and prosperity of Elkhart county. Mr. and Mrs. Beane have 
a charming family and their home is one that friends and acnuaintances 
delight to enter on account of its cordiality and cheer. The oldest 
daughter, Louise, who was born August 26, 1888, is a student in the 
high school, and Isabelle, born July 17, [895, attends the grade school. 
Their second daughter, ]\Iary, who was born ^lay 18, 1890. was taken 
from them by death on October 14, 1900. 

PROFESSOR FRANK SWART. 

Education is the great civilizer of the world and indicates a man's 
real worth, showing his position in relation to his fellow men. The 
educator, as Holland has truthfull) said, has more to do with fash- 
ioning and molding the character and minds of the children than ])ar- 
ent or pastor, and Professor Swart in this connection has wielded a 
wide and Ijeneficial influence, leaving the impress of his individuality 
and high worth upon many pupils who have come under his guidance. 
He is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of Elkhart 
county, and was born here June 25, 1876, being the second in a fam- 
ily of three children, whose parents were Jelle and Hiltje (Symensma) 
Swart. The eldest son, Charles, a resident of Jackson township, is a 



CrlG HISTORY OF ELKHART COL'XTY 

representative agriculturist, wlio is marrietl and maizes his liome in the 
counlv. where he was reared and educated. Frank is the next of the 
family. .\d(lis(in is alsn a re])resentati\e young farmer of Jackson 
township. 

Prcjfessur Swart was rearetl amid a relining home atmosphere 
and his life has been one of study and meditation. l<"rom his boyhood 
days tO' the present time he has been a student, always interested in 
mental development. He began his education in the common schools 
and afterward entered the Goshen high school in the fall of 1894, pur- 
suing a classical course there for two years. He next entered the Cen- 
tral Normal College, in the fall of 1897, •'"•^' ^^'^'i l^'^ degree of Bache- 
lor of Arts in that institution upon graduation with the class of 1898. 
When not engaged in pursuing his own education he has taught .school, 
h'or a vear he was a teacher in his home district, but ambitious to pur- 
sue a collegiate course he determined to enter the Leland Stanford 
University, of California, and in the fall of 1900 matriculated there, 
ennilling as a pupil in economics, history and law. History has al- 
ways been to him a most interesting study and the thorough course 
which he was enabled to pursue in Leland Stanford University largely 
led to his selection of that college when he entered upon his more ad- 
vanced educational work. He spent two years as a student there and 
will soon be accorded the Bachelx)r of Laws degree. He was thor- 
ough and earnest and his close apiilication gave him high rank in his 
classes. 

Returning from the I'acilic coast to Elkhart county, in 1902, Pro- 
fessor Swart was then elected principal of the New Paris public schools, 
where he has since remained. He had scarcely entered upon his work 
when he realized the needs of the schools and set about to supply these, 
introducing new and progressive methods, inspiring the teachers un- 
der him with his own zeal and interest in the work. He also has the 
ability to arouse and hold the interest of the students and soon his serv- 
ices as a principal won him high encomiums. He also improved the 
curriculum and catalogxie of the course of study for the first time in 
the hi-ston- of the school. He was ably assisted in the work which 
he undertook by the school trustee, Israel Immel. .\s a teacher Pro- 
fessor Swart is clear and concise in his explanations and has the abil- 
ity to impart clearl\- and readily to others the knowledge that he has 
acquired. For four years he has stood at the head of the public schools 
of New Paris, leaving the impress of his individuality upon the mental 
development of the city. During his connection with the schools thir- 
ty-two new students have completed the course ]3repared to enter higher 
educational studies or to i>erform the duties of home and business life. 
Professor Swart has made oratory a feature of his school, doing much 
TO promote this oft neglected branch of learning in which he has him- 
self ever been, equally interested. During the year 1905 there was an 
enrollment of one hundred and nine pupils under a corps of four teach- 



HISTORY OI' ELKHART COUXTY 6'27 

ers. Tliere is a good school lilirarv. containing histc.irical and reference 
works. 

Professor Swart is a JefTersonian Democrat and he has always 
advocated the principles of the party. Fraternally he is a member of 
Milford Lodge No. 478. L O. O. F.. and his religious faith is that of 
the Christian church. He has taken a great interest in the Sunday 
school work and is an earnest Bible student, proving in the religious 
school a teacher equally as effective and earnest as in his daily work. 
,\lready he has become known in Indiana as one of the successful rep- 
resentatives of the public school system and in his chosen field of labor 
he is stri\-ing for high ideals and the maintenance of sujjerior stand- 
ards. 

ELL\S E. FISHER. 

Elias E. Fisher, whose home is on section 11, Locke township, 
was born in this township, .\pril 6, 1870, and is the eldest son of Elias 
and Matilda (Ferguson) Fisher, who are represented elsewhere in this 
volume. His boyhood days were spent in his native township and his 
education was accjuired in the comnKjn schools, no event of special 
importance occurring to vary the routine of farm life for him through- 
out the period of his youth. He remained at home until twenty- 
one years of age and gained the practical experience and knowledge 
that enabled him to carry on farm work in a successful manner when 
he entered upon an independent business career. He was married .\ug- 
ust 30. 1 89 1, to Miss Etta Lockwood, a daughter of Asher and Ma- 
rilda (Richmond) Lockwood. Her paternal grandfather was the first 
settler of Locke township, which was named in his honor, and 
Mrs. Fisher was torn in that township and .spent her girlhood days 
there. To this marriage has been born, one son. Or\il J., whose birth 
occurred in the city of Elkhart in 1894. 

For two years after his marriage Mr. Fisher followed fanning 
and HI 1892 removed to Elkhart, where he was engaged in the dairv 
business, following that pursuit for eight years, supplying many Elk- 
hart customers with milk. He i)aid a rental of six hundred dollars 
for a farm of one hundred and foriv acres, and prosi>ering in his un- 
dertakings he was enabled to ])ut by a sum of money wherewith he 
]>urchased his farm of sixty acres. It was in 1900 that he gave up the 
milk business and bought his present home, to which he has since 
added forty acres in the same locality, so that his farm comprises one 
hundred acres which is rich and arable. It is in fact regarded as one 
of the finest farms of Locke township, the fields being highly culti- 
vated, while the inipro\-ements are in keeping with all modern and 
jjrogressive ideas of agriculture. He carries on general agricultural 
pursuits, also rai.ses stock and during the winter seasons engages in 
dressing hogs, which he furnishes to the citv markets of Elkhart and 
Goshen. He has been very successful in the last few vears, owing to 



62S HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Iiis capable management. <;tning ]iurp(ise and iiitegTity in Ijusiness mat- 
ters. In his political views he is a free-sihxr Democrat, believing in 
the principles of sixteen to one. He has never sought or desired of- 
tice, however, preferring to give his un(li\-i<.led attention to his busi- 
ness interests, and he is to-day numbered among the prosperous farm- 
ers and respected citizens of his native township. 

JOHN ULERY. 

John L'lery, who is now h\ing retired in Union township — the 
place of his nativity, — was born on the 3d of February, 1846. His 
paternal grandfather, John Ulery, was a native of Pennsylvania, and 
the hitter's father was born in Germany, whence he emigrated to Amer- 
ica about 1790. Daniel Ulery. the father of ciur subject, was born in 
Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and in his boyhudd days accompanied his 
parents on their removal to Goshen. Indiana. There he was reared and 
when he had attained man's estate he chose for a companion and help- 
mate on life's journey Miss Mary Davenport, who was born in Mont- 
gomery county, Ohio, and was of English lineage. She came to Elk- 
hart county during her girlhood days with her parents and remained 
at her father's home until she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Ulery. 
The young couple began their domestic life in Union township, where 
Mr. Ulery entered a tract of land, and there in the midst of the forest 
he began hewing out a farm. With characteristic energy he Isegan the 
arduous task of clearing away the trees and brush and improving the 
fields for cultivation and he lived upon the farm for exactly fifty years. 
He w^as a member of the German Baptist Brethren church, in which he 
took an active and helpful interest, and for several years served as one 
of its deacons. He died in the seventy-eighth year of his age, passing 
away respected and honored by all who knew him. To him and his wife 
were born nine children, five sons and four daughters, all born in a log 
house in Elkhart county and w-ith the exception of two all are yet living. 

John Ulery is the third child and was reared upon the old home- 
stead farm, being early trained to the labors that fall tO' the lot of the 
agriculturist. He pursued his education in a log schoolhouse, and 
although the methods of instruction were primitive he gained a good 
knowledge of the fundamental branches of English learning. His train- 
ing at farm lalx)r, however, was not meagre, and in early manhood he 
joined his brothers in the operation of a tract of land of one hundred 
and sixtv acres. At the time of his marriage he located two miles east 
of Nappanee and upon that farm in Union township he engaged in the 
tilling of the soil and the raising of stock for about thirty vears, when 
on the 26th of June, 1902. he removed to Nappanee. where he has since 
lived retired. He owns, however, one hundred and thirty-fi\e acres of 
land and the property returns him a good annual income. 

On the TOth of ^larch. 1R72. 'Mr. Ulery was united in marriage to 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COl'XTV <!-29 

j\Iiss ]\Iarv J. Whitehead, a daughter of Valentine and Margaret (Lentzj 
Whitehead, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Ulery 
is the youngest of their five children and was born in Jackson town- 
ship, Elkhart county, Indiana, February ii, 185 1. She is indebted to 
its public school system for the educational privileges she enjoyed,, and 
she remained with her parents until she gave her hand in marriage to 
John Ulery. This union has been blessed with two children. The 
son, Edward, liorn December 13, 1872, was educated in the common 
schools and in Nappanee, and from early boyhood has been connected 
with agricultural pursuits, now having charge of the home farm. He 
was married December 13, 1896. to Miss Lucy J. Weaver, a daughter 
of Jacob Weaver of Nappanee, and they have two interesting chiklren, 
Edna Marie and John \\'eaver. The daughter. Margaret Elizabeth, 
is the wife of Albert Mutschler, who is mentioned on another page of 
this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Ulery also reared an adopted son. David 
A. Leatherman, who became a member of their family when six vears 
of age. He was an orphan, liis parents, John and Elizabeth Leather- 
man, having departed this life. David A. Leatherman remained in the 
Ulery family until his death, which occurred March 4, 1903. 

In his political views Mr. Ulery is a stanch and earnest Republican, 
taking an active part in the local work of the political organization, and 
is now serving as assessor of his township. He is a man of unabating 
energy and with industry that never flags, and although he is now 
leaving" the active Avork on the farm to his son he is a recognized factor 
in public affairs in Nappanee and his part of the county. He is still 
financially interested in business enterprises, and was interested in the 
furniture and canning factories of Nappanee. Throughout the county 
he is well known. The interests which have made claim upon his time 
and attention have teen varied, for anything which tends to the better- 
ment of conditions for mankind, for the stimulus of material progress 
and for the improvement of the city recei^-es his endorsement and assist- 
ance. 

ELDER DANIEL WYSONG. 

Elder Daniel Wysong is noted among the early settlers of Elk- 
hart county, havmg for long years been a witness of its growth and 
improvement. He resides on section 33, Union townshi]), where he has 
controlled valuable farming interests. He \Aas liorn in Montgomery 
county, Ohio, September 28, 1842, and the birth of the father, Robert 
Wysong, occurred in the .same house. The mother bore the maiden 
name of Anna Miller and was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, a daughter 
of Elder Daniel Miller. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wysong 
was celebrated in December, 1841, and in 1845 thev removed to Ell-T- 
hart county. Indiana, where they spent their reniaining days, each living 
to a ripe old age and jjassed away resjiected by all who knew them. The 
father departed this life when about eighty-five vears of age and his 



fi30 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

\vife"s death occurred when slie was seventy-six years of age. They 
had long been numbered with the pioneer settlers of the county. Mr. 
Wysong built a log house upon his farm in the spring of 1845 and made 
the doors of puncheon, hanging them with wooden hinges. He con- 
tinued to reside upon that farm until his life's labors were ended, but 
in the meantime he had wrought a wonderful transformation in the 
appearance of the place, adding to it all modern equipments and acces- 
sories, while placing the fields under a high state of cultivation. With 
the exception of Daniel Wysong all of the members of the tamil_\- — 
three sons and a daughter — were born uixin the old homestead. 

Daniel Wysong. the eldest, was three years of age when his par- 
ents removed to Elkhart county and in a log schoolhouse in Union 
township he pursued his education. The first school building was con- 
structed of round logs, and pins were driven into the wall on which a 
board was laid to serve as a writing desk. The benches were without 
backs and in one end of the room was a huge fireplace. The methods 
of instruction were also primitive, and the pupils had little opportunity 
of attending school save in the winter months, for the labors of both 
sons and daughters were needed upon the home farm in the summer 
seasons. Elder Wysong assisted in the work of the home farm up to 
the time of his marriage, which was celebrated September 7. 1862, Miss 
Mary Miller, a daughter of David C. and Rachel (Eigler) Miller, be- 
coming his wife. Her father was born in Darke county, Ohio, and her 
mother in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and they became the parents 
of ten children, a son and nine daughters. Mrs. W^ysong being the third 
child and second daughter. She was born in Darke county. Ohio. Sep- 
tember 13, 1S43. ''^"'^1 was seven years of age when she came to Union 
township. Elkhart county. At the time of their marriage Mr. and 
Mrs. Wysong located on the farm where they now reside and where 
they have since made their home with the exception of four years spent 
in Xappanee. Seven children came to bless the household, but three 
died in childhood. The living are: Melvin, who in 1891 married Cath- 
erine Smith and is now engaged in the onion business near Wolf lake 
in Noble count)-, Indiana; Calvin, who was married in 1890 to^ Melinda 
.Stahly and is engaged in the same line of business near Wolf lake; 
Clnr.'i Etta, who became the wife of Daniel Stump in 1892 aiKl is now 
li\ing in Nappanee. where her husband is engaged in the dray business: 
and Cora, at home. 

Elder Wvsong has lix'ed for fifty-nine years in Unirni township 
and during the greater ]>art of this period has been engaged in general 
farming and in preaching, still having charge of the Turkey Creek 
congregation. During the i>ast sixteen or seventeen years he has been 
engaged in evangelistic work, and in this connection has traveled in 
twenty-four states preaching the gospel as a member of the German 
Baptist Brethren church. He is well known among the people of the 
denomination, and his efiforts have been far-reaching in behalf of the 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY «:!! 

cause of Christianity. He owns in Union townsliip a farm of ?eventv- 
four acres and is still looking after his interests on this place. He has 
never been known to take advantage of the necessities of his fellow 
men in any trade transaction and his efforts have been crowned with 
success when viewed from a financial standpoint, while his labors in 
the ministry have also been granted a full harvest. 

LEVI D. ULERY. 

Levi D. Ulery, who has long been a resilient of Elkhart cnunty 
and is now li\ing on section ;^^. Union township, was IjDrn in this 
township May 30, 1842. His father. Daniel Ulery. was a native of 
Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and when a iad of ten y-ears accompanied 
his parents on their removal to Miami county, Ohio, where he spent 
the days of his boyhood and youth. Later the home property was sold 
there and the family removed to Elkhart county, Indiana, a1x)ut 1832, 
living upon a farm that comprised the present site of the city of Goshen. 
Daniel Ulery was married in this county to Miss Mary Davenport and 
took up his abode in Union township, in 1841, being one of its first 
settlers. He entered the land from the government and began the .de- 
velopment of a farm in a locality where the work of improvement and 
progress had scarcely been commenced. His nearest neighbor was 
two miles distant. There were no roads to his place and he bad to 
blaze a trail to his home. At a later date he entered a quarter section 
of land on which not a tree had been cut or an improvement made. He 
was closely identified with the work of material progress and u])build- 
ing in this section of the state and while promoting his individual busi- 
ness interests he at the same time co-operated in many mi)\ements 
which had for their basic element the general good. He was deeply 
interested in the cause of education, did what he could to ])romote the 
welfare of the schools and also was the champion of good roads. He 
acted as one of the first school trustees of Union township and was 
known throughout the county as a man whose efforts were far-reach- 
ing, effecti\e and beneficial. He held membership in the Dunkard 
church, in which he long served as deacon and in the work of which 
he took an active and helpful part. His death occurred in 1891. The 
mother of our subject was born in Greenville, Darke county, Ohio, and 
was of French lineage. She was one of the brave pioneer women 
whose counsel and assistance proved of such value to the husbands and 
fathers during the days of early settlement Here and she jjassed awav 
in 1896 respected by all wdio knew her. In the family were eight chil- 
dren, foui' sons and four daughters, all of whom reached adult age 
and were married, while seven of the number are still living. :\11 were 
born in Union township, Elkhart county, and the family has from pio- 
neer times down to the present figured in the public life of this section 
of the state, doing much toward introducing and maintaining the c\i- 



632 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTV 

dences of advanced civilization which ha\e made this one of tlie lead- 
ing counties of the commonwealth. 

Levi D. LTery is the oldest memher of his father's family and the 
cUiers are as follows: Lydia. the wife of J. S. Wisler; John, who is 
mentioned on another pag'e of this volume ; Catherine, the wife of 
Alpheus Wisler of Kansas : Elizaheth, the deceased wife of Emanuel 
WTiitehead ; Samuel, who married Sarah Martin of Dayton, Ohio, and 
is living in Kosciusko county, Lidiana ; Sarah, the wife of William 
Eversole. a resident of Kansas; David, who married Susan Miller of 
Dayton and now resides at Milford Junction. 

The boyhood days of Levi D. Llery were c|uietly passed, hut he 
early knew the value of unremitting labor in the development of a 
farm. He attended the public schools as opportunity offered and 
through the months of vacation assisted his father in clearing and cul- 
tivating the land, working upon the old homestead until twenty-six 
years of age. He has devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits 
and soon after his marriage he located upon the farm which is yet his 
home. He has one hundred acres of rich and arable land together with 
property in Nappanee, and his place on section 33, Union township, 
constitutes one of the desirable farms of the communitv, for it 
is equipped with all modern conveniences and in its natural resources 
presents an excellent opportunity to the agriculturist. 

In 1 87 1 Mr. LJlei-y was united in marriage to Miss Catherine 
Kinsel. Her parents died during her early girlhood and she was reared 
by Jacob R. Noiifsinger of Dayton, Ohio. Three sons and two daugh- 
ters have been born of this union. William, who married Chloe Drum- 
baugh and is living in Nappanee; Jesse, who wedded Emma Ruck- 
man and is also living in Nappanee: Ada. the wife of Virgil Hemes of 
Kosciusko county. Indiana; Alvin. who married Lucinda Jackson and 
remains upon the home farm; and ?\Iabel, who is also under the ]iarental 
roof. 

Mr. LTery has spent his entire life in L'ninn ti)\vnshi|5 and has 
taken an acti\e interest in every progressi\e measure looking to the 
general good. He is a member of the Dimkard church, has contributed 
generously to its support, has assisted in its various lines of activitv 
and is now one of its deacons. His political allegiance has al^avs 
been given to the Republican party and he has filled a number of local 
offices, the duties of which he has discharged with promiitness and fidel- 
ity. 

HART,.\X \. STAL'EEER. 

Harlan A. Stauffer. attorney at law and real estate dealer, a young 
hut very successful business and professional man of Goshen, has spent 
all the years of his life since early childhood in Elkhart countv and since 
his entrance upon his active career some eight years ago has advanced to 
a ])osition of worth and very high esteem among his fellow citizens. 




~-^t^ JJl?^ 




HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTV 633 

Born on a farm in LaGrange county, Indiana, January 5, 1876, a 
5on of Emanuel G. and Elizabeth (Maunn) Stauft'er, both natives of 
Pennsylvania and of German lineage, he was brought, in 1881, when 
five years old, to this county, h.is father locating on a farm in Concord 
township, where he still engages in agricultural pursuits. There were 
eight children in the family, and Harlan is the oldest but one. 

Reared on a farm, Mr. Stauft'er began the acquiring of an education 
in the country schools, and later attended the Northern Indiana Normal 
College, where he pursued his law studies. He received admission to the 
bai' on March 4. 1897 — the day of McKinley's first inauguration — and in 
iMav of the same year located at Goshen, where he has attended to a grow- 
ing law practice and general real estate business. He had just attained 
his majority when he began practice, so that his excellent record of suc- 
cess beginning with manhood is most creditable to his powers and spirit 
of enterprise. He is deserving of the more credit since he had been de- 
pendent on his own resources since he was sixteen years old. and has 
therefor entirely achieved his own success. 

Mr. Staufifer is a Rqiublican in politics, and afiiliates with the Mod- 
ern Woodmen of .Vmerica. His office is located at 122 North Main 
street. 

REV. PETER W. STUCKMAN. 

Rev. Peter W. Stuckman, who is a proprietor of a stock farm on 
section 28, Union township, was born in that township, December 27. 
1852. He is of German lineage, his ancestry being traced hack to 
Gus Stuckman, who was born in Germany and came to Elkhart county 
from Pennsylvania in 1829, casting in his lot with the early settlers 
of Union township. He took up land from the go\-ernment and with 
cfiaracteristic energy began the development of a new farm, perform- 
ing the arduous labor incident to transforming wild land into richly 
cultivated fields. His son. Martin Stuckman, father of our subject. 
w-as born in Peniisylvania and with his parents came to Indiana in 
early manhood, being at that time about twenty-one years of age. He 
was the first man married in Union township and he also cast the 
first vote in that district. He lived to be about ninety-four years of 
age and was long classed witli the honored pioneer residents of this 
part of the state, where his labors proved effective and beneficial in 
promoting general progress and improvement. He shared in the pri- 
vations and hardships of pioneer life, and noting the opportunities for 
accomplishment he joined with his fellow men in piximoting- measures 
that have for their object the welfare and general advancement of the 
county. He married Martha Elston, a native of Kentucky, who came 
to Elkhart county when about twelve years of age with her father. 
Josiah Elston, who was al.so one of the pioneer settlers of this part of 
the state. He was active and influential in public affairs and for many 
\ears he served as justice of the ])eace. His daughter. Mrs. Stuck- 



(!3i HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

man. died when only aljuut foi-ty-ti\e years oi age. In the family were 
nine children, of whom the eldest son died m youth, while the others 
reached manhood and womanhx.Hxl. 

Rev. Peter \V. Stuckman, the youngest member of this family, 
spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his home localit}- and 
acquired his education in the public schools of Union township. The 
little "temple of learning" was a log building, seated with slabs and 
finished with a puncheon floor. The methods of instruction were also 
somewhat primitive, but he made the most of his opportunities and has 
continually liroadened his knowledge by reading and observation in 
later years. He remained with his parents and assisted in the opera- 
tion of the home farm up to the time of his marriage. 

Alarch 14, 1873, Mr. Stuckman was joined in wedlock to Miss 
Rebecca b'rederick, who was born in Hardin county, Ohio, and was a 
daughter of William Frederick, a native of Niantic county, Ohio. At 
the time of bis marriage Rev. Stuckman located on his present farm 
and in adilition to the care and cultivation of the land he liecame 
actively connected with the ministry, doing evangelical work. He 
traveled a great deal in the interest of the church and was at Johns- 
town, Pennsylvania, at the time of the great flood, memorable in the 
history of the country. He has visited in the work of the ministry 
various points in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Pennsylvania, and was 
very successful in promoting the work of the German Baptist church. 
He' was also well known as a revivalist but he gave up evangelical work 
about I goo. He is now engaged in the raising of fine horses and owns 
a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 28. Union township, 
where he has a well developed propert}'. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Stuckman have Ijeen born four children: Cal- 
\in, who was a teacher for a number of years but is no\\- a horse dealer 
of Philadelphia; Melvin, who was a teacher and is now engaged in 
shipping horses; Ollie, the wife of Francis Neff of Milford, Indiana, 
a prominent land owner and real estate dealer ; and Myrtle, who is now- 
attending De Pauw University, in w-hich institution she expects to grad- 
uate. Air. Stuckman has educated his children, providing them with 
excellent advantages in that direction, and his two sons are graduates 
of the Northern Ohio University at .\da. His political allegiance is 
given to the Prohibition party and he is a man of strong tem])erance 
])rinci]5les, hax'ing throughout his entire life been an ad\-ocate of abstin- 
ence and the opponent of the liquor traffic. His life has been honorable 
and u]jright, permeated by high principles and characterized liy motives 
that will hear closest investigation and scrutiny. 

CORNELIUS iMORRlS. 

A resident of Elkhart county for the greater part of sixty years, a 
successful man of affairs, eminently ])ublic spirited as a citizen, and 
unixersalh' honored for his i)robit\- of character and true worth. Mr. 



HISTOR^■ ()l> ELKHART COUNTY r.35 

Cornelius Morris needs no introduction to the readers of this \ciliinie. 
He was lx)rn in this county, Decemher 9, 1845, and with the liasic 
indttstr}- of agricuUure he has ideutitied his efforts for many \ears, 
so that few men in Ohve township stand on a higlier jjlanc of general 
regard and exercise more influence than Mr. Morris. 

Mr. Morris was the ninth of ten children. fi\'e sons and li\e daugh- 
ters, whose parents were Isaac and Elizaheth (Sailor) Morris. There 
was a unicjue order of succession, in the hirths of these children, the sons 
and daughters coming by pairs, viz., the first two born were st)ns. then ■ 
two daughters, two sons, two daughters, and the last two a son and a 
daughter. The six living children are as follows: Elizabeth, a widow, 
a resident of Starke county ; Moses, who is married and is a farmer in 
St. Joseph county ; Eliza Ann, wife of Michael Sn}der, of Marshall 
county, Indiana; Mary Jane, wife of Jacob F. Ehret, a farmer of Olive 
tow'nship; Cornelius, who is next; Rachael M., wife of Frederick Coth- 
'ron, of Olive township. 

Isaac Morris, the father, who was IxM^n in Monroe county. Ohio, 
in 1803, and died in 1884. was reared and married in his native county. 
receiving his education in the primitive schools of the time, and after 
a year spent in eastern Indiana came to Elkhart county in 1833, whei^e 
he placed his habitation among tlie red men and Ijecame one of the 
earliest pioneers of the western part of the county. It was in I'aug'i 
township that he first established his home, at a time when the now 
prosperous city of Elkhart contained onl}- a few log houses, and when 
there were very few highways from one part of the count\- t(» another. 
After living a year on his eighty-acre timber purchase he sold out and 
came to 01i\'e township, where, in addition to his purchase of fortv 
acres, he entered one hundred and sixt\- acres from the government, 
in .sections 13, 14 and J3. receiving parchment deeds that are still in 
existence. The log cabin that the father built there was some time later 
the birthplace of Cornelius. Isaac Morris, with five other men, held 
the first election after the organization of Olive township. The ballot- 
ing was carried on in the Morris cabin, Isaac's wife holding the ballot 
Ijox, which was nothing less than an old-fashioned blue ])orcelain sugar 
bowl, and this vessel is carefully treasured in the home of Cornelius 
Morris, where the writer has seen and handled it. Isaac Morris was a 
Democrat in politics, and at that memorable first election in Oh\e town- 
ship there was only one Whig vote cast. In religion the father was a 
Dunkard, and the mother a Methodist. The mother was born in Mon- 
roe county, Ohio, in 1805, and died in 1881, and was reared in Ohio. 
The Morris family is of English and Scotch origin. 

Mr. Morris grew up on a farm ni this county and from earh- vouth 
has known all the practical phases of farm life. He attended school 
in a log cabin in the southwest corner of section 13. The huilding 
was sixteen by twenty feet in dimensions, with a clapboard roof, heated 
by a fireplace, the window sixteen inches higli and eight feet long and 



63(5 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

made by removing one log from the side of the Ijuilding. He has 
written with a goosequill pen, made by the master, antl his text liooks 
were the Elementary spelling book, Ray's arithmetic and McC.iuffey's 
readers. The school was supported three months each year 1)\- subscrip- 
tion. 

■\lr. IMorris is one of those whose names appear in the nulitary 
history of Elkhart county. He enlisted Xovember 15, 18O3, m Com- 
pany E, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiment Indiana Infantry, 
which rendezvoused at Kendallville. His captain was S. B. McGuire. 
and the regiment was part of the Army of the Cumberland under the 
command of W. T. Sherman. Mr. Morris took part in the battle of 
Resaca and was almost constantly under rebel fire from ]\Iay 8 to Sep- 
tember I. 1864, during the Atlanta campaign. On August 6. \\hile on 
the western side of Atlanta, he was struck in the left leg by a spent 
ball, and still bears the scar of that wound. He was in the Ohio divi- 
sion of the Army of the Cumberland, and at the conclusion of the 
Atlanta campaign and before the " march to the sea," this division was 
sent back to engage Hood's army in Tennessee. Under General Thomas 
it took part in the battle of Franklin and the still more sanguinary 
two davs' battle at Nashville. ^Ir. Morris's regiment was in the neigh- 
borhoofl of Raleigh, Nortli Carolina.' when the news of Lee's surren- 
der came, followed shortly after liy the tidings of Lincoln's assassina- 
tion. At Charlotte, North Carolina, he received his final discharge on 
August 29, 1865. and then returned home to resume the more peaceful 
vocations of life. Havine saved three hundred and forty dollars dur- 
ing his army service, he made this the capital for his start in life. The 
first few years of his independent career were spent as a renter on his 
father's farm. 

November 19. 1872. Mr. Morris married Miss Sarah E. Smyser, 
and of the six children that ha^e been born to them three are now liv- 
ing, namely, B. A., who was educated in the common schools of St. 
Joseph county and is now a barber in Syracuse. Indiana : he married 
Miss Lola Mishler. by whom he has two children. Berneda and Ford. 
The son Cornelius, who was educated in the St. Joseph county schools 
and at a business college in South Bend, is a stenogra]>her in the employ 
of the Northwestern Nursery at Eau Claire. Michigan. Eddie, the 
youngest, is in the fifth grade of the public schools. The three deceased 
children were all girls. Mrs. Morris was born in Ohio, September 5, 
1853. but reared in St. Joseph county, this state, being a daughter of 
Cornelius Smyser. who recently died at the advanced age of over eighty 
vears. His life is thus commemorated by the press: " Cornelius Smyser. 
one of the 1:)est known men in St. Joseph county, passed away at the 
home of his daughter. Mrs. Henry Ernsperger. of near S]>ringbrook 
park. Had he lived until December he would have been eighty-five 
years old. Mr. Smyser was a grand old man. and while alive was an 
exam])le to those about him for goodness, honesty, patience, sobriety 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 637 

and for his religious experience. Since early boyhood he li;ul been a 
consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and tmik a great 
interest in religious affairs. A great reader of the daily newspapers he 
kqit in touch with the current affairs of the day and was always willing 
to be interviewed by representatives of the press and often assisted re- 
porters with data at his command. He told many interesting stories rela- 
tive to the early political history of this country. He was a lifelong, 
stai:ch Republican and took great interest in his ]:)arty and always in- 
sisted on voting, no matter what state of his health. In the last presiden- 
tial campaign he was too weak to go alone to the ]iolls in South Bend. 
J. M. Studebaker. of that city, a great friend of Mr. Smyser since youth. 
came to Alishawaka and conveyed Mr. Smyser to- the polls in his ])ri\-ate 
carriage, that he might cast his vote for Theodore Roosevelt. He was 
born in Adams county, near Pine Town. Pennsylvania, Dec. 20, 1820. In 
1839 he went to Ashland county, Ohio. August 21, 1845. h*^ ^^''^^ mar- 
ried to Miss Anna Eliza Davis, in Carthagena. Ohio. Their married life 
was singularly hajijiy. In 1853 they came to Alishawaka and engaged 
in farming. For thirty years they resided on the C. G. ToAvle farm, 
south of this city. Mrs. Smyser died Sept. n. 1891, since which time 
Mr. Smyser lias lived a retired life, making his home among his children, 
principally with Mrs. Ernsperger. He leaves five daughters, Mrs. Ern- 
-sperger. of near Springbrook Park; Airs. Charles Doolittle, Airs. Law- 
rence Meixel, of Mishawaka : Mrs. Edward Shank, of River Park ; Mrs. 
Cornelius Morris, of W'akarusa, Indiana ; two sons, Albert Smyser and 
Alonzo Symser, of Richmond, Indiana : three Ijrothers, Philip Smvser, of 
Independence. Iowa ; Frank Smyser, Portland, Oregon ; Henry Smyser. 
of Horton. Kansas; one sister. Mrs. Hanna Davis, of Hart. Michigan: 
thirteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren." 

Mr. and Mrs. Morris lived in St. Joseph county eleven years. The 
first land he purchased was ten acres, which he paid for with the money 
he had saved while in the ranks. He then purchased thirty acres in 
section 13 of Olive township, and shortly afterward forty. acres in sec- 
tion 14, all this land being part of the old Morris homestead. After 
selling this land he rented five hundred and seventy acres in St. Josqjh 
county and for nine years carried on stock-raising- on an extensive 
.scale. He then bought bis present farm of eighty acres and has re- 
sided thereon ever since. Fie has made a success of his life work, lives 
independently, enjoys the freedom of country life, and is a fine speci- 
men of the rugged manhood which characterizes the tndy successful 
American farmer. A lover of sport, he often participates in hunting 
excursions that take him to the heart of nature and refresh him in 
mind and body for the more serious tasks of life. 

Since casting his first vote for Grant be has alwavs uiibeld the 
principles of the Republican party. Fraternally he is a memljer of 
Custer Post No. 232. G. A. R.. at Wakarusa. and has been commander 
and adjutant and at the present time is senior vice commander. The 



63S HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

old One Huiulretl ami Twenty-ninth In.tliana has the honur of hav- 
ing held the first reunion, and the annual meeting in 1905 will lie the 
thirty-eighth. He also affiliates with the Knights of Columbia. j\lr. 
and Mrs. Morris are members of the Methodist church at Wakarusa. 
Mr. Morris and wife held a family reunion August 3, 1905, at their 
country Imme and we add a clippmg from the Citizen: 

" We went to press too early last week to give particulars of the 
;\Iorris family reunion which \\as held at the Cornelius Mnrris home 
last Thursday. There were 125 members present and the day was 
passed in visiting, recitations, etc. Rev. Parker, who was present, gave 
an address. The threatened rain just at noun drove those at the first 
table into the house, but the weather cleared and the outdoor tables 
were used for the remainder to eat upon. 

" The society decided to hold the next reunion at one of the neigh- 
T)oring parks and a committee, composed of C. O. Ehret, (ieo. Renner 
and Ernest Bebee, was apnointed to decide du the location. 

■' Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: President, 
Philip Bimiller ; Vice President, Mrs. Chas. Miller; Treasurer, Jno. C. 
Myers; Secretary, L. L. Kilmer; Curresjionding Secretaries, ]\Irs. A. 
C. Lehman and Mrs. L. L. Kilmer. 

" The Moris family is cjue of the oldest in the history of Elkhart 
county and their ancestors were among the first settlers in Olive town- 
ship. They take a deep interest in each nther's welfare, and in their 
annual reunions. They bax'e a right to he ]>roud of their family 
record." 

CHRISTLW HL'XSP.ERCER, Sr. 

.-\ stanch and patri(jtic (ierman- American citizen, wdiose compatriots 
have probably done more for this nation in its development than any other 
class of population, a man of irreproachable character and whose long 
career in Elkhart county stands forth as a matter of pride and an object 
<if emulation to all younger generations, Mr. Christian Hunsljerger is a 
representative among his fellow citizens of OHve township' of those strong 
and rugged cjualities of manhood, of that enterprise and ability in the 
management of the afifairs of the world, and of that sincerity and hon- 
esty of purpose in all his relations with family and society wdiich, in their 
aggregate, form the verv foundation upon which the integrity of nation 
and ])eople is based. 

^Ir. Hunsberger was born in Lancaster cour.ty, Pennsylvania, Xo- 
\-cmlier ^o. icS^i. being the iifth in a faniih' nf twelve children, eight 
sons and four daughters, whose parents were Christian and Esther 
lOverhulzer) Hunsberger. Seven of these children are living, as fol- 
lows: Peter, married and living in Olive township, a jjrosjierous farmer; 
Christian: Michael, married and a farmer of Loclce townsbii); Henr\-, 
married and a farmer of St. Joseph coinitx- : Daniel, a resident of Olive 



HISTORY Ol' ELKHART COUNTY C'-V^ 

township: Sarah, widow nf Jnhn Brenneman. of St. Jo.se|)h county; 
Susan, wife of Josejjh Culp. a farmer of Isahelle county, Michigan. 

Christian Hunslierger. the father, who was born in Pennsylvania 
in 1793. before General Washington died, and who successfully followed 
the career of farming, came to Elkhart county about 1859. He died at 
the age of eighty-three, and his wife, who was also a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, lived to the three-cjuarter centv.ry mark of life. They were both 
members of the Mennonite church. 

When the son Chri.stian w^as a child of two years the family moved 
to Canada, wiiere he grew up and li\-ed until he was twenty-six years old. 
Personal application was the chief factor which gained for him an edu- 
cation, and he can read both the English and German languages. Al- 
though at the age of twenty-one he could not produce twenty-five dollars 
in cash of liis own. his industrious disposition and his hardy honesty have 
brfjught him through life m.ore successfully than the majorit}' of men. 
and it has been his good fortune to attain to prosperous circumstances 
long before the evening of age has begun to cast its shadows about him. 

Air. Hunsberger married Miss Margaret Pafif. November 24. 1857. 
nnd daring the early half century of their wedded life twelve children, 
nine sons and three daughters, have been born to them. Nine children 
are living. Adam, who was educated m the common schools and the 
Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, and who was a success- 
ful teacher for twenty years in St. Joseph and Porter counties, and also 
followed farming two years, is now serving his second term as treasurer 
of St. Joseph county, having been fleputy treasurer three years before his 
election to the office : is a resident of River Park. St. Joseph county, and 
hv his marriage to Miss Catherine Alliert he has two children, namely : 
Charlie, aged eigliteen. who is a high school graduate and is his father's 
deputy in the treasurer's office: and Grace, who is a student in the River 
Park schools at South Bend, and also a music pupil. Adam Hunsberger 
is a Republican in politics. Christian, the second son and his father's 
namesake, is one of the prosperous farmers of 01i\-e township, and is a 
Republican; Ijy his marriage to Miss Libbie El>erly he has three .sons — 
George. Henry anrl ]\Ienno. Abram Hunsberger. a farmer in Olive 
township, is also a Republican in ix)litics. married Miss Mary Enders. 
Jonathan, who is a successful farmer in St. Joseph county, married Miss 
Rosa Ann Klein, and they have two children. Nora and Margaret. 
Daniel, a farmer of Harrison township. v;edded Miss Elora Pletcher. by 
whom he has two children. .Mva and Maude. George, the youngest son, 
who was educated in the common schools, lives at home with his father 
and mother and is a practical farmer. The three living daughters of Air. 
and Airs. Hunshergei" are as follows ; Mary, who lives at home with her 
parents, is the widow of Christian Nusbaum and has two children. Dean 
and Augusta. Anna is the wife of Jacob Klein, a farmer of St. Joseph 
county, and has one child. Ellis. Lizzie, the wife of \\'illi,am Klein, an 
agriculturist in St. Joseph county, has one child. Florence. 



G40 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Airs. Hnnsberger, the mother of this large and prosperous family 
of children, was born in the little duchy of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, June 
4. 1840. being the eldest of the seven children, four sons and three daugh- 
ters, born to Ludwig and Christina (Hahn) Paff. She has four brothers 
living, namely : Henry Paff. a farmer and a resident of Canada, is mar- 
ried and has live children — Henry, Willie, Louis, John, and Mary. Adam 
Paff, also a Canadian farmer, is married and has two children. Edward 
and ]\Iillie. Ludwig, who farms in Canada, has six living children — 
Lizzie, Emma. ^Maggie, Leafy, Clara, And Willie. John, a Canada 
farmer, has three children — Anna, John, and George. 

About 1848. when a little girl of eight years. Mrs. Hunsberger ac- 
companied her parents on a sailing vessel from Bremen to New York 
city, being forty-eight days on the voyage, which was fraught with so 
many hardships that the passengers felt that by providence alone did 
they finally reach this side of the ocean. She was reared and educated 
in Canada, and remained there until her marriage. 

Following that last-mentioned event the young couple decided to 
come to Lrdiana, where they settled down at the beginning of their 
wedded career, in 1861 ; their cash accumulation at that time being only 
three hundred dollars. Coming to Olive township they lived in the old 
hcjuse on the Enders homestead until the fall, and Mr. Hunsberger 
worked for day's wages, at seventy-five cents a day, which shows that 
he and his g'ood wife began at the bottom of the ladder to success and 
were willing to do any honest work that would afford them access to a 
higher position in the world's prosperity. Mrs. Hunsberger relates how 
she executed a whole day's washing for twenty-five cents, this also being 
one of the necessary means by which they established themselves in Elk- 
hart county. The first land they purchased was eighty acres of their own 
homestead, and the land was heavily timbered — requiring a great amount 
of labor to transform it into productive and tillable fields. Their first 
home was a little log cabin. They paid three hundred dollars for this 
raw place, going in debt for a large part of that, and it was due to their 
great thrift and persevering industry that tliey won out in life's battles 
and finally reached a position of comfort and ease in material surround- 
ings. To the original eighty they have added until they own one hun- 
dred and seventy-two acres, conceded on all sides to be one of the choice 
estates of the township, and besides they have two houses and lot in the 
City of Elkhart. There is a nice sugar grove on the place, and Mrs. 
Hunsberger made in the past season seventy-five gallons of maple syrup. 
From the little log house which constituted their first home they are now 
residents of a comfortable and ample brick residence, which was erected 
in 1879, and they have also built as circumstances have ]3erniitted. excel- 
lent barn and outbuildings. 

A strong Republican, Mr. Hunsberger has always supported the 
]}rinciples of the Grand Old Party, and his citizenship is of the same 
sterling character as his business career. He and his wife are members of 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTV 'Ul 

the Aieimonite cluirch in Si. J'lseph county, having contrihuted material- 
ly in tlie erection and general -support of their church, and seldom has 
any worthy cause ajjpealed tn them in \-ain. 

PETER HUNSBERGER. 

For nearly half a century the Flunsherger family has heen jirom- 
inent in the affairs of northern Indiana. Their German thrift and hon- 
esty, their ability in advancing material prosperity, their worth in all the 
relations of society have given them an honorable ix>sition among the best 
citizens of the state. In Mr. Peter Hunsberger is found not only a very 
interesting personality but a rugged character which has found much to 
do and has done much in this rough, practical, every-day world, and now 
at the e\ening of life is secure in the pos.session of friends and lionor and 
is happy with the consciousness of past duty well performed. 

Mr. Hunsberger was born in Bucks county. Pennsylvania, August 
2. 1826, and is now the oldest nf the living children, whose names are 
given in the sketch of Mr. Christian Hunsberger, on another i>age. The- 
father was born in the same locality of Pennsylvania. August 10, 1793, 
and died March 22. 1877, aged eighty-three years, eight months, and 
twelve days. He was drafted for service in the war of 1812. but did not 
reach the field of action. A farmer by occupation, he was a \'ery suc- 
cessful man. When the son Peter was eight years old the father tcTok his 
family to Canada and in the province of Ontario bought one hundred 
and fifty acres of wild land which he improved into a fine farm and 
where he made his home until coming to Elkhart county. The father 
was a Republican, and he and his wife were Mennonites, aiding vevy 
materially in the supjxirt of their church. Tlie mother was born in Penn- 
sylvania in 1803, and died in September, 1877, when almost three-quar- 
ters of a century old. The parents, on coming to this county in 1859. 
purchased the land which now comprises the Enders farm, and there re- 
mained till death took them from their earthly lalx)rs. They now rest 
in peace in the Olive cemetery, in section 1 of Olive township, and their 
grateful children have placed beautiful m-onuments to their memory. 

In t86i Peter Hunsberger, with his brother Christian, came to Olive 
township to begin his independent career, at that time being without 
capital or any means of ad\'ancement other than his sturdy character and 
physical resourcefulness. In the meantime, in Canada, he had married, 
in 1854. Miss Frances Heinrich. (^f this marriage six children ha\-e been 
born, two sons and four daughters, and fi\-e are li\-ing. Mary is the wife 
of Abraham Seese. of Donaldson, Indiana, and has three living children 
— John. Ira. and Harvey. John is a St. Joseph county farmer and has 
seven children — Melvin. William. Rosetta. Jacob. Christina, Calvin, and 
Ellis. Margaret, wife of Jacob Schenck. of this county, has one child. 
Clarence. Isabelle is at home with her father, ^^'i^iam. a jiractical 
farmer and stanch voung l\c])ublican. has charge of the old Imniestead. 



04-2 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 

where he resides. The mother of this family iHed alwiit 1872, She was 
a native of Canada. Air. Hunsberg'er in May, 1874, took as his second 
companion in Hfe Mrs. Barbara (Kihner) Meyers. 

Mr. Hunsberger's first pinxhase of land in this county was eighty 
acres of timber in section 15, Olive township, and his first home was a 
log cabin, twenty-two by twenty-six feet, made cf round logs taken 
from the virgin forest which surrounded him on all sides. He and his 
family spent fifteen years in this primitive home, but from the arduous 
conditions which they passed through then has resulted the gratifying 
prosperity of later years. In breaking up the soil of his farm he and his 
brother employed an ox team, and the four-fingered cradle was also a 
common implement in use during harvest days. The original eighty 
acres has formed his home farm ever since, and in 1877 he erected his 
present comfortable lirick residence, and the improvements which may 
be seen on ever}- side indicate liow well he has cared for the possessions 
that have come to him. He is the owner of one hundred and thirty-four 
acres in Olive township, and this represents the reward of persistent toil 
and diligence and honorable endeavor along the lines which bring suc- 
cess. 

The ])resent Mrs. Hunslierger was born in Crawford county. Ohio, 
March 15. 1835, a daughter of John and Katie (Raymer) Kilmer, her 
father a native of Pennsylvania. She has three brothers living, two of 
them residents of Elkhart county and one in Michigan. She has four 
children by her first marriage, named as follows: Daniel Aleyers. who is 
a gardener in St. Joseph county and is father of five children, four by his 
first wife and one by his second: Jonas, a resident of Olive township; 
Noah and Abraham, of St. Joseph county. Abraham wedded Aliss 
Esther Brenneman and has two children, Joseph and Lewis. 

Mr. Hunsberger belongs among the old settlers of Elkhart county, 
and to such men as he and his brother Christian the county owes a debt 
of gratitude for what they have accomiilished during their period of 
activity. They have witriessed the wonderful growth and development 
of their part of the county, from a wilderness to a paradise, have seen 
the little villages of Elkhart and (ioshen grow to cities, have lived in the 
county from the time of onlv one railroad until there are steel lines 
crossing in every direction. ha\e beheld beautiful farms carved out of 
the forest, and schoolhouses and churches dotted all over the landscape. 

Mr. Hunsberger is a Republican, and he and his brother had the 
privilege of casting their first American vote for Abraham Lincoln. He 
and his wife are members of the Mennonite church, and they aided in 
the erection of their house of worship in St. Joseph county. Ijoth being 
true representatives of that simple faith which has so many ailherents in 
this part of the state. This brief sketch is one of the records of the aged 
citizens of this county intended to preserve for all time the life and works 
of a true, honest and sincere man — a record which his descendants will 
be proud to refer to in future years. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTV 643 

ANDRE\\' JONES. 

Andrew Jones, an honored \eteran of the Civil war and a resident 
of New Paris, was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, Sep- 
tember 16, 1833, and is the youngest in a family of four sons and three 
daughters born to Evan and Rebecca ( DeMotte) Jones. Only two of 
the "family are now living, the sister of Mr. Jones being Mrs. Elizabeth 
Fike, a widow, who is residing in Anderson, Indiana, at the venerable 
age of eighty years. The father was a native of Montgomery county, 
Pennsylvania, and spent his childhood and youth in the state of his nativ- 
ity, acquiring a common school education. He was trained to the work 
of the home farm and about 1834 he removed from Pennsylvania to Van 
Wert countv, Ohio, liecoming a pioneer settler of that locality, where he 
remained until his death. In ])olitics he was a Democrat, adhering to 
the principles advocated by Jackson, and he and his wife were mem- 
bers of the Mennonite church.. She was also a native of Pennsylvania, 
representing one of the old families there, and her death occurred in 
Ohio. The grandfather of Mr. Jones came from the little rock-ribbed 
countrv of Wales and settled in .Vnierica at an early day. 

Andrew Jones, born in Pennsylvania, was reared in Ohio and In- 
diana. He \\as about fourteen years of age at the time of his father's 
death and though he enjoA-ed few- privileges in his youth he made the 
most of his opportunities and developed a sturdy, honorable manhood. 
In earlv life he cut cord wood at twenty-five cents per cord, clearing the 
timber from the land. The first clearing he made was two acres, and 
around the place he built a fence eight rails high, receiving only forty 
dollars for all of this labor. Pie began learning the blacksmith's trade 
under a task ma'ster who was so severe that it led him to seek employ- 
ment elsewhere. About this time he met with an accident that forced 
him to relinquish work at the forge, and so the remainder of his life has 
been devoted to agricultural pursuits and to other employment that he 
could secure that would yield him an honest living. When the war cloud 
.spread over the land and the storm seemed to threaten the country with 
disaster lie went to the front in its defense, enlisting on the 6th of -Vug- 
ust. 1862, as a memljer of Company E, 74th Indiana \'olunteer Infantry, 
under Captain William B. Jacolis. The regiment was sent to Louisville, 
Kentuckv, and was attached to the Army of the Cumberland, so that he 
served under Colonel Charles E. Chapman and General " Pa]3 " Th.omas. 
He took part in the famous raid against General Morgan and he en- 
dured manv of the hardships, dangers and privations of war. .\s a scout 
he traveled through Tennessee and Georgia, seeing much ])erilous serv- 
ice. On one occasion the band of scouts got so far away from their com- 
mand that they were obliged to go to Cumberland (iap and there get 
ammunition before thev could make their way back. While on scout 
duty near Carthage, Tennessee, Mr. Jones sustained a slight flesh wound 
in the riarht leg. He was in Lnuisxille. Kentuckv. the time the news was 



G44 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

received cif Lee's surremjer on the 9th of April, 1865, and on tlie 17th of 
June lie recei\'ed an honorable discharge at Indianapolis after a long serv- 
ice of two years, ten months and eleven days. He then retnrned to Elk- 
hart county and has since made his home in New Paris. 

Mr. foncs was married January 24. 1861, in Goshen, Indiana, to 
]\Iiss Mary Herriman, and they have four children, all yet living: 
Adella, who married Thomas Robinson, by whom she had two sons, 
Ward and Ed, and after the death of her first husband became the wife 
of Galand Willard, now of Syracuse. Indiana, by whom she has two 
children, Lula and Harry: Pearl, an agriculturist of Poinsett county, 
Arkansas, who married Miss Pricella Bullard and has two children liv- 
ing. Mary and an infant. Albert, who is engaged in blacksmithing in New 
Paris, and married Miss Nettie Hoke, who died several years ago, leav- 
ing a little daughter, Nevaatta. who is with her grandparents in New 
Paris: and Liff R.. a lineman of New Paris, living with his father and 
miithcr. He was a member of Company E. 157th Indiana Infantry, in 
the Spanish- American war. after which he received an honorable dis- 
charge. Mrs. Jones was born in Jackson townshi]). Elkhart count}'. Sep- 
tember 16, 1841, her parents being Frederick and Mary (Wright) Herri- 
man, both now deceased. Pier father was a native of Massachusetts and 
her mother of Virginia and thev had a family of four sons and five daugh- 
ters, of whom four are yet living, but only two are residents of Elkhart 
county, the others being Isaac, who is a farmer living in Marshall county, 
Indiana : and Washington, who is living retired in Milford, Indiana. 

Mr. Jones is an earnest Reiniblican whose first vote was cast for 
Abraliam Lincoln, and he has been selected as a delegate to count \- con- 
ventions. He and his wife are known as upright citizens and in their 
lives have displayed many sterling traits of character. 

WILLIS A. LAYTON. 

Willis A. Layton is one of the earlv .settlers of the county and has 
watched it emerge from pioneer conditions, putting aside all the e\i- 
dences of frontier life and taking on all the improvements of an ad- 
vanced civilization. He lives on section 23, Cleveland township, and 
is a nati\c of the neighboring state, Ohio, his birth having occurred in 
Alianii county. June 15. 1843. His father. Benjamin F. Layton, was 
born in Ri.'ckbridge county. Virginia, and was of English descent, the 
grandfather having been born in London, England. The mother of 
(lur siil>iect I'ore the maiden name of Mary Wilmore and was also a 
native of Rockbridge county. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
P.eniamin F. Layton located in Ohio about 1840, and in 1848 they came 
to Cleveland township. Elkhart county, settling on a farm which is 
now the home of their son Willis A. Here the father directed his ener- 
gies to the tilling of the soil and continued active in farm work untii 
iiis death, which occurred when he was in his fifty-fourth year. His 




-(/C'^ o^ ^ %^s^ L-<>-^^ 





u/y, Ja^'tfA^^l^^ 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY <U5 

wife, siir\-i\iiig- him. ])assed away at the age of sixty-four years. They 
were the parents of eleven chikh-en, five sons and six daughters. Ijut 
three of tiie daugliters (hed in childhood and one son died in infancy. 

^^'i!Iis A. Layton is the second child and sixth son and was but 
five years old when he was brought to Cleveland township, so that he 
has been a resident of the county for more than a half century. The 
district was then upon the frontier, and the school which he attended 
was held in a log- building. His youth and early manhood being cast 
in the pioneer ]>eriod. his experiences have connected him with a strange 
past as well as the marvelous present. \Vhen the lusty strength of 
youth Nvas in his veins, he has swung from early to late the old-fash- 
ioned " turkey-wing " cradle in cutting wheat. He and his wife, who 
b}' birth and rearing also belotigs to northern Indiana, have witnessed 
the principal events that have marked the ]5rogress of this part of the 
state. Li\'ing near the St. Joseph river at a period when that water- 
way still furnished an imi^ortant transportation route, they ha\'e seen 
the steamlioats passing up and dxiwn with freight and passengers, the 
smokestacks being lowered for ])assage under the bridges. Indians 
and .deer have alsu been seen by these pioneer people, the former hav- 
ing a trail across the Layton homestead. 

'Sir. Layton was only eleven years of age at the time nf his fath- 
er's death hut he remained upon the old homestead most of the time 
until after the outbreak of the Ci\'il war. He enlisted in 1861. becom- 
ing a member of Company I. Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. 
He joined the army as a private and scr\-ed for four years and four 
days, never faltering in the performance of any duty that was assigned 
to him. He was wounded in the knee at Chickamauga by a rebel bul- 
let, and in addition to that hattle he ])articipated in the engagements at 
Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain. Ringgold and many others of 
lesser note. He also went with Sherman as far as Atlanta, was in the 
siege, and was afterw'ard returned to Chattanooga. He received an 
honorable discharge at Nashville, Tennessee, September 14, 1865. His 
militar}- experience has embraced all of the duties that fall to the \ot 
of the soldier, calling him to the lonely picket line and tci the firing 
line, causing him to take king marches and endure many hardshijis. 
When he was engaged in the terrible battle of Chickamauga, his cousin. 
R. M. \\' ilmore. was shot by his side. It was General " Pop " Thomas 
who saved the day for the Union forces at that memorable battle. 

When the war was over Mr. Layton returned to Elkhart county, 
Indiana, and occupied a position as clerk in a store there for a year. 
He then went upon the road as a traveling salesman and occupied that 
position for several years, but soon after his marriage he took up his 
abode on the old homestead farm where he has since lived. Mr. 
Layton as a horticulturist has the largest stand of hucklel)erries 
in northern Indiana, and for this reason deserves a ]:)rominent place 
in the historv of the fruit-growing interests of the count\-. He has 



646 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

cnyaged in the raising of this particular crop for the i)ast sixteen years, 
tlie soil and other conditi'ons of northwestern Elkhart county being 
remarkably favorable for this variety of small fruits, in the present 
year of 1905 he has disposed of about three hundred crates of huckle- 
berries, the regular price ranging from $2.25 to $2.40 a crate, with a 
demand that takes all he can raise. Mr. Layton carries on this indus- 
trj' on the most extensive and profitaUe scale of any one in this part 
of the state. He has been engaged in vending small fruit in the city 
of Elkhart for the past tliirty-eight years. 

On the 6th of March, 1870, Mr. Layton was united in marriage 
to ]\Iiss Sarah L. Xixon, a daughter of John and Jane (Bryson) Nixon. 
She was born in Kosciusko county, LKliana, September 30, 1845, bein.g 
the eighth in order of birth in a family of nine children. Her father 
was born in Ireland and when seventeen years of age came to America. 
His wife was a native of Center county. Pennsyhania. As already 
stated, !\Irs. Layton has lived in this part of the state long enough to 
be familiar with both pioneer and modern conditions. Among the 
]X)ssessions she exceedingh" prizes \nr its old-time associations is an 
old-fashioned coverlet. wo\en when she was a girl. To ^Mr. and •S.Irs. 
Layton have been born the following named: Etta Lnelln. who is now 
the wife of Isaac S. Pippenger of Elkhart: Millard \\'.. at home: and 
Katie ]\lav. the wife of Michael Ruch of Elkhart. 

Mr. Layton is one of the representative citizens of Elkhart count}', 
where he has li\-ed through fifty-seven years. He has been zealously 
interested in the welfare of his community, and all the qualities of 
public-spirited and progressive citizenship have been manifest by him. 
He belongs to Elmer Post, (i. A. R.. at Elkhart, and takes great delight 
in meeting with his old army comrades and recalling scenes that 
happened upon the battlefield when he w-as w'earing the blue uniform 
of the nation. His first presidential ballot was cast for Alirahani Lin- 
coln, and he has been a supporter of each nominee at the liead of the 
ticket since that time, never missing an election since age gave to him 
the right of franchise. He served as a trustee of Cleveland township 
for two terms, while his religions faith is indicated by his membership 
in the German Baptist church. 

D. A. RHELBOTTOM. 

D. A. Rheubottom, as editor and proprietnr of the Wakarusa 
Tribvivc, has advocated and earnestly worked for every enterprise or 
institution or movement that has been undertaken for the welfare of 
his town since he identified himself therewith as a resident and 
jotn-nalist. The power of the press in this country is only beginning 
to be understood, but it is the newspapers of the land, whether the 
metropolitan daily or the c(iuntry weekly, that lead the \-anguard of 
progress and civilization, promote intelligence among the masses, sup- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 647 

port the schools ami churches, and furnish the best medium through 
which public o])inion expresses itself. Mr. Rheubottom is a modern 
newspaper man, enterprising, up-to-date in his manner and methods, 
and has made both himself and his paper factors of uplifting influence 
and usefulness in the town of \\'akarusa. 

Born in LaGrange county, Indiana, Jtdy 2, 1866, INIr. Rheubot- 
tom is the only child of James f'!.. and Mary G. (Gammell) Rheubot- 
tom, well known and high!}' esteemed citizens of Wakarusa. Tlie 
father, who is a genial and well informed gentleman, for a number of 
vears connected with his son in newspaper enterprises and still oc- 
casionally taking a hand in the makeup of the Tribiuic, was liorn near 
Mayville'. Chautauqua county, New York, February 17,, 1846. Reared 
there to the age of twelve, his parents then came to LaGrange 
county, Indiana, where was his home until he located at ]\Iiddlebury, 
this county, and, with his son. established the ]\Iiddlebury IndcpeiHlent, 
which was conducted there either by himself or son until 1897. He 
came to Wakarusa and established the Tribune in 1893. Mr. J. R. 
Rheubottom is a veteran of the Civil war. having served almost four 
years. He enlisted in Company A, Twent}--lirst Indiana Heavy Artil- 
lery, under Colonel McMillan, liis battalion being assigned first to the 
Army of the Potomac and later with the western armies in the gulf 
regions. He was present in the liattle of Baton Rouge and the siege 
of Port Hudson and in \-ari()us other ,if the important events of the 
war.. He enlisted just a few days after Fort Sumter was fired ujjon. 
and received his honoralile discharge July 6. 1865. At the time of 
Lee's surrender he was with General Banks in the Red River country. 
A stanch Repu1)lican in politics, he has advocated that party ever since 
casting his first vote for Lincoln when in the army of the republic. 
He and his wife are members of the Christian church, and his fraternal 
affiliations are with the Odd Fellows lodge. No. 46. at LaGrange. with 
Lodge No. 311. K. of P.. at Middlebury. and widi Kendallville Lodge 
No. 46. of the uniform rank Knights of Pythias. 

Mrs. Mary G. Rheubottom, the mother, who was born in Dela- 
ware county. Ohio, in 1852, and A\hen a child came to Indiana, where 
she was reared, \\as a daughter of one (if the California forty-niners 
who crossed the plains in search of the golden Eldorado and who met 
his death while still (>n the coast. ^Irs. Rheubottom graduated from 
Ontario Collegiate Institute and is now a minister of the go.spel in 
the Christian church at North Manchester, Indiana. She entered the 
ministry about 1895. ^\"Hkarusa l;eing her first charge. She w;is the 
first president of the \\'. C. T. V . in Elkhart county, having organized 
the first society, and was also an active member of the Shakespearian 
Club at LaGrange. She holds a high rank as an evangelistic worker, 
and is often called \\\)on to aid \arious churches regardless of denomina- 
tion. 

]Mr. D. A. Rheubottom. who was reared in h.is nati\'e countv to 



CAS HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

the age of twelve years, received his primary training in the common 
schools, from which, after receiving his diploma, he entered the Ken- 
dallville high school in Xoble county, graduating in the class of 1884. 
Alreadv, at the age of sixteen, he had received his teacher's certificate, 
and he began teaching in Noble county and followed that line of work 
for four years. During that time he served as secretary of the Noble 
County Teachers' Association. In 1886 he left the ranks of edu- 
cators and identified himself with journalism, which vocation has ab- 
sorbed his time and energies ever since. As already mentioned, he 
and his father established a paper in Middlebury in 1886, and this was 
continued there several years Ijy the son after his father had come to 
Wakarusa. The history of the Wakarusa Tribune as one of the rep- 
resentativ-e Elkhart cminty j(iurnals will be found in the general history 
if this viilume. 

Mr, Rheubottom married Miss Ida Schwin, February 2. 1887, 
and two sons have been born to them : Gladstone is in the high school, 
having completed the first year's work there; Blaine had finished the 
eighth grade. Mrs. Rheubottom was born and reared in this county, 
being educated in the Middlebury schools. She is a trained nurse by 
profession, having prepared herself for that calling in Michigan Uni- 
versity, where she took two years' work in the medical department. 
A woman of versatile mind, she has, Ijesides caring for her household 
in such an exemplary manner, assisted her husband in the editing of 
the Wakarusa. Tribune, conducting the Ladies' Department of that pa- 
l)er. and has identified herself prominently with \arious other mo\'e- 
ments for social and intellectual uplift m her town. She was one 
of the t)rganizers of the Search Light Club, a society devoted to literary 
and social culture. One of the young stalwarts of the Republican party 
in this county. Mr. Rheubottom has been a delegate to state and county 
conventions, and editorially and [:)ersonally upholds the principles which 
time and usage have proved sound and good. Fraternally he affiliates 
with Lodge No. 311, K. of P.. at Middlebury. 

JOHN KOllkb'.R. 

Within the 'shadow .if his fnurscure years, dver sevent_\- nf which 
have licen '^jjcnl in this county, .Mr. Jnbn Rnhrer. of Jackson tiiwu-bi]), 
conies \ery near to being the oldest resident of Elkhart cnunty, hdtli 
from the standpoint of the length of his own Hfetime and years of con- 
tinuous residence. On other ]>aoes we have already spoken of tlie prom- 
inence of the Rohrer famih' as ])ioneers of Jackson townshi]). and it is 
to such devoted men and women as rejiresent this family that the phe- 
nomenal advancement of the count}- to a foremost position in all depart- 
ments of ci\ilization i'; due. The homage paid to pioneers is well de- 
ser\e(l, the extent of their ser\ices to mankind can never he overesti- 
mated, and the chronicling of their li\-es and deeds is not less ini])or- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTV 649 

lant in this history than the n^cnn] of tlie i)resent affairs and activities 
of the county. 

Born near Dayton, Ohio, September 3, 1826, he is the only h\-ing 
representative of the eight chiUh-en, six sons and two daughters, com- 
prised in the family of John and Catherine (Razor) Rohrer. His 
grandfather was from (German}-, and the family is of Pennsylvania 
German stock. The father, a farmer and also dealer in real estate, 
came at an early day on a tri]) to Indiana, seeking a home for his chil- 
dren and for the passing of his own remaining years. He entered 
government land both in Noljle and Elkhart counties, and in 1833 the 
Rohrer family came to this county, in covered wagons and in true 
pioneer style, and of course their first habitation was a log cabin. Mr. 
Rohrer's present home is part of the old homestead settled over seventy 
vears ago. At that time a den,se growth of timber covered alf this 
portion of the country, and before crops could be planted it was the 
arduous task of the futher and older bovs to cut off tlie brush and 
trees and make a small clearing on which their next year's means of 
.subsistence might be raised. The father was a man of inHuence in 
his community, and gave his ])olitica! support to the Whig and later 
the Republican party. The motlier, who was born in Pennsylvania. 
died in this county, and tlie remains of both parents rest in Milford 
cemetery, where a Ijeantifu.l monument has been erected in their sacred 
memory. 

A bo}- of about six _\e;irs when he came to this county, Mr. Rohrer 
lias been continuously a resident here for seventy-two years. Xearl}- 
all his conditions of life and the pioneer surroundings which ha\e l)eeii 
described at length in otiier ]3ortions of this volume, for the purpose 
of affording this and future generations a correct knowledge of the 
jiast. are memory pictures in the mind of Mr. Rohrer, and frcjiii his 
own long exoerience he culls incidents and scenes almost exactly sim- 
ilar in general and in detail. He is numbered among those who obtained 
their education in the log schoolhouses, he has often swung the old 
four-fingered cradle during the harvest days of fifty years ago, he has 
driven ox teams, and in fact, with his long train of successive years, 
he bridges over the interval between the dim-remembered ]iast and 
the glorious tw^entieth century. 

Mr. Rohrer lived at home \\itli his parents until his marriage. 
By his wedding with Miss Catharine A. Unnie ten children were born, 
six sons and four daughters, eight of wdiom are living. Marion is 
marriefl and is a carpenter and joiner at Goshen. Wesley, who is mar- 
ried, is a jiainter at New Paris. Rebecca Ann, a resident of Jackson 
township, is the widow of Daniel Peoples. James and Thomas are 
tW'ins. the former a resident of Xew Paris and a farmer, and the latter 
a farmer at Milford ; both are married. Emma is the wife of Melvin 
Sheliiie. a farmer and salesman. John, a practical farmer having charge 
of the old homestead and li\-ing with his parents, married Miss Linnic 



650 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Harper ami has two cliildren, (ilenwond and Ruth. Ira A. is success- 
fully engaged in the tent and awning l)usiness at Boise City. Idaho, 
and is married. 

;\Irs. Rohrer was liorn in I'reljle county. Ohio. Feljruary i8. 1827, 
a daughter of Isaac and Eli/.alieth (Hawks) Cnrue. She has heen a 
resident of Elkhart county and Jackson township since she was a little 
g'ir! eight years old. so that she too deserves representation among 
the oldest pioneers of the county. She attended log-cabin school, 
studied the Elementary speller, the Testament, a United States history, 
and with a goosequil! pen has written the copy set by the master. She 
has faithfully performed '.ler part of life's duties, has reared her large 
family with credit and honor, and in home and community has made 
herself belo\ed Ij}- her sweet and generous character. 

When the young couple began their wedded life their hnme was 
in the little house which stands just liack (if their beautiful country 
residence. All their children were born in that modest little house. 
That little dwelling moved away to make place for a pretentious and 
moclern home tells in a beautifull}- grajjliic manner the story of pvos- 
pevitv which has marked their career: tells of patient and i)ersistent 
effort b\' which graduallv they got ahead in the world, and besides 
doing well hv their children, furnishing them a good home, sending" 
them to school, at the same time they were steadily increasing their 
store of world's goods — all this and more may we read as we look 
from the weatherbeaten and well worn old place to the ornate and 
comfortable residence that has succeeded it. louring her first years of 
housekeeping Mrs. Rohrer has wo\en the cloth for many of the gar- 
ments worn by the famil}-. and she still ])ossesses as almost sacred 
relics her flax wheel, reel aufl other implements, although she has sold 
the loom. Their beautiful estate comjjrises one hundred and ninety- 
one acres of land in Jackson townshi]). and their residence was erected 
in 1876. 

Air. Rohrer was first a \Miig and then a Reimblican. being an 
emphatic advocate of the princii>les of his jiarty. He and his wife 
were among the organizers of the bAangelical church in this neighbor- 
hood, and vears ago they often walked four miles to attend the Solo- 
mon's Creek church. Thev contributed generously to the erection of 
the Evangelical church in Xew I'lU'ls. and also helped in the building 
of the Methodist church at the same i)lace. their intere.st in religious 
progress and the moral life of their comnuinitv causing them to lend 
their aid with discrimination or resard for creeds and sects. 

BEXJ.\A11X E. l'.\UL. 

As long as meniorv remains to the .\nierican people they will ac- 
knowledge tlieir del)t of gratitude to the men who wore the blue uni- 
form and carried the mu.sket in defense of the Union cause at the time 
i;f the Civil war. Among the veterans <.f that long and sanguinary 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 651 

struggle now li\ing in Elkhart connty, Benjamin V. Paul is num- 
bered. He comes of German lineage and was born in Cambria county, 
Pennsylvania, on the 28th of May, 1842, being the third in a family 
of six children, two sons and four daughters, whose parents were Abra- 
ham and .Sarah (Ahvnie) Paul. Only two of the number are now 
living, Benjamin F. Paul being the elder, while Levi is a resident of 
Elkhart township, where he follows the occupation of farming. The 
father wa.-^ born in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, and throughout his 
active business career carried on general farming. His educational 
privileges were limited but he made the most of his opportunities and 
from his native state he removed to Elkhart county. Indiana, in 1864, 
settling in Jackson township. He purchased property in New Paris, 
and continued in the tilling of the soil up to the time of his death, 
which occurred when he was sixty-four years of age. His early politi- 
cal sui5])ort was given to the so-called Know-nothing party, and when 
the Republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of 
slavery he joined its ranks and continued to follow its banners until 
called to his final rest. He and his estimable wife were members of 
the Evangelical church. Airs. Paul was born in Somerset county, 
Pennsyh-ania. and was aliont se\cnty-two years <.)f age at the time (if 
her death. 

Benjamin F. Paid was reared in the state of his nativity until 
he had reached manhood and his time and attention were largely given 
to the farm work. About the time he attained his majority, however, 
he began learning the carpenter's trade, which he followed for twenty- 
five or thirty years. In 1864 he decided to seek a home in the middle 
west and with his brother-in-law came to Indiana. He had desired 
to enter the service of his country at the time of the Civil war but his 
parents objected. Following his arrival in Indiana, when there was 
nc objection to his joining the army, he offered his services to the 
government, enlisting" in Company H, Thirty-fifth Indiana Volunteer 
Infantry, under command of Captain Dawson. This was in the early 
fall. The regunent was assigned to the Trans-Mississippi department 
and he joined it in Alabama. .Almost immediately he was under fire 
and lie participated in the battle of Franklin, Tennessee, one of the 
most Imtl}- contested engagements of the war. the Union troops be- 
ing niiiwn down like a field of grain. Two nf his comrades standing 
\erv near him were killed, but Mr. Paul managed to escape death. 
He was engaged in erecting breast v,-orks and under a hot fire the 
works had been built to a height of about two feet with rails on top 
when the enemy made the attack. The commanding" officer told them 
to pile their knapsacks on iop of the breast works and soon the rebel 
bullets rained around them like a hail. The next battle in which Mr. 
Paul participated was at Nashville, Tennessee, twchx or thirteen days 
later, and this was another hard-fought actinn. a inimber nf the mem- 
bers of .\lr. Paul's compah}' i:>eing killed. Then came the order "on 



652 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

to Richmond" and they started for tliat point, i>roceeding as far as 
Lookout Mountain when word was received that Lee had surrendered 
to Grant and the stars and stripes were iioating over the capital of 
the southern Confederacy. Then a part of the army to which Mr. 
PauFs regiment belonged was discharged, while the remainder was 
sent to Texas, Mr. Paul being with the latter section. The troops 
proceeded to New Orleans and thence across the gulf to San Antonio, 
Texas. \\ here they remained on duty for some time but no battles oc- 
curred. Mr. Paul was honorably discharged September 30, 1865, at 
Victoria, Texas. 

Returning at once to his home m Perinsyh'ania he had to spend 
some time in recuperating, for his health was impaired by the hard- 
ships and rigors of war. After a brief period spent in the Keystone 
state he again came to Elkhart county, Indiana, where he resumed 
work at the carpenter's trade. He had no difficulty in obtaining work, 
there being much building going on at this time so that the services 
of competent men were always in demand. It was about this time 
that he choose a companion and helpmate for life's journey, being mar- 
ried ifi 1866 to Miss Elizabeth iTiahn, by whom he had five children, 
three sons and two daughters. The family circle yet remains un- 
broken, the record being as follows ; Isadora May, the wife of B. W. 
Davis, who is a rural route mail agent, residing in New Paris; Charles 
William, of New Paris, a bai'ber by trade but now working at carpen- 
tering and who married Miss Cora Landahl; Franklin, who married 
Miss Minnie Carrier, and is a painter and paper hanger of New Paris; 
Ola Bell, the wife of Bert Tarman. a teacher of Jackson township; 
and Erastus, who is a barber of New Paris, and married Miss Addie 
Anselman. 

Mrs. Paul was bom in Indiana, in 1843. ''"'^ ^'^^ '^^'^^ 1^^'' '^"-'S' 
band are members of the Evangelical church at New Paris. The at- 
tractive house of worship here has lieen erected since they Ijecame resi- 
dents of New Paris, and Wv. Paul was one (if the building committee. In 
politics he is a Republican. Alwut 1891 he engaged in the sawmill 
business, which he continued for ab<iut six years and he conducted a 
hardware business for four years. He then turned his attention to 
general merchandising, carrying nr, a store for three years and dur- 
ing the succeeding year as a furniture dealer. He is now. however. 
a shoe merchant of New Paris, and in this relation is known to the 
citizens of the enterprising \illage, having a good patronage and car- 
rying a well selected stock. His business integrity stands as an un- 
questioned fact in his career and the success which he has acJiieved is 
the merited reward of his own labor. 

C. J. SWEZEY. 

C. J. Swezey, postmaster at Nappanee, for many years identified 
with the manufacturing activity of this "city, has in his later years re- 



HISTORY OI- ELKHART COUNTS" 653 

cei\ed the rewards which his early industry and perseverance through 
difficulties deserved. A self-made man, his achievements in every line 
have been the result i.)t his own fntelligent management and earnest 
labor. 

Born in Orange county, Xew York, June 3, 1839, he was only 
seven years old when the family lost their main support in the death 
of the father, David C. Swezey, who, also a native of Orange county, 
New York, had moved out to Marshall county, Indiana, in 1845 ^"^' 
died there the following year. The widowed mother, with her six 
young children, then returned to Yates county. New York, and from 
that time until he was fourteen years old young Swezey lived with 
his grandfather, David Swezc)-. Then hiring out to a farmer for a 
year, he thus early began an independent career and with increasing 
strength and experience came also added ability to cope with life's 
problems and to pull more than his own weight in the affairs of the 
world. Recognizing his deficiencies as to education, he set about edu- 
cating himself while laboring daily for his own support. After clerk- 
ing in a store at Howells, New York, about two years, he came out to 
Marshall county, Indiana, and put his self-accjuired education to use 
by teaching school three years. 

In 1861 Mr. Swezey enterei! the Union army as a pri\'ate in Com- 
pany K, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, became a corporal and then 
first sergeant, and was in the war until receiving his honorable dis- 
charge HI 1865. He was in the western armies, taking part in the bat- 
tles of Shiloh, Stone Ri\er, Chickamauga, and others, and at Chicka- 
mauga received a gunshot wound in his left leg so that he was com- 
pelled to lie in the hospital six months, which was the only interrup- 
tion to his continuous service. 

After the war he returned to Indiana. l:>ut soon went back east 
and engaged in farming in Seneca county. Xew \'ork. three years. 
Locating in Mishawaka, Indiana, he was in the employ of the Mil- 
burn Wagon Works six years as shipping clerk, then conducted a gen- 
eral store in Lakeville, St. Joseph county, and in 1883 identified him- 
self with the growing town of Nai:)panee. In compa.ny with Robert 
McGomey and DeWitt C. Eggleston, he engaged in the manufacture 
of furniture, especially tables. The enterprise was later incorporated 
as a stock company under the name of Xappanee Furniture Comi)an\', 
of which ]\Ir. Swezey was secretary, and about igoo the interests of 
the company were reorganized and ha\'e been since carried on by the 
Coppes, Zook & Mutschler Comi>anTi\ Mr. S\\eze^• retained his share 
in the business two N'ears longer, and then sold out to Daniel Zook 
and has since been retired from active participation m business aft'airs. 
He was appointed to his present position of postmaster in kjoj. and 
the efficiency with which be has administered the office lias liad a 
marked effect both in the (piantitv and quality of the ser\-ice. 

Mr. Swezev has lieen connected in various other wavs with the 



654 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

public life cif Nappanee. He was a member of the town board several 
terms and was president of the board one term. He has been a life- 
long Republican and an active party worker for many years. He is 
a member of th.e Methodist church and holds the ofilice of steward, 
and his fraternal affiliations are with the Masonic order and with 
Berlin Post No. 402, G. A. R., in which he has filled all the chairs. 
Mr. Swezey was married in 1865 to Miss Harriet Lyon. 

PERRY L. TURNER. 

Perry L. Turner, who for over twenty years has held a secure 
position among the principal lawyers of this county, who' has risen to 
a place of commanding influence and great professional prestige among 
the members of the bar and the general public, was born on a farm 
in Osolo township, Elkhart county, October ij. i860. His parents 
were Lyman Turner, now deceased, and Tamar (Wilkinson) Turner, 
still living. They took up their residence in this county in 1849. They 
had fi\'e children, but the onlv two living are Perrv L. and Dr. Px)rter 
Turner, both of Elkhart. 

Like so many men who have risen to prominence in the profes- 
sions, ]\Ir. Turner sperit his youth on a farm, where he assisted his 
father during the time he was not in school. Supplementing his com- 
mon school training by attendance at the Elkhart city high school, 
where he was graduated in the class of 1879, he taught in the country 
schools of the county in the winters of 1879-80-81, and during the cor- 
responding summers took a select literary course in the Northern In- 
diana Normal at Valparaiso, receiving his diploma from that institu- 
tion in 1 88 1. In May, 1882, he entered the law office of Captain O. 
T. Chamberlain at Elkhart and took up the study of law under that 
well known jurist. Obtaining admission to the bar In 1884, he at oiice 
became the law partner of his preceptor, and the law firm of Chamlier- 
lain and Turner continued with vminterrupted success until 1902, in 
\\hich year the senior member withdrew to make his home in Califor- 
nia. Since then Mr. Turner has ])racticed alone and has maintained 
the higli reputation for legal skill and ability which has always char- 
acterized the firm. In 1885 he was elected city attorney of Elkhart, 
and the satisfactory record he made in this office is shown in the fact 
that he was retained in the office for sixteen consecutive years. He 
has the ablest c|ualificatIons as a lawyer, the keen perception, the analyti- 
cal mind, the knowledge of law, and as a trial lawyer in particular he 
has made and well sustained a reputation throughout this section of 
the state. 

Besides attending to a large practice, Mr. Turner has connecticjns 
with manv other enterprises. He is general counsellor for the Modern 
Samaritans of the \\'orld, with which order he is affiliated. He is vice- 
president of the Elkhart Gas Company and is a director in the First 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 655 

State Bank of Elkhart. He is a Master and Chapter Mason, and a 
memljer of the Independent Order of Odd Eellows, the Benevolent and 
Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias, and both he and 
his wife are meml>ers of the Episcopal church. Mr. Turner is proprie- 
tor of and caused the erection of the Law Exchange building in Elkhart, 
in which he has his own law offices. His law library is considered one 
of the largest and best selected in the state, and his private library at 
home indicates the breadth and scope of his intellectual interests. ' He 
has ne\-er interested himself to any extent in practical politics, but in 




Perrv L. Turner. 



the public welfare of his city and county he yields to no one in puljlic- 
spirited endeavor. 

Mr. Turner was married in 1885 to Miss Mamie E. Wright. Her 
father, the late H. C. Wright, was the first mayor of the city of Elk- 
hart, and for many years a prominent lumber dealer and leading citi- 
zen. Mrs. Turner, who was born and reared at Elkhart, is a graduate 
of St. Mary's Academy of South Bend and of Peekskill Seminary in 
New York. For years she has been a leading spirit in the social and 
club life of Elkhart, and is now recording secretary of the Indiana State 
Federation of \\'omen's Clubs. 



656 HISTORY Ol-^ ELKHART COUNTY 

R. S. AlcCOR.NHCK. .M, D. 

Dr. R. S. AlcCurmick. engaged in the practice of medicine and 
snrgery at Xappanee, is a native of Li\-ing'ston county, Illinois, horn 
March 12. 1869. liis father. Hunter McCormick, was a native of 
Pennsylvania and following the period of the Civil war hecame a resi- 
lient of Illinois, settling in Odell, Livingston county, where he engaged 
in hookkeeiMiig and afterward in grain dealing. There he died at the 
age of fifty-eight years. His wife, who liore the maiden name of Mary 
E. Neyhart, is also deceased. 

Dr. McCormick is the second in order of liirth in a fanuly of fi\e 
sons and was onh' tweh'e \'cars of age at the time nf his mother's death. 
He afterward went to Pennsylxania. where he remained fur about four 
years, attending school in that state, and on the expiration <>f that period 
he rejoined his father in Illinois, remaining in Li\ingstiin cnunty until 
1887, when he went to (.'hicagn. He was there engaged m the shoe 
husiness and also attended school, after which he determined to 
make the study of medicine his life work. He did his ])reliminary 
reading under the direction of Dr. Lee and in 11JO3 was graduated 
from the Chicago Homoeopathic College. In Jul\' of the same year 
he located foi" ]5ractice in Xappanee. where he has since remained, and 
here he has worked up a \ery gratifying liusiness. winning a creditable 
professional and financial success. 

Li i8g8 Dr. ]\IcCormick was united in marriage to Miss Mar\' E. 
Tavl<ir of Rochester. Indiana, a daughter of Israel Ta}-lor. Dr. and 
Mrs. McCormick are wideK' and faxuralily known socially and he is 
a wilued member of the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic frater- 
nities, in the line of his jirofession he is connected with the Indiana 
Homoeopathic Aledical .Association and his wife is an acti\e and helpful 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Dr. Mcl'orniick has little 
leisure time, owing to the increased demands for his jjrofessional ser\'- 
ices, but he finds genuine enjoyment in the calling which he has chosen 
as a life work and the love of scientific in\-estigation and broad humani- 
tarian principles as v^ell as a hope of gaining a desirable financial return 
jirompts him to put forth his best efforts ns a practitioner of medicine 
and siu'gery. 

HON. CHARLES L. AIURRAY. 

Hon. Charles L. Murray, the pioneer journalist of Elkhart and 
Kosciusko counties, was Irarn in 1815, in a small town called Murrays- 
field in Bradford county. Pennsylvania. His parents were Philadel- 
phians. He was paternally Scotch and maternally English. His pa- 
ternal grandfather was an officer in the Revolutionary war, and his 
])rofession (religious) was fir.st a Baptist and then a Universalist min- 
ister, and he was one of ei.ght brothers wdio settled in western New 
^'ork alter the Revolution. His maternal grandfather was a Ouaker, 



HTSTORV OF ELKTIART OH'XI ^' *<:>: 

and lollowecl tlie business of an architect in Philadelphia, where C. L. 
Murray's parents were born. While the family resided at .Vthens, on 
the Susquehanna ri\er, his father was appointed justice of the peace 
for life, by the governor of Pennsylvania, under the old constitution. 
Mr. Murray begai>, about the year 1828, to learn the printer's trade. 
The paper was published in Towanda, and supported John 0. Adams 
for ])resident. His brother-in-law, W. Jenkins, leaving Towanda, Mr. 
Murray went with the family to Huron county, Ohio, where he was 
engaged in the rtrst anti-Masonic ]>rinting oftice in the state. In 183 1 
Mr. Jenkins moved the office to Columbus. Ohio, where Mr. J^Iurray 
followed him as an apprentice. 

Com])leting his trade in i8_:;:;, he went west to seek his fortune. 
Having a relative at Jackson\ille, Illinois, on his father's side, Murray 
McConnel, he worked in that place on a paper published by a Mr. 
Edwards. Taking the prevailing disease of the country, ague, he re- 
turned to Columbus, Ohio, by joining his father's nephew in taking 
a drove of horses through that were being bought for the Philadel- 
phia market. Mounted on a horse young Murray crossed the state 
from St. Louis \'ia Vincennes, and in spite of the terrible condition of 
the roads at that time reached Columbus in safety. Here he again 
worked t(jr his bi-other-in-law and became foreman of the office of the 
IJ'rstcni flniiisplu-rc. the Democratic organ of the state. Young Mur- 
ray was then in his eighteenth )-ear. and he continued in the employ 
of the jjaper until a difficulty arose between him and one of the pro- 
prietors. Soon afterward the ])a])er changed hands, and its name 
changed to the Ohio Stafcsiiiaii. where Mr. Murray again accepted a 
position in the office and continued there until 1834. He then went 
to Picpia. Ohio, on the solicitation of citizens there, and in company 
with his brother-in-law, D. P. Espy, established the Piqua Cmtricr. 
The paper was printed ori an :ild wooden press that had been brought 
from Philadelphia at an early day. The Courier, with Charles L. 
Murray as editor, was die first paper in the state which run up the 
name of Ceneral Harrison for ]iresident in 1833. ^I''- Murrav pur- 
chased the interest of his brother-in-law in 183(1. 

In July of the same }ear Mr. Murray man'ied a Kentucky ladw 
Ann Maria Si)riggs. A ]iarty nf citi/ens from ( ioshen, Indiana, solic- 
ited him to remove to that town, and he accepted the otYer. selling the 
Conner to a Mr. I'arrington. hi coni]!nn\ with .\ntlionv Defrees, of 
Goshen, .Mr. Murray went to Cincinnati and l)ought an outfit, shipped 
it to Dayton by canal and the remainder of the wa\' it was transjjorted 
to Cioshen in wagons \Va l"(irl Wayne. Tlie first issue of the Goshen 
ExfTcss. C. L. Mnrra\- as editor. ai)])eared earl\- in 1837. Mr. 
Defrees soon sold h.is interest to Mr. Murraw who continued as its 
editor at intervals and under different names until 1840. At that 
Ijeriod, ;is a Whig candidate, he was defeated for the auditorship of 
Elkhart county, the Democrats having a large majoritv in the countv. 



058 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

^Ir. jNlurray was appoiiUe;! pustmaster of (joshen nuclei' President Har- 
rison in 1840, and sold his printing office shortly afterward. He was 
removed from the office during the administration of John Tyler. Hav- 
ing purchasetl some land north of (lijshen he turned his attention to 
agricultural ])ursLUts. dexdting his tir.ie during the *\vinter to working 
at his trade or in reporting the proceedings of the senate for the In- 
diana Slalr Joiii'iuil. In 184') he printed the Republican Monoqiict, 
Kosciusko county, for one \ear. under an engagement ^\■ith the land 
owners rhere who were trying to locate the county seat. This was the 
first paper ever ]jrinted in the county. From there he mo\ed to Indian- 
apolis and hecame assistant editor of the State Journal. 

In the fall of tlie following year he returned to his farm in Elkhart 
county, where his family resided until 1870, though Mr. Murray was 
still in the hahit of going to Indianapolis to report in the senate, where 
he served seven sessions in that capacity. In 1859 he was elected by 
the Repul>licans joint re]iresentati\e from the counties of Elkhart and 
LaGrange by a majorit\- of nine hundred. He ser\ed through both 
extra and regular sessions and took an actixe part in important sub- 
jects under consideration. In i860 he was elected to the senate by 
over twelve hundred majority. He had the advantage of the acquaint- 
ance of nearly all tlie pulilic men of Ohio and Indiana. He was purely 
a self-made man, ne\er Inning attended school a day after he was 
eleven years of age. 

On the first call oi the government for se\'enty-fl\e thousand men 
to init down the rebellion he wrote out a muster roll, signed it, placed 
it in the auditor's office of the county, wrote out and had published 
in both Goshen papers the first call for volunteers in that citv, after 
which he went out into the townships and made speeches for recruits. 
.\fter he had raised a suffi-cient number of men for the company through 
a call in the ])apers he met the men at Goshen and placed in nomination 
a captain and first lieutenant, and leaving them to complete the organ- 
ization departed for Indianapolis to attend the extra session of the 
legislature called by Governor Morton to equip the Indiana troops for 
the three months' service. The quota of troops being filled when the 
men arrived they were discharged and returned home. Mr. Murray 
procured a place as private in Captain Mann's company from the city 
of Elkhart, and when marching orders came left his seat in the senate 
and boarded a cattle train with the boys one morning after having 
lain with them on the ground all night near the Union depot After 
serving the three months as a private he returned home and completed 
his term in the senate. On February i, 1862, he left Camp Ellis, near 
Goshen, with tlie Forty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, as quarter- 
master, and remained with the regiment about two years, until he 
received his discliarge by reason of severe illness that incapacitated 
him from duty. 

In 187a Mr. Alurray sold his farm and removed his familv to 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 659 

Goshen, where lie soon bought a half interest in the Democrat, which 
paper he edited until the fail of 1877. Aljout that time he moved to 
South Bend and took charge of the Herald, which plant he had owned 
for several years previous in partnership with his son, Charles T. Mur- 
ray. He continued to edit the Herald until he sold the oflice in the fall 
of 1880. In 1882, tlie material of the Herald returning to Mr. Murray 
under a mortgage and the " good will " of the office having been taken 
from him through the connivance of the man to whom he had sold 
the office, whereb) he met the first real financial loss during his entire 
newspaper career, he in company with his two' sons, Gordon N. and 
Harris F., opened a job printing ofiice at South Bend. Having reached 
that age when mechanical work became burdensome to him he was 
gratuitously employed as editor of the Sua, a Prohibition organ printed 
at the job office through arrangements with local adherents of that 
])arty. Tlie office was sold during the fall of 1884, and was afterward 
removed to Indianapolis. At this period Mr. ^Murray retired from 
active business iife, though he continued to contribute to the columns 
of the New York Voice. Chicago Nezix^ and other journals over his 
signature up to within a few months of his death. He died at his home 
in the city of South Bend July 15, 1889. 

It will be seen by this sketch that the subject was closely identified 
with the early history of Elkhart county and later of St. Joseph county. 
He was a politician from boyhood and was particularlv " at home with 
his pen " on all political que,stions and political historv nf his time. 
He was counted as one among the most fluent yet vigorous writers in 
the field of northern Indiana journalism during his newspaper work 
therein. Mr. Murray was first a Whig, then a Republican from that 
party's infancy until the time of the '■' Liberal " mo\-ement that followed 
Horace Greeley. He affiliated with the Democratic party until the 
Prohibitionists organized in the state, when he adopted that political 
faith, to which he strictly and conscientiously adhered, and was promi- 
nent in drafting in a measure that party's state platform in 1888. 

GORDON NOEL MURRAY. 

liordon Noel Murray, editor and publisher of the Nappanee News. 
which is a monument to his ability and enterprise as a journalist, was 
born July 22. 1852. at the Murray homestead, in Jefferson township, 
Elkhart county, being one of six brothers and three sisters. The Mur- 
ray family has furnished a remarkable record in the field of journalism. 
The father, C. L. Murrav, whose name finds mention repeatedly through 
the pages of this volume, is the subject of a separate sketch. And of 
the brothers, Charles T.. Edward and Harris F. are all identified with 
literary and newspa]3er interests. 

His early years spent on a farm, receiving the e lucation afforded 
by the country school of that day, at the age of eighteen \eirs t^e son 



660 HISTORY OP^ ELKH.\RT COUNTY 

(imclun X. accompanied liis parents tci (ioshen, where in 1871 he Ije- 
came an apprentice in a machine shojj. In iSj-j. he took up his resi- 
dence 'u Sterhng. lllniois, and during tlie following three years had 
charge of a factory as foreman and was also a commercial salesman. 
Moving to South Bend, where he followed the vocation of mechanic 
until the vviiitcr of 1877-7S, lie then entere<l the mechanical department 
of the South iJend Herald, winch was then puhlished by his brother, 
Charles T. Ahirray. The latter returning to Washington, 13. C. in the 
spring (if 187S, the tion. C. L. Alurra\' then sold his interest in the 
(ioshen Pciiiocral and took clirirge of the .'^outh Bentl Herald. It was 
then that \()ung Altn'ra\' was initiated nilo die nn-steries of journalism, 
continuipg as he did in the cajiacity of business manager and city editor 
of th.e Herald until the spring of 1881. when his father disposed of the 
Herald. He again entered u];on the life of commercial traveler, and 
in June. i88i, married Miss Ellen Xiles 'i'aylor, at Ionia, ^Michigan. 
Cuder a. mortgage the Heudd plant reverting- to his father, Mr. Mur- 
ray again returned to the printing business at South Bend in 1882. 
b'orming a partnership with his younger brother, Harris 1'., and his 
father, under the firm name of C. L. Murrax' and Sons, job ])rinters, 
Mr. Murray completed his trade in the '" art |)reser\ative."' 

in the fall of 1884. the job ])rinting office being disposed of and 
Soon ''ailing into the hands of the ])rominent Prohibitionists of the 
state, who had formed a stock com])ahy to est.ablish a state organ for 
their jiarty, Mr. Murray became a stockholder in the company and 
was awarded the contract of nio\-ing' the plant to Indianajjolis, where 
it was consolidated with that of the Monitor Journal, and there he 
established the mechanical deiiartment of the Indiana Phalanx. The 
Phalanx company being unable to continue the salary at which Mr. 
Murray was employed, he came to (ioshen and identified himself with 
the Daily A't'iaf. first as solicitor on the road, soon afterward as busi- 
ness manager of the office, and later became a member of the News 
Printing Company. He continued there until Tanuar\-. 1888, \vhen 
he was enabled, through the assistance of Thomas .\. Starr, senior 
editor of the Goshen New.'<'. to purchase the Xa])panee .Xe^cs. He has 
cortinued as jiroprietor and editor of the .\'('7iy since 1888, bringing the 
jiaper up to its jiresent standard of journalistic excellence. Throughout 
these years the Xeic.^ iias made a record for leading the \aii of ]niblic 
opinion in all enterjirises designed foi- the ];ulilic welfare and for coii- 
sistenth' and continually uiiholding the digiiit\- and reputation of the 
town. The mechanical cai)acit\- of the office is efpial to any in the 
count)-, and he has also laid the foundation of a profitalile honk-store 
business iri connection with the nublishiny- and printing business. 
Through the enterprise of Mr. Murray the town of X'^apjianee has lieen 
nresented a Souvenir Edition, illustrated and descriptive of the busi- 
ness ;ind iirofessional interests for the \ear i<)o;. This handsome mag- 
azine nuiuber. mentioned in connection with the history of the .Vrtr.v 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY OtJl 

and elsewhere, has receixed enthusiastic and deserved ])raise among 
the people of Xappanee and wherever it has been distributed. 

Prominent in social and fraternit}- affairs. Mr. Murray is a mem- 
ber of the Kniglits of Pythias. Knights of the Maccabees. Modern 
Samaritans and Rathbone Sisters. He has held nearly every office in 
the subordinate lodge of K. of P.. and was in the office of keeper of 
records and seal continuously for six years up to Januar_\- i, 1905. He 
was president of the Modern Samaritans two years. Mr. Murray was 
a member of St. James church at Goshen, and at Nappanee attends 
divine worshijj in the Presbvterian church, wliere he teaches the vming 
people's Sunday-school class. 

]\lrs. Murray Avas a daughter of C R. and Martha Jane (Nicar) 
Taylor, the former of Xew \'ork state. Her mother was a native of 
LyncJibnrg, N'irgiiiia. lier grandmother being a meml;er of the well 
known Lewellyn family. Mi's. ^Murray's great-grandmother was Sarah 
Harrison, cousin of President ^\ illiam Henry Harrison and ;i niece of 
pjenjamin Harrison, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. 

Mr. and Mrs. Murray have two children. John Reed Murray, who 
was born in Elkhart county Eeliruary 2;^, 1885. is a well educated young 
man and his father's assistant in the conduct of the Nc-zm. The daugh- 
ter. Mary Taylor Murra)'. who was Ijorn in Goshen March 9. 1887. 
was one of the attracti\-e girl graduates of the Nappanee high school 
in 1905. anfl, like lier brother, is a printer and writer for the .Vctiv. 
The children are true Murrays in their taste for journalism in its 
\arious departments, and are both \er}- highh- esteemed in the junior 
social circles of the town. 

c;eor(;e r. mcm.\sters. 

George R. McMasters, who for a number of vears has been iden- 
tified with the Inisiness and manufacturing interests of Cioshen, is treas- 
urer of the Goshen Xovelt_\- and Brush Company, whose works, located 
along the canal, are one of the important features of industrial Goshen. 
Erom almost a lifelong experience in various branches of manufactur- 
ing Mr. McMasters draws a fund of broad ability and fitness for his 
present enterjirise, and has been one of the men of force behind the 
present industrial development of his cit}-. 

Mr. McMasters comes 1)\- his career of mechanical and manufac- 
turing ;icti\it_\ naturally, since his father, .\lphonso McMastei's. who 
was born in Canada, also follcjwed various branches of mechanical 
engineering and like work. The father spent some years in residence 
in Michigan, and druing the Civil war was first lieutenant of the Mich- 
igjiu Engineers. He was killed while working in a factorv in Lansing'. 
Michigan, being then sixty-eight years of age. He was of Scotch 
descent. He married Giarlotte Bunnell, who was born in Xew York 
state and lived to be aliout sexenty-three years old. and thev were the 



662 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

parents of four sons ?nd one flaughter. all of whom tirew to manhood 
and womanhood. 

The oldest of the family. ]\lr. AIcAlasters was born in 2^ionroe 
county, New York, Janaury ii, 1849, ^^''s educated in the public schools 
of that state, and at the age of sixteen accompanied his parents to 
Michigan. He learned the trade of sash and door making, and going 
to Ligonier. Indiana, was engaged m manufacturing there until his 
plant w^as burned out. Mr. McMasters has lived in Goshen since 189J. 
and on coming here he went into business with Mr. C. L. Lamb. Mr. 
McMasters was one of the leading promoters and organizers of the 
Goshen Novelty and Brush Company, and as its treasurer has contrib- 
uted much of the executix'e ability to its successful management. 

A wide-awake business man, eminently public-s]3irited. Ah-. Mc- 
Masters has displayed commendable interest in all matters pertaining 
to the advancement of his city. He is a Republican \oter, and fra- 
ternally is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and 
the Knights of Pythias. He married, in 1878, Miss Candace Hart, 
a daughter of William Flart, deceased, and they have two daughters, 
Edith and Mayme. 

EDWARD B. ZIGLER. 

Edward B. Zigler, T)f the firm of Harman and Zigler, is one of 
the able young lawyers of Elkhart. Born on a farm in Jefferson town- 
ship, this county, April 24, 1875, '''^ belongs to one of the oldest fam- 
ilies of the county, his father and grandfather having been prominently 
connected with the industrial and jnililic affairs of the county since the 
thirties. 

His grandfather, Benjamin Zigler. was lnjrn in Lebanon county, 
Pennsylvania, was reared and married there, and about 1838 came 
west and located in Jackson township of Elkhart county, where he 
l»ught eighty acres of land covered with dense timber, erected a log 
house for the use of his family, and in a few years had cleared up and 
improved his place into a nice farm. Selling it in 1853, he mo\ed into 
Jefferson township, where his home remained till his death, at the age 
of seventy y;ears. He had made farming a lifelong vocation, and was 
successful beyond the average. He was a member of the Lutheran 
church and always voted the Democratic ticket, at one time having 
serv-ed as trustee of Jefferson township. He married Mary A. Wag- 
ner, a native of Lebanon county. Pennsylvania, who died in Elkhart 
township, this county, at the advanced age of eighty-two. They were 
parents of the following children, seven of whom are living: 
Elizabeth Judia, of South Bend ; David, deceased : Henry, of Goshen ; 
Louisa Shoup, of Goshen : .Andrew, of whom further below ; Jonathan, 
of Mishawaka : Mary Jane, of Elkhart ; Sarah C. Kessler, of Jefferson 
township. 

Andrew Zigier. father of the Elkhart attorney, who has lieen a 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 



663 



successful farmer for years and resides on section 26 of Cleveland 
township, was the fifth child and third son of his parents and was l>orn 
in Jackson township of this county. August 9. 1845. He was reared 
and educated in his native township, attending the Goshen schools, 
and spent the first twenty-one years of his life at home. He alternated 
between the occupations of teaching in the winter and farming in the 
summer. In 1866, at the age of twenty-one, he married Lovina Ricks. 
daughter of John and Eliza .\. ( Stockham) Ricks. She was born in 
Allen county. Ohio, and came to Jefferson township. Elkhart county, 
when four vears old, being reared and educated there. ,\fter his mar- 




Edward B. Zioler. 



riage Andrew Zigler moved over to St. Joseph county, where he was 
engaged in farming and teaching two years, and then returned and 
located in Jefferson township about three miles north of Goshen. Three 
years later he bought and moved to a farm of eighty-four acres, which 
he cultivated until 1900, when he sold and moved into Elkhart. He 
bought his present farm in 1901 and located on the same in 1904. 

Mr. Andrew Zigler has manifested much interest in public affairs. 
He served as assessor of Jefferson township nine years, and is the 
present trustee of Cleveland township, having been elected to the office 
in 1904. He is a prosperous and successful farmer, his estate com- 
])rising one hundred and sixteen acres, and in civic and material affairs 



0«4 HTSTOm' OF ELKHART COUNTY 

he has been an impurtant factor. He Jiad tliree chiUh-en : Carry, the 
deceased wife of George Stauffer; Ira EHiert, who is registr}^ clerk in 
the Elkliart jiostotfice. a jmsition he lias held ele\'en vears: and Ed- 
ward B. 

Ed'vvard B. Zigier spent his hoylK.iod and youth on the farm, antl 
his education was obtained in the country schools and at Valparaiso. 
At the age of seventeen he began teaching country school and con- 
tinued that vocation three \ears. His law studies in the meantime 
had already Iveen begun first in the scientific department at Valparaiso 
Normal and then in the law department of that institution. He was 
admitted to the bar March 8. i8g8. and at once began practice in Elk- 
hart, where he has built up a large and profitaljle business. His part- 
nership with Mr. Harman began on Januar)- i, 190J. and this is now- 
one of the well known legal firms of the county. 

Fraternally Mr. Zigier affiliates with the Benexolent and Fnjtec- 
tive Order of Elks, with the Knights of Pythias antl with the Modern 
^Voodmen of America. He and his Avife are Methodists. He mar- 
ried. November i-j. 1895, Miss Maud E. Rice, of this county, and they 
have one son, .\rthur E. 

CflARLES MUTSCHLER. 

Charles Mutschler. a member of the Coppes, Zook & Mutschler 
Company of Nappanee and assistant manager of the furniture depart- 
ment of the company, is a young business man whose connection with 
the manufacturing affairs of the county has given him deser\-ed promi- 
nence among the men who are responsible for the de\'elopment and 
progress of the county along these lines. 

The fifth child in the family of George and Sarah (Froelich) 
Mutschler. well known citizens of the county whose lives are sketched 
elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Mutschler was Ijorn at the old home 
in Millersburg. this county. ^Va\ i i, 187^), and was reared and edu- 
cated in his native town and in (ioshen. He began preparation for 
the law, pursuing his studies along that line for two years in the Uni- 
versity of Indiana, but at the end of that tnne turned his attention to 
business life, taking the position of l)0(!kkee])er for the Nappanee Fur- 
niture Company in 1896. He was with them two years, and in i8g8 
took charge of the Union Canning Comjiany of Na]>panee. When, 
several vears later, the Napjianee Furniture Comiiany and the Coppes 
Brothers and Zook Companv consolidated as the Co])])es, Zook & 
Mutschler Company, he became a member and director in the business 
and also assistant manager of the furniture de]>artment. He has amply 
demonstrated his fitness for business life and for the position he holds, 
which is a x'erv responsible one, his company being em])lovers of three 
hundred jiersons in the various de]:)artments. 

Mr. Mutschler is a Democrat in politics and is affiliated with the 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 665 

Knights of Pythias fraternity. He married, June lo. 1901, Miss Delia 
Coppes, who is the daughter of S. D. and Elizal>eth (Berlin) Coppes. 
Their marriage has been blessed with two children, Helen E. and 
Sarah 1. 

JOHN D. COPPES. 

Jnhn 1). Cnp])es, vice president of the Coppes, Zook & Mutschler 
Compan)- at Xapiiauee, has been identified with manufacturing enter- 
prises since he was eighteen years old. He has spent practically all 
his life in this county, and is one of the able men whu ha\e l)een at 
the foundation of Nappanee's prosperity as a commercial and industry 
center. The enterprising spirit of the Coppes family can be traced in 
almost every important lousiness or public institution of Nappanee, 
and the family name has that digniity and stability of character which 
is fitting in a house of such long and jirominent standing in the com- 
munity. 

Mr. Coppes. who was born in Jackson tov,nshi]>, this county. -Aug- 
ust 14. 1856, was the ninth child in the family of Jacob D. Coppes, 
who was born and married in Pennsylvania, and thence moved to 
Ohio and from there became one of .the early settlers of Elkhart county. 
At the time of his arrival Goshen was a village of log houses, so that 
the family history gx)es back to the early days of this county. He 
was a farmer by occupation, and liought considerable land in Elkhart 
township and unproved a fine farm. He died at the age of sixty-one. 
in 1873. His father Samuel was also born in Pennsylvania, and died 
in Ohio, being of German descent according to the best information. 
The mother of John D. Coppes was Sarah Fravel before her marriage, 
and she was Ixjrn in Pennsylvania and lived to be about se\enty-seven 
years old. she being also of German descent. They were the parents 
of ten children, two of whom died in infancy, while the re.st grew to 
adult years. 

Mr. Coppes had a couim(>n '^chuf.il etlucation such as has helped 
many a bov on tlie road to success, and when he was nineteen years 
1)1(1 he liegan an mdependent business career. At that age he started 
one of the first sawmills at Nappanee. aufl has been identified with the 
manufacturing affairs of this \mrt of the county ever since. His fur- 
niture plant, planing mill and box factory was bought, three years later. 
by J. C. Mellinger and Company, which existed about eight years, and 
then Mr. Coppes' brother .Samuel bought out the Mellinger interests, 
and the firm was then known as the Coppes Brothers for a time. Mr. 
Coppes also in the meantime had interests in the Nappanee I'urniture 
Company. In 1891 Mr. Zook purchased the share of Samuel Coppes. 
and for ten years the different enterprises were conducted under the 
name of Coppes Brothers and Zook, until the organization, in 1901, 
of the Coppes, Zook & Mutschler Company, the most extensi\e manu- 
facturing concern in Nap])anec. L'nder tin's firm name are ciin<lucted 



6Gt; HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

the large furniture manuiacturing plant, the Xappanee flouring mills, 
and the sawmill, all enterprises ot Xappanee and employing in the ag- 
gregate between two hundred and fifty and three hundred men. Mr. 
John D. Coppes is the senior member of the firm. The Coppes Hotel, 
the leading" hostelry of Xappanee and a distinct credit. t<j the town, 
is another institution foundefl Ijy the Coppes brothers, who erected it 
in 1892, and the fine opera 'louse was built bv them in 1900. 

Mr. Coppes, though a sl;mch RepnI'ican and often sought to hold 
■office at the gift of his fellow citizens, has ne\'er allowed himself to 
figure to any e^ctent in public life, notwithstanding that he has done 
as much as any other man for the upbuilding of X'^appanee. He served 
as president of the town boai'd two years. 

He married, in 1879, Miss Malinda Strohm, a daughter of Joseph 
and }\lary ( Hara ) Strohm. Tliey have only two living children. Mar- 
\in, who is a graduate of Purdue University, is assistant shipping 
clerk in bis father's business, and Ir\in, wlro likewise studied at Purdue 
University, is also a member of the firm. One child died in infancy, 
Gertrude died at the age of six years, and Lloyd died also at the age 
of six years. 

D. ^^■. THOMAS. 

D. \\". Thomas is one of the best known men in the public life of 
the city of Elkhart. His position as superintendent of the city schools, 
which he lias held for nearly twenty years, has brought him into very 
intimate relation with all classes of citizens, and such long tenure of 
that important ofiice means that he has exerted a broad and far-reach- 
ing influence on the development in character and mind of many hun- 
dreds of boys and girls, the majority of whom have already taken their 
places in the serious pursuits of life. In the portion of this history 
devoted to education in the county will be found considerable men- 
tion of Mr. Thomas and his work as an educator in Elkhart, and the 
very rapid and substantial growth of the schools of that city within 
the last few years is the best encomium that can be pronounced on his 
professional career. 

Born in Hancock county, Ohio, ?\ larch 26, 1839, Mr. Thomas was 
a son of ^lichael and Charlotte (Shippey) Thomas, the father of Welsh 
and the mother of Irish descent, and both natives of Ohio. They were 
parents of four children, and aftc" the death of the mother in Ohio, 
the father was again married, having one child bv that marriage. The 
father and his second wife came to Indiana and settled in Allen county 
in 1849, where he died in 1880. 

His father being a farmer by occupation, Mr. Thomas was reared 
on a fami, living in Ohio the first ten years of his life and since then 
having been a permanent resident of this state. His early education 
was acquired in private and puljlic schools and at Fort Wayne Col- 
lege. He entered upon lus inde])en(lent career at the age of sixteen. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 667 

and thence forward for some years lie persex'ered steadily in his efforts 
to obtain an education befitting- one who aimed at teaching as a pro- 
fession. He began teaching when sixteen years old, and thereafter 
for some years he alternated in farm labor and teaching and in attend- 
ing school. From I'ort Wayne College he entered Asbury ( now _De- 
Pauw) University, where he was graduated with the class of 1872. 
In 1873 Mr. Thomas became superintendent of the Wabash city schools, 
this state, and resigned there to accept the more lucrative position as 
superintendent of the Elkhart city schools, in 1886, so that his pro- 
fessional career has been devoted to two localities, a rather unusual 
record for an edttcator, especiallv one who has been in that line of acti\'- 
ity over thirty years. 

]Mr. Thomas is one of the best known educators of Indiana, and 
his connections are correspondingly large. He is a member of the 
Northern Indiana Superintendents" Club, of the Town and City Su- 
perintendents" Association, the State Teachers' Association, the North- 
ern Indiana Teachers" Association, of which he was the founder, in 
1883, and also a member of the National Educational Association. 
He is affiliated with Elkhart Commandery No. 31, K. T. He and 
his family are Methodists. 

Mr. Thomas is a Grand .Vrmy man, having membership with that 
organization b}- virtue of his active service in the Civil war. He en- 
listed, in April, 1861, in Company G, Twelfth Indiana Infantry, and 
after a year of service volunteered in Company E, Fifty-fifth Indiana 
Infantr}-, in which he served as orderly sergeant until the close of his 
term of enlistment. He is a member of Shiloh Post. G. A. R., at Elk- 
hart. 

]\Ir. Thomas married, in 1872, Miss -\nna Beechgood, and they 
have t\\ o living children, namely : Paula B., who is a teacher in the 
Elkhart schools, and Frost B.. who is an orange grower of Califor- 
nia. 

WILSON ROOSE. 

Wilson Roose, ex-state representative, a prominent attorney of 
Elkhart, and by lifelong residence and in many other ways intimately 
identified with this county, was born on a farm in Harrison township, 
February 20, 1866, a son of John M. and Mary A. (Myers) Roose. 
His father and mother were torn and were married in Columbiana 
county, Ohio, and came to Elkhart count}^ in 1854, settling in Harri- 
son township, where they lived till their deaths, the mother in 1882, 
aged fifty-five, and the father in 1893, aged seventy-three. There 
were eleven children, four daughters and seven sons. The father was 
a farmer and by trade a carpenter, and in early life had followed con- 
tracting extensively. .Although not interested in politics he had voted 
for candidates as far back as Folic and including Lincoln, Garfield and 



6t5S HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Harrison. He and his wife were members of the German Baptist 
churcii. 

Reared on a farm and with his early education acquired in the 
country schools supplemented by attendance at normals, when he was 
seventeen years old Mr. Roose obtained a license to teach and there- 
with began teaching a country school, an occupation which he carried 
on for eight years altogether. At the same time he was pursuing with 
characteristic energy the study of law, and in 1892 he was prepared 
to enter ujxm his chosen career, being admitted to the bar in that year. 
He practiced in Goshen until 1903, and since then has ]>een located in 
Elkhart. One of the prominent and influential Republicans of this 
count)', he served as couiity chairman of the Republican county central 
committee in 1894-96. and in the latter year was elected representative 
to the state legislature and re-elected in 1898. ^Ir. Roose's career as 
a legislator was marked by steady and consistent effort for the welfare 
i)f his constituencv and the state as a wlmle. He introduced the liill 
which became what is known as the Labor Arbitration Law. w hereb)' 
a labor commission ])ro\ ided for the .arbitrating of labor troubles. This 
is one of the splendid laws which no\\- adorn the statute books of the 
state, and Air. Roose's ]3art in other matters was of no less iniijortant 
character. In 1899 Governor Mount appointed him a member of a 
commission for the purpose of drafting certain bills that w(juld teml to 
curb the wastefullness as well as extravagance in the management of 
the count^■ and township governments of Lidiana. The result was the 
enactment of what became known as the County and Township Reform 
laws, which ha\e saved millions to the taxpayers since the measures 
became laws. .\ man of known reliabilitv and executive power, on the 
failure of the Indiana National Bank he was selected by the Comptroller 
of the Currencv as recei\'er and has administered the tangled matters 
in \-ery creditable fashion. 

Wr. Rcii/se is a Master Alason. ;ind is es]5ecial!y prominent in the 
lm])roved Order of Red Men. in which he has held all the offices in the 
local lodges and in icjoo was elected ( ireat Sachem of the state and 
has since been a representati\"e to the Great Council of the United .States 
l)0'ly. 

Mr. Roo.se married, in 1890. Miss Mary Murray, who was the 
oblest of three daughters of Benjamin 1. Murra^• and Zillah ( G.arwood ) 
Murrav. Mr. and Mrs. Roose are members of Trinity Methodist church. 

CHRISri AX lU.OCHER. 

Christian Blodier. the father of John M. Blocher. present trustee 
of Olive township, himself for many \ears an bonoretl citizen of the 
township, and well remembered for tlie honesty and industry which 
characterized his life throughout, was born in Erie county. New York. 
December 13, 1S36. a son of L'hristian and Catherine (Beam) Blocher. 




Uw ^ ^.^Xt/ 



HISTORY OF ELKHARI^ COrX'IA' 669 

His grandfather, a native nt the little repnhlic nf Switzerland, and 
his parents de\-iiiu memliers of the Mennonite church and people who 
reared their children to li\-es of God-fearing integrity ancl worth, it 
was natural that Christian Blocher should display the fine character- 
istics of his race and his ancestry, and no one recalls him hut as pos- 
sessed of the most sterling traits. 

Receiving a good practical education in the schools of New York, 
at the age of nineteen he came to the Woh-erine state, where he turned 
his energetic attention to the lumher industry. \Mien Fort Sumter was 
fired upon he took up arms in defense of his country, was one of the 
first men to enlist, and as a member of Company G, Seventh Michigan 
Infantry, served three years, holding first the rank of corporal and 
then sergeant, as which he was discharged. As part of the Army of 
the Potomac, he participated in the battle of the Wilderness, second 
Bull Riin, Antietam or Sharpsburg, and the pivotal battle of the rebel- 
lion at Gettysburg. He was wounded May 6, 1864, b_\- a sjient ball, 
Imt not seriously enoug'h to hinder his active service. 

Christian Blocher married Miss Susannah Martin, who was Ijorn 
in Erie county. New York, June 6, 1837. ^ daughter of Abraham and 
Maria (Herst) Martin. After his marriage JNIr. Blocher moved to 
Ohio, but in a few months came to Elkhart county, where, after rent- 
ing for awhile, he purchased a partially improved farm of eighty-five 
acres. During the remainder of his career he was prosperous from 
his private standpoint and also identified himself closely with the affairs 
of the community. Politically a Republican, he served as township 
supervisor for eight years, and for two terms was the incuml^ent of 
the office of township trustee. He and his wife were devout members 
of the Mennonite church. They bad four children : Martin A., who 
is a farmer in Olive township; John M.. whose history is given at length 
elsewhere: Anne E., who married J. W. Moyer, of Olive township; 
and Ida A., who was born February 14. 1872, and who wedded Charles 
W. Witner, a resident of Michigan. 

JOHN M. BLOCHER. 

John M. Blocher. one of the young men of enterprise and energy 
upon whom in this modern life of stress and strenuous endeavor rests 
the robe of responsibility in the fullest measure, is a citizen of long- 
established resitlence in Olive township and the city of \\'akarusa. is 
a successful attorney with a good and growing practice, and bv elec- 
tion in 1904 is serving as trustee of his township, a position that he is 
especially well fitted to fill. 

A native son of Elkhart county, where his lifetime of useful activ- 
ity has placed him among the worthiest citizens, Mr. Blocher was born 
June 7, 1868, and is the second child of Christian and Susannah (Mar- 
tin) Blocher, whose lives are briefly sketched on another page. Reared 



670 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 

on the farm, Mr. Blocher spent a youth of imusnally dihgent applica- 
tion alternately hetween farm duties and attending the common schools. 
A man of self-achievement throughout life, he gained most of his edu- 
cation — and he is very well educated indeed — by his own efforts. When 
he was twenty-one years old, hax'ing obtained a teacher's certificate, he 
began teaching in this county, and as a practical educator pursued his 
calling for eleven and a half years. All oi this time was spent in one 
township and in just four schools, a record which shows how hig'hly he 
was esteemed as a teacher. Outside of the summer normals he had 
never attended aught save the common schools, and his self-fitting for 
his vocation was an accomplishment of which he may be proud and 
which no doubt gave him the self-reliance needed for other under- 
takings. He began his career without capital, and the fact that he has 
continued to prosper and add to his material circumstances is another 
proof of his sound and substantial ability and manhood. 

January i, i8g8, Mr. Blocher married Miss Amanda Musser, and 
the}- have one little daughter, ^lary Saxton, who dispenses joy and 
gladness in copious abundance throughout the Blocher household. Mrs. 
Blocher is also a native to this county, born December 29, 1868, a 
daughter of Ephraim and Mary (Martin) Musser, the father a native 
of Ohio and still in the ranks of the prosperous and active agricultur- 
ists, he and his wife making their home in Harrison township. Mrs. 
Blocher was educated in the common schools of this county. 

A Republican in politics, Mr. Blocher cast his first vote for Ben- 
jamin Harrison and has always supported the party of his first choice. 
His life work has always identified him more or less with the com- 
munity at large, and after leaving the school room he became con- 
nected with the official affairs of his county. In 1904 he was selected 
as a delegate to the state convention of his ]Xirty, and has been a mem- 
ber of the township precinct committee. He held office as justice of 
the peace two terms. In the fall of 1904 he was elected trustee of the 
township of Olive. This, as is well known, is the most important ad- 
ministrative position in the county, especially as it bears upon the wel- 
fare of ihe public schools, six of which are under Mr. Blocher's sujier- 
vision and are in a most flourishing condition. This office of trust has 
l>een well placed in him, a practical and thoroughly experienced teacher. 

During his service as justice of the peace Mr. Blocher applied him- 
self to the study of the law. both by private reading and through cor- 
res)X)ndence law school, and with characteristic energY has become a 
well equipped attorney, in addition to his official and legal duties he 
does a large fire insurance business as representative of .some of the 
leading comjianies, the Ohio Farmers", the American. German-Ameri- 
can and Security, and he also makes a sjiecialty of buying and selling 
real estate, making loans, collections, etc. .\ thoroughly wide-awake 
and aggressive young business man, yet possessed of the courtesy and 
gracious conduct withal which are the distinguishing marks of .sound 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 671 

and self-poised ability, he has always enjoyed the confidence and 
patronage of the business and general public. In the fall of 1898 he 
purchased a pretty cottage home on Elkhart street, and has improved it 
into a modern residence and a most delightful, homey place. He has 
four pieces of real estate in Wakarusa and forty-five acres in Olive 
township. Mr. Blocher and his wife are genial people who take pleas- 
ure in the world as they have found it and give forth of their warmth 
of heart and mind to their many friends, so that it is not surprising 
that thev fill a large place in the social life of their CDnimunity. 

. FREDERICK BROOKS PRATT. 

Frederick Brooks Pratt for over forty years was one of the most 
prominent business men of Elkhart. Dying in this city July 18, 1903, 
when past the age of fourscore, with fullness of years he had likewise 
attained completeness of achievement and character, and his name and 
influence are destined to survive yet a long time in the community 
where his activity was centered. An able business man, with executive 
powers fully developed, he was also a man of kindly and philanthropic 
character, and his dailv life was in accord with the highest principles 
of honor and integrity. 

This late respected citizen of Elkhart county was born in the 
city of Springfield, Vermont, December 18, 1822, being- the only .son 
of Herbert and Caroline (Brooks) Pratt, both of whom were of old 
New England stock. Their only daughter, Louisa J., now resides in 
Detroit, Michig-an. The first twenty-three years of his life Mr. Pratt 
spent in his native state, and then came west and located in Battle 
Creek, Michigan, where he was joined some time later by his parents. 
Subsequently his father died while visiting in the still farther west. 
The father's desire was that his son should be a lawyer, with which pur- 
pose in mind the latter had been liberally educated, but young Pratt 
preferred the business rather than the professional life and had early 
identified himself with that line of activity. 

At the age of eighteen he had gone to Boston and gained an 
amjile mercantile experience during five years" employment in one of 
the largest dry-goods establishments of that city. On moving to Bat- 
tle Creek he had first been employed in the mercantile house of an uncle, 
but seven years later became a ' member of the new ly organized firm 
of Pratt, Rue and Rogers, general merchants, who instituted a verv 
large business but finally met with reverses and discontinued. 

Mr. Pratt came to Elkhart in 1858, and thenceforward practicallv 
up to the time of his death was intimately identified with the business 
and manufacturing interests of the city. In conjunction with and aided 
by his uncle, William Brooks, of Battle Creek, he engaged in the hard- 
ware business, and for years his hardware house was one of the best 
known business houses of the city. On the entrance of his son \Y\]\- 



GT2 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

iain B. into the business the firm was known as F. B. Pratt and Son. 
This estabHshment was finally discontinued, or. more correctly speak- 
ing, was n-:erged with tlie ETkhart Carriage and Harness Manufactur- 
ing Company, which was establi.shed by the father and son in 1873. 
This has become the largest firm of its kind in the United States, its 
dealings being carried on directly with the consumer without the use 
of middleman or joljber. Mr. Pratt's second son. George B. Pratt, 
came into the business in 1882 and in i8gi Mr. F. B. Pratt sold his 
interest in the business to his sons and retired from active business life. 
Mr. Pratt was married in Battle Creek, Michigan, November 30, 
1848. to Miss Charlotte E. Byington, a native of New York state and 
a daughter of Rev. Joel and Delia (Storrs) Byington, the former of 
Hartford, Connecticut, and the latter of Vermont. Her father was a 
distinguished Presbyterian divine. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt became the 
parents of five children, but the sons William B. and George B., of 
Elkhart, are the only ones living. Mr. Pratt was a member of the Pres- 
byterian church, taking an acti\e interest in all church work, and he was 
.nmong the organizers of tlie cliurch of hi'; denomination at Elkhart. 

ja:<ifs a. JUDA^■. 

Janies A. Juday, engaged in the real-estate and insurance business 
in Millersburg. was born in Benton township, Elkhart county, July 31, 
1856, and is of German lineage. His ]>aternal grandfather, Henry 
Judav. was a nati\e of Pennsylvania, a fact which indicates that the 
famih was ftnnided in America by previous generations. Henry Juday 
vemo\'e(l from the Keystone state to Ohio, and thence to Indiana, locat- 
ing in the Solomon's Creek settlement, in Benton township, where he 
spent his remaining days. Ide A\as a farmer and was actively inter- 
ested in the pioneer develo]iment of this county along agricultural lines. 
He owned one hundred and sixty acres of land together with other 
property interests and he became quite well-to-do. His religious faith 
was indicated by his membership in the Ex'angelical Lutheran church. 
Tn hi; family were eight children: John: Jacob: David: Solomon: 
Baltzer: Sarah, who married John Vance: Adam, who died in 1904: 
anfl :i deceased daugliter. All of this generati'in ha\'e now passed 
away. 

Baltzer Juday, born in Preble county, Ohio, June 18. 1818. came 
to Indiana with his parents in 1834, when about sixteen years of age. 
Elkhart county was then a sparsely settled region, in which much of 
the land was unclaimed and the broad prairies were covered with their 
native grasses, while the timber stood uncut along the streams. Towns 
and cities which now have much commercial and industrial importance, 
were then but hamlets or had not yet sprung into existence, and thus 
the name of Juday has been associated with agricultural de\^elopment 
in Elkhart county almost from its beginning. Baltzer Juday was twice 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 673 

inairied. He first wedded Sarah I'ricc and to them were horn two 
daugliters : iViatiltla. who Ijecame the wife of (ieort^e Hapner. and lias 
three children: and one died in infanc}'. After losing- his first wife 
Baltzer Juday married Eliza))eth Heltzel, who was horn in Alleghenx 
count)'. Pennsyhania, Se])temher jj. 1832, and was a daug'hter of 
Conrad Heltzel, a native of l'enns\ivania. who remo\'ed from Ohio to 
Indiana about 1842. He located in the southeast corner of Beuton 
township, where he followed general agricultural pursuits. He was of 
German descent. Jn his family were eight children: Hettie. the de- 
ceased wife of John Wolf: Catherine, the deceased wife of Wallace 
Rogers; Margaret, who married Oscar VV'ilkison, and has also passed 
ruvav : Sarah, deceased, who wedded Solomon Rogers: Elizabeth, John, 
Peter and ]Mar\-, all of whom ha\e departed this life.' Mr. and Mrs. 
Juday became the ]iarents of fifteen children, of \vhom foiu' died in 
infancy, the others being: Henr\-. now living in Beuton township: 
Nelson, of Ligonier, Indiana; Jane, the deceased wife of Charles Cul- 
ver; Ellen, the deceased wife of Samu.el Cnrue ; James; Thomas, a 
resident farmer cif Clinton townshi]); Ira. a dealer in flour and feed in 
jMillersburg: John, a grain dealer of Millersburg': Chauncey. a teacher 
and specimen collector for educational institutions, living in California: 
Ada, the wife of Edward ^^'ehrley. a farmer, of Benton township: and 
Amanda, who became the wife of John Hofifmau, and died, leaving 
two children. The father died March 26, 1883, while his w^ife's death 
occurred January 27. 1882. 

James .-\. Juday pursued his earb- education in the schools of Ben- 
ton township, afterward spending a short time as a student in Ligonier, 
Indiana. He was reared to farm life and for eleven years followed that 
pursuit in Xoble county, this st.':te. After marriage he conducted his 
father's farm for two years, but on account of il! health he remox'ed to 
Millersburg, in 18Q3. and since tlien has engaged in the fire and life 
insurance business, in collecting and real-estate dealing. He owns 
the old mill property in Benton township, a residence in Millersburg 
and six lots in the city of Goshen, and in the department of business 
to which he now gi\'es his attention he has secured a good clientage. 

Mr. Juday was married in 1878 to Miss Elizaljeth A. Growcock, 
wlio was born in Noble county, Indiana. September 15. 1856. her par- 
ents lieing George and Elizabeth (Ambrose) Growcock. in whose fam- 
ily were nine children, namelv : Mrs. Juday; George, who is a farmer 
of Noble county, Indiana, and a trustee in his township ; Isaac, wlio is 
engaged in cultivating onions and is also a stock buyer at Kimmell, 
Indiana; Nellie, the wife of Thomas Juday, a farmer, of Clinton town- 
ship, now deceased; .Mice, the wife of Nelson Hite. a farmer, of La- 
Grange county, Indiana; Oscar, of Millersburg: Camilla, the wife of 
Frank McDivitt, of Goshen; Edward, who is with his l:rother George 
in Noble county; and Florence, deceased. 

Mr. atifl Mrs. Iuda\' ha\-e a faiuilv of four sons and two dausli- 



0,74 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Icrs : Lutlier, who is pursuing a course in civil engineering in Angola, 
lu' liana, and has taught for a numlier ni years; Addie, a teacher; Wes- 
ley, who is attending the Goshen high school ; George, a student in 
Goshen; Alattie, also in school; and Dean, at home. The parents are 
members of the Christian church and Mr. Juday's father and mother 
and all liis )>rothers and sisters with the exception of two are members 
of that church. He takes an active part in church work, has served 
as deacon and has been superintendent of the Sunday-school at Millers- 
burg for several years. He has likewise been president of the Chris- 
tian Endcax'or Cnion for several \cars rmd his labor in behalf of the 
church has lieen a helpful factoi' in its upbuilding- and growth, fie 
belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity. Castle No. 328, — now 
vice-chancellor; and he votes with tb.e Democracy. On the Democratic 
ticket he was elected justice of the ])cace until he had filled the office 
for ten years, anc' he has likewise been a member nf the school board. 
A man of ger.uine worth, meriting the esteem in which be is unifi irmly 
held b_\- his fellow-men, it is therefore consistent with the purpose and 
])lan of this work that bis record lie gi\-en among those of the repre- 
sentative men of the county. 

The Juday fann'ly for man_\- years ha\-e held annually and semi- 
annually, reunions, and many ])leasant reminiscences are retold and 
gone over with so much pleasure tO' all. .Some of the Judays come from 
Ohio to attend these reunions. Each June the reunions will be held 
at Hake Wawassee. This \A'awassee reunion includes all liy the name 
of Juday. 

JOHN ALBERT COOK, M. D. 

Jcibn .\lberl Cook. M. 1)., of Ciosben, is one of the younger but 
none the less remarkably progressi\e ])hysicians and surgeons of this 
count}-, and in die course of ten years' practice has made a reputation 
and gained .'! jirofessional business which are exceedinglv creditalile to 
bis ability and skill 

Dr. Cook was liorn in C'linton. Canada. December u. 1S73. and 
his parents, I'cter and Lucinda (Cook) Cook, were .also natix'es of the 
Dominion. I'or his early rearing and educational training Dr. Cook 
remained in bis native town of Clinton. He matriculated at Trinity 
Medical College of Toronto. ;ind in 1S95 was graduated from that well 
known (irofessional scliool with the degree of M. D. .Mmost at once 
he came to Goshen, and h.as since l>een actively engaged in building up 
his practice. He makes a specialty of surgerx". being tliorougbh- erpiiiiped 
by training and natural deftness for this line of wurk-, and he also 
has a good general practice to attend to. lie is \ice-president of the 
Elkhart County ^Medical Societ}- an<l is ;i member of the State Medical 
Society. Alert and enterprising, with ;m .imbition that keeps him out 
of ruts and the mediocre, he gives much time to stud\\ and in loot 
liroadened his jirofessional training by ;i i.ost-gr.'iduate course in the 
Chicago I'olvclinic. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 675 

l'"ratei"nally Dr. C^ook affiliates with ihc Knight of I'ytliias and 

tlie Jlenevolent and Protective Order of h.lks. and he is ijohlicallv a 
l\e|)uhlican. 

HUCH .M. 11 ALL, Al. I). 

Dr. Hiiyh Al. Hall, cnj^atjed in the .general practice of medicine 
and surgery and also making <i specialty of ophthalmology, is a native 
of Michigan, his birth having occurred in Union, Cass county, in 1872. 
He is a representative of an old X'irginian family, his paternal great- 
grandfather having been born in that state, whence he remox'ed to 
Indiana, and later to Michigan, settling in the Wolverine state at a 
vei)' early period in its development and improvement. Two of his 
sons, Henry and John, were soldiers of the Civil war. going to the 
front with a Alichigan regiment, llis sun, M.arlin Hall, was born in 
Michigan, and became a farmer by nccuiiation. dexiiting his entire life 
to that ])ursuit. He married riud had two sons, Orlando and Hiram, 
the latter a prt)fessor of music connected \vitb the Boston Conservatory. 
Orlando J. Hall, ])orn in Cass cnunty, Alichigan. was roared to the 
occu])ation of farming and follow in 1 that pursuit thrcughout bis active 
business career, but is now li\-ing retired, makmg bis home in b'.lkbart, 
at the age of sixty years. He wedded Miss Alary May Sulli\-an, whose 
birth occurreckin Bureau county, Illinois, in 1850. She is a daughter 
of Patrick Sullivan, a native of Ireland, who- came to the L'nited States 
in his boyhood days with his father, who located in Klkliart count}-, 
but sooti afterward removed to Illinois, passing through Chicago when 
on his way to his destination. At that time the great metro])olitan cit\-, 
whose growth has been one of the wonders of the world, contained 
Indian wigwams and the cabin hianes of a few white .settlers. I'atrick 
.Suni\'an became ;i well-to-do' farmer of L)Ureau count}', lllinnis. and 
eventually he remoxed to Missouri, where be had accumuLited consiil- 
erable landed property and s]Dent his last days. His wife, who liore 
the maiden name of Rose Downey, was also' a native of Irclaml. and 
they became the parents of four children, all of wdioin tlied in infancy 
with the exce|)tion of Mrs. Hall. Patrick Sulli\-an was again married 
.after the death of his first wife and had eight children b}' that union. 
Air. and Airs. Orlando J. Hail were members of the Baptist church 
until recentl} . when they miited with the Presbyterian clunxb. The\- 
have a large circle of friends in Elkhart, where they now make their 
home. In their family were six children: Hugh M.. of this review: 
Grace .S.. the wife of C. P. Hulce. count}" superintendent of schools of 
Hillsdale count}-. Alichigan; Fred H.. a farmer of Cass countv, Mich- 
igan; Blanch, who is a nurse and lives in Elkhart: Charles J., of the 
.same city: and Alar^-. al home with her jiarents. 

Hugh Al. Hall began bis education in the district schools of his 
nati\-c count}- and afterward attended the high school at Bristol. In- 
dian.a. He then engaged in teaching school f<ir two wears prior to 



676 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

entering upon preparation tur the ])ractice of medicine. His prelimi- 
nary reading was done under the (lirectiun df Drs. [•'. }il. Aitken and 
C. E. Dutrow, of Bristol, and subsequently he attended lectures in the 
College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Chicago, a department nf the 
L'niversity of Illinois. There he recei\ed his diploma in tlie year 
1898, and in die fall cf 1904 he pursued a post-graduate course in his 
alma mater on the eye. ear. nose and throat. He began the practice 
of his profession in Chicago, m 1897. being permitted to dO' so through 
special examination. After remaining in that city for a year he opened 
an office in Millcrsburg, where he has since gained an enviable reputation 
as a skilled and capable represcntati\'e of the medical fraternity. He is 
now a general practitioner with a large and growing" practice. Init he 
also makes a specialty of the treatment of diseases of the eye. for which 
he is well qualihed by tiiornugli training. Reading and study also kee]) 
bini informed concerning the new thought of the medical fraternity 
and he is quick to adopt all advanced methods whose efficienc\" and 
value seem exideiit. He is local siu'geon of the ^^'al>ash Railroad Cum- 
pany and health officer of Millersliurg. He is also a member of the 
Elkhart County and Indiana State Medical .societies, the American 
[Medical Association, the Northern Tri-State and ^^'abash Railroad 
Surgeons" Association and the International Association of i'iailroad 
Surgeons. 

In 1895 Dr. Hall was married to Aliss Rose M. Trager. who was 
l)orn in Bristol, in 1868. a daughter of John W. Trager. a harness 
maker, who married Wilhelmina Koeblin. lioth of whom are natives 
of Germany, and they had nine children, of whom seven are living: 
\\'. F... h'red C. and Julian H.. who are in partnership in the ownership 
and contluct of a meat market at Lansing. ^lichigan : Christian M.. a 
harness dealer at South Bend. Indiana; Martin L.. who is also conduct- 
ing a harness business in Bristol: Emma, ilie wife of Ceorge .\. Kantz. 
a farmer of j\Iichigan; and Rose M. 

Dr. and Mrs. Hall are members of the Lutheran church and they 
have a wide and favorable acquamtancc in Millersburg. where the hos- 
pitality of their own home is greatl_\- enjoyed by their many friends. 
Dr. Hall is quite ]irominent in fraternal circles, holding niemliershii) 
with the Masons. Knights of Pythias, in both the lodge uniform and 
endowment ranks, the Woodmen of the World and the Patricians. He 
is now' medical examiner for these various organizations and likewise 
for a number of the old line life insurance companies. In politics he 
is independent at local elections, where no issue is involved. 1>ut at 
national elections gives his support to the Republican party. Interested 
in bis iirofession and with a full realization of the responsibility and 
oblig'rition that devolve upcni him. he lias to the best of his aliility 
qualifieil himself for the work and is now recognized as one of the 
ca]iable re]iresentati\es of the medical fraternity in his part of Elkhart 
countw 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 677 

JACOB M. GARBER. 

Jacob M. Garber, followiiig tbe occupation of farming in CHnton 
township, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1848. His father. Alira- 
ham Garber, was a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and about 
1813 removed to Ohio, whence he afterward came to Indiana. He 
was one of a family of ten children, others being: Jacob, Henry and 
David, all now deceased : Christian, v\'lio is living in Clinton town- 
ship; Mary, the deceased wife of Henry Geisinger;^ IMartha, the de- 
ceased wife of Aln-aham Hoover; Fannie, deceased; and Hettie, who 
is living with her l>nither Christian. Abraham Garber was the second 
in order of birth in that family. Reared and educated in Ohio, he 
was there married and made his home until about 1857, when he came 
to Elkhart county, settling on section 2. Clinton township, where he 
spent his remaining days. He was a carpenter by trade and for a 
number of years followed building operations, but later devoted his 
energies to farming. He passed away on Christmas tlay. 1889, amid 
the deep and widespread regret of many friends who had learned to 
respect and honor him because of his genuine worth. His wife bore 
the maiden name of Fannie Martin, and was born in Pennsylvania. 
She is now living at the age of seventy-eight years, making her home 
with her son Jacob. She is a daughter of Henry Martin, and the eld- 
est in a family of four children, the others being : Mary, the widow of 
Samuel Weaver, her home being near Harrison Center, Lidiana; 
Nancv, the widow of Jacob Brenneman. and now living in Orville, 
Ohio: and Christian, who makes his home in Goshen. Mr. and Mrs. 
Abraham Garber were the parents of tliirteen children : Henry, who 
follows farming in Emmet county, ^Michigan ; Jacob INl. ; Fannie, the 
wife of "Peter Schrock. a farmer of Nampa, Idaho ; Nancy, the wife 
of Daniel Schrock, of Goshen ; Christian, a carpenter residing in 
Goshen ; Mary, deceased ; David, a farmer living in Hesperia. Califor- 
nia ; John, a resident farmer of Clinton township: Annie, the wife of 
Noah A. Lehman, a furniture dealer of Nappanee; Abraham, who is 
engaged in carpentering in Nappanee ; Marvin, deceased ; Lizzie, tlie 
wife of Aaron Smeltzer, a farmer of White Cloud, Michigan ; and 
one who died in infancy. 

Jacob M. Garber was reared lipon his father's farm and now lives 
on section 16. Clinton township, where the family own eighty acres. 
He obtained his education in the public schools near his home, and 
in liis youth learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in his 
earlv manhood, but now he gives his undivided attention to his agri- 
cultural interests. His place is neat and thrifty in appearance and the 
well tilled fields and substantial buildings always in good repair indi- 
cate the careful super\ision of a practical and progressive owner. 

In 1872 Mr. Garber was married to Miss Elizabeth Schrock. who 
died about 1882. Thev had five children but the first and last brmi 



678 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

are deceased, and David, the fourth of the family, has also passed 
away. The others are: Jennie, the wife of Charles McClintock, who 
is a mechanic in a tablet factory in Elkhart : and Harvey, a carpenter, 
living in South Bend. 

Mr. Garber was married in 1884 to Miss Catherine B. Stutzman, 
a daughter of Jonathan Stutzman. She was bom in Ohio, in 1850, 
and her father came to Indiana about i860, taking up his abode in 
Clinton township. He had five children : Elizabeth, the wife of Solo- 
mon Yoder ; Catherine B. : Aimie, the deceased wife of Moses Kauff- 
man ; Jeptha, who is living in Clinton township ; and Sophronia, who 
married David Hartzler and afterward Frank Boyts. but is now .de- 
ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Garber have fovu" children : Clayton and Lulu, 
both at home; Arvilla; and Warren, deceased. The parents are mem- 
bers of the Mennonite church and arc well known in the locality where 
they reside and where they have many friends. 

CHARLES R. MYERS. 

Charles R. Myers, following the occupation of farming in Clin- 
ton township, has not confined his efforts alone to any line of activity 
but has extended his labors to other fields, being now the president 
of the Farmers' Mutual Telephone Company. He was born in Clin- 
ton toAvnship, in 1870, and is a grandson of John Mj'ers, who came to 
Indiana several years after Jacob Myers, the father of our subject, 
arrived in this state. Jacob Myers was a shoemaker by trade but dur- 
ing much of his life carried on agricultural pursuits and after coming 
to this state he made his home w'ith his son Jonathan, in Clinton town- 
ship. Lie was a member of tiie German Baptist church and in his polit- 
ical \-iews was a Democrat. He married a Miss Bowman, a native 
of Ohio, antl they became the parents of eight children : Jonathan, 
David. George. John, Daniel, Mrs. I. Miles, Mrs. Betsey Shively and 
Mrs. Barbara Miller. 

John Myers, the fourth member of the family, was born in Mont- 
gomery coimty, Ohio, in 1822, and when twenty-one years of age made 
his way to this .state. He located first in Union townshi]) and cast 
in his lot with the pioneer settlers who were engaged in the wdrk- of 
reclamation, there utilizing for the purposes of civilization the land 
which had hitherto been in possession of the red men. .Vbdr.t 1850 
he removed to Clinton township, where he carried on farming fur many 
years. He wedded Miss Hester Ann Riley, who was born in Miami 
cou.nty, Ohio, and is now living on the old homestead farm at the age 
of seventv-five vears. There John flyers continued to niake his home 
imtil his death, which occurred in iqoi. when he had almost reached 
the eightieth milestone on life's iourney. His wife was a daughter 
of Isaac Riley, a native of Miami county. Ohio, who was married 
:here to Miss Stutzman, also a native of that connt^•. Prior tn the 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY t379 

■50s they came to Indiana, settling in Elkhart township, Elkhart county. 
Their children were: Levi, deceased; James A., who is engaged in 
the hardware business in Goshen; Mary, the deceased wife of Henry 
Miller: Elizabeth, the deceased wife of Moses Berkey-Pile; and Ma- 
tilda, who is living in Goshen. 

Charles R. Myers spent his boyhood days in the usual manner of 
farm lads of the period and locality and his early educational privi- 
leges were supplemented by study in Mount Morris College, at Mount 
Morris, Illinois. In early life he engaged in teaching school for eight 
years in Clinton township, and the periods of vacation were devoted 
to farm labor. Now his attention is largely given to agricultural pur- 
suits and he owns and operates ninety-four acres of land on section 
IQ, Clinton township, constituting a well improved farm supplied with 
all modern equipments. He is engaged quite extensively in stock feed- 
ing and he is likewise the president of the Farmers' Mutual Telephone 
Company, with headquarters at Millersburg. Associated with Robert 
W. Davenport he organized this enterprise, and has since been at its 
head. Such a course is indicative of his progressive spirit, and the 
line has been of the utmost value as well as of convenience to its many 
patrons. 

January 2, 1892, \lr. Myers was united in marriage to Miss Myra 
Belle Miller, who was born in ]\Iiami county, Ohio, in 1872. Her father, 
Dallas Miller, was a native of Maryland, and removed to Miami county, 
Ohio, whence he came to Indiana in 1875, settling in Clinton town- 
ship, Elkhart county. He was a carpenter by trade and after his arri- 
val in this state followed building operations in Goshen, while in Clin- 
ton township he carried on general agricultural pursuits. He and his 
wife belonged to the Baptist church and his political faith was that 
of the Democratic party. At the time of the Civil war he stood loyally 
by the Lhiion cause and for three years faithfully defended the stars 
and stripes upon the battlefields of the south, participating in nineteen 
different battles and forty engagements. He afterward became a mem- 
ber of the Grand Army of the Republic and thus maintained pleasant 
relations with his old army associates. His death occurred December 
ig, 1896, when he had reached the age of fifty-one years and eleven 
months. He was one of a family of twenty-one children born of his 
father's two marriages. Dallas Miller was joined in wedlock to Miss 
Pr'sciUa Yates, also a native of Miami county, Ohio, and now living 
at the home of her daughter. ^Irs. Myers, at the age of fifty-nine years. 
.She was the youngest in a familv nf eleven children born tn ]\lr. and 
Mrs. Nezer S. Yates. 

^Ir. and ^Irs. J^Iyers ha\e two cliildren : (ieiirge Earl, who was 
l)orn in 1893; and Join: Dallas, born in 1898. The parents are mem- 
bers of the German Baptist church, actively interested in its work and 
upbuilding. Mr. ]\Iyers votes with the Democracy, although he has 
nol been active in search of political office. He has served as superin- 



680 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

tendent of his Sunday school and has been helpful in all of the church 
work. He is a young man of enterprise, who has closely studied busi- 
ness conditions and possibilities of the times, and his utilization of 
opportunity has made him a foremost factor in business circles of Clin- 
ton township. 

HENRY HH'IE. 

The name of Hire is well known in the southeastern part of Elk- 
hart county, for representati\es of the family to which Henry Hire be- 
longs and of which he is a worthy member have for many years figiu-ed 
in public life here as reliable business men and enterprising citizens, 
their influence being given for the furtherance of all movements that 
promote public progress and impi"ovement. It was on the i8th of 
November. 1X52, in this county that Henry Hire first opened his eyes 
to the light of day, being the third in a family of six children, four 
suns and two daughters, who were born to William and Elizabeth 
( Wilkinson ) Hire. The father, now one of the most venerable and 
respected citizens of the county, was born in Ross county, Ohio, in 
1820 and is therefore eighty-five years of age at the present writing. 
His mind is still bright- and active and his memory forms a connect- 
ing link between the primitive past and the progressive present. 
Throughout his entire life he has engaged in agricultural pursuits, en- 
tering upon that work as soon as he had completed his education in 
the pioneer schools that were common in his boyhood days. He Ije- 
came a resident of Elkhart county when a young lad, locating in Ben- 
ton township, where the Hire family entered claims from the govern- 
ment, and the original property has since remained in possession of 
representatives of the name. William B. Hire in an early day built 
a log cabin, to which he took his bride at the time of his marriage. 
Thev began life there in true pioneer style and shared many of the 
hardships and incidents common to a frontier existence, but as the 
years passed they were enaliled to add many comforts to their home, 
and the husband and father prospered in his business affairs. As his 
financial resources increased he made judicious investment in real estate, 
becoming the owner of four hundred acres of land in Elkhart and 
Noble counties. He was very successful in all of his transactions and 
moreover was strictly fair and honorable, never being known to take 
advantage of the necessities of his fellow men in any business dealing. 
His earlv political allegiance was given to the ^M^ig■ party and when 
the Republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of 
slavery he espoused its principles and has since rested his political faith 
upon its platform. He and his wife were devout Methodists, first 
worshi]Ji)ing here in a little schoolhouse. Later a small frame church 
was liuilt on section twenty-two and Mr. Hire contributed generously 
toward its construction. In i88t a beautiful brick church was built 
on section twenty-three and the congregation expects soon to rebuild 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COL'XTY 681 

and remodel this, making a more modern, commodious and attractive 
house of worship. In all of the church work Mr. Hire has been deeply 
and zealously interested and has served as a trustee, steward and class 
leader. Now in liis declining years he leaves the church work largely 
to others, yet his interest therein has never abated. The work of the 
farm to*, has been given over to his children and he is enjoying a well 
earned rest. His wife, also a native of Ohio, was born about 1823 and 
died May 15, 1904. She too was a devout Christian and her many 
womanly qualities and good traits of heart and mind endeared lier to 
ail who knew her. Four children born to this worthy couple are yet 
living : Susan, now the widow of John Haney of Benton township 
and the mother of four living children : Rudolph, who is married and 
is a prosperous agriculturist of Benton township ; Henry, of this re- 
view : and Thomas JeiTerson, viho is a lireeder of fine short-horn cat- 
tle, Ii\-ing on a farm in Bentonjownship. He too is married. 

Henry Hire, well known to many citizens of Elkhart county as 
a worthy native son of Indiana, has spent his entire life in this section 
of the state, li\-ing for many years in Elkhart county and for twenty 
years in Noble county, just east of his present homestead. He is an 
agriculturist, having been reared to that occupation, and he has seen 
no reason to change his mode of life, finding in this work ample op- 
portunity for the exercise of his native talents and the development 
of his latent energies. .\s a school boy one can see him in retrospect 
conning his lessons in a little log building about eighteen by twenty- 
two feet. It was built after the architectural style of the times and 
he studied from the elementary spelling book and McGuffey's readers, 
sitting on a slab bench which had no back, neither was it upheld by 
iron supports, but rested upon wooden pins, and the same supports up- 
held a board which extended aroiuid the room and ser\ed as a desk 
on which the older pupils wrote out their exercises. The i>ioneer 
school has long since been replaced by modern educational institutions 
and the methods of teaching have been ecjually impro^-ed and the stand- 
ard of learning greatly raised. High schools have been established 
since the youthful days of ]\Ir. Hire, but in the early common school 
he gained a fair knowledge of several branches of English learning 
and by reading, experience and oliservation be has greatlv broadened 
his mind in later years. 

Mr. Hire remained upon his father's farm until his marriage. 
which was celebrated on Christmas day of 1873. Miss Jane Wolf be- 
coming his w ife. She was born near Joliet, Illinois, her natal day be- 
ing February 17, 1852, while her ])arents were John F. and Saloma 
(Pontius) A\^olf, in whose familv were eight children, four .sons and 
four daughters, Mrs. Hire he'mg the fifth in order of birth. Seven 
of the number are vet living, but she is the only one residing in Elk- 
hart county. Her father, who was a native of Germany, died in 186 1 
at the age of fifty-five years, after following agricultural pursuits as 



682 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

a life work and also dividing his time with the church as a minister of 
the Evangelical denomination. His wife, who was a native of Ohio, 
died about 1890. The members of their family are as follows: Lewis, 
who was a soldier of the Civil war for four years and is now living 
in Kansas; William, who is a follower of ^Alexander Dowie and re- 
sides at Zion City, Illinois ; Lydia, the wife of Joel Wilkinson, who 
is now living retired at Leesburg, Indiana ; Jacob, who is married and 
is. engaged in teaching music in Kansas ; Mrs. Hire ; Samuel, who is 
a music teacher residing in Los Angeles, California ; and Ellen, the 
wife of William Scott, a dealer in real estate in Houston, Texas. Mrs. 
Hire was a little maiden only six months old when brought by her 
parents to Elkhart county, where she has resided since, and at the usual 
age she entered the public schools. 

At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hire took up their 
abode ujxjn the tarm which has been their home continuously since. 
It is a splendid property, comjirising two hundred and forty acres of 
land that is very arable and productive. He has done much to raise 
the standard of stock found in this part of the county and makes a 
specialty of polled Durham cattle and has paid as high as four hundred 
dollars for two head. He also raises Pcjland Qiina hogs and Shrop- 
shire sheep. The improvements arc of the best class and the home 
wfndd be a credit to a city in its architectural style, furnishings and 
.silrroundings. Mr. Hire has installed an acetylene gas plant whereby 
the residence is illuminated, and has introduced other modern equip- 
ments. The home has been l;lessed with the presence of one son, 
Curtis (i.. who mw resides in Noble county, where he is actively en- 
gaged in farming. He received his dii^ioma from the common schools 
in the class of 1890 and afterward entered the Ligonier high school, 
in which he pursued a two years' course. He possesses much natural 
musical talent and performs well on the \'iolin and cornet and at one 
time W'as a member of the Ligonier band. He wedded Miss Delia 
Emory and tliey have two children: Lucile Marie and Margaret Eliza- 
beth. Their farm comprises ninety acres of good land in Noble county 
:md Curtis Hire is capably and successfullv cultivating this tract. He 
is a Republican who cast his first presidential ballot for William Mc- 
Kinlev. and lie belongs to the Bene\()lent and Protecti\'e Order of 
Elks. ' 

Henry Hire is also a stalwart Reiiublican and his first presidential 
bal'ot was cast for R. B. Haves, since which time he has xoted for 
Carfielfl, Blaine, McKinley and Roosevelt. In the fall of 1904 he was 
elected trustee of Benton townshi]) and in the office exercises his official 
prerogatives to advance every movement for the public good. The 
cause of education finds in him a warm friend and he now has under his 
supervision ten excellent schools, while ten pupils in Benton township 
received diplomas in 1905 in recognition of their completion of the 
regular school course. Mr. Hire has ser\ed as a delegate to both 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COL'XTY 083 

county and stale conventions for his party. He and his wife are faith- 
ful members of the Richville Methodist Episcopal church and contrib- 
uted toward the erection of that house of worship in 1881. They are 
both workers in the Sunday school and Mr. Hire is serving" as (jne of 
the trustees and one of the stewards of the church. He is a represen- 
tative of a ])roniinent pioneer family of the coimty. and yet it is his 
personal worth which has won him the high regard in which he is 
uniformly held and which classes him with the leading and influential 
citizens of the community, while his earnest labor has made iiim one 
of its most prosperous agriculturists. I'here is in the Hire family one 
of the old parchment deeds for land entered from the government, 
under the hand and seal of l^^esident Andrew Jackson. 

EDSOX C. B.VRTHOLO^IEW. 

Edson C. Bartholomew, a well known agriculturist of Clinton 
township, is engaged extensivel\ in the raising of cattle and sheep. He 
also raises Duroc Jersey hogs, and while he conducts a business of con- 
siderable extent and importance he also finds time to aid in matters of 
public progress, being interested in the church and in political affairs, 
representing his township at the present time in the office of trustee. 
He was born in Clinton township. Elkhart county, July 21, 1869. 

His father. George Bartholomew, a native of Jefferson county, 
Ohio, is now living on section 30, Clinton township, at the age of 
seventy-seven years. He came to Indiana in his boyhood days with his 
parents, wdio settled in Benton township, Elkhart county, and after his 
marriage, which was celebrated in 1847. lie removed to the farm upon 
which he now lives and which has been his home for almost six decades. 
His father was Henry Bartholomew, a native of Pennsylvania, who re- 
moved to Ohio at an early period in the settlement of the latter state. 
He married !\liss Ann Sloan, a nati\e of Ireland, who came to the 
I'nited .States in her girlhood days. They had a family of twelve chil- 
dren. fi\e of whom are now living. The record of the family is as 
follows: Alexander, wlm became a Lutheran minister and is now de- 
ceased; Moses, who was alsn a minister of the Lutheran church and 
died in the spring of \()0^: William and James, who have passed away: 
George: Amos, who is pastor nf the Lutheran church at Prospect, 
Pennsylvania: Caibcrint', the deceased wife of David Darr ; Eliza, the 
widow of William Tiirrence, ;i Presbyterian minister: Mary, the de- 
ceased wife of Morgan Butler, a jeweler of Go.shen: Lydia. the wife 
of Clinton E. Foster, a retired farmer living in Goshen : Emma, the 
wife of Dr. J. .\. Work, of Elkhart. 

(leorgc Bartholomew was re;ired Id the occu])ation <if farnn'ng. 
worked at the carpenter's trade in earl\- life, but for many }-ears has 
devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits and is now a large farm 
and projjertv holder. He is engaged in the breeding of Hereford cattle 



684 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

aiiJ Duruc Jersey hogs and is well kiiuwn in this cunneclion, having 
conducted a very successful business. He is a devoted member and 
active worker m the Lutheran church, w'ith which he has been con- 
nected from his boyhood days, and he has held several official positions 
therein. He cast his vote for Abraham Lincoln in 18G0 and again in 
1864, but smce that time has been a Democrat. He served as town- 
ship assessor, but has never been active in search of office, i>referring to 
give his undivided attention to his business affairs, in which he has 
met with signal success. In the year 1847 h^ wedded Mary Cook, a 
native of Montgomer}- county, Ohioi, now sixty-eight years of age. 
She was a daughter of jNlichael Cook, wdio lived in Pennsylvania in 
early life and thence removed to Ohio. He married Lydia Keener, 
and they had three children, of whom two died in infancy. In 1840 
they removed to Indiana, entering from the government a tract of 
land know'n as the Michael Cook farm, adjoining Millersburg on the 
west. This farm I'emained in possession of the original family until 
the fall of 1904, and Mrs. George Bartholomew, the only child of 
Michael Cook, sold it to a real-estate firm of Syracuse, Indiana. 

Edson C. Bartholomew, having mastered the elementar\- branches 
of learning" in tiie public schools of Elkhart county, afterward si>ent 
two years in the Northern Indiana Normal College, at Valparaiso. 
He then engaged in teaching in the district schools of Clinton town- 
ship for six years. He was reared to farm life and with the e.xception 
of the period devoted to educational work has always engaged in farm- 
ing. He is now living on section 31, Clinton township, where he owns 
forty acres of land, and here he is breeding and raising thoroughbred 
Hereford cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs. He has also been a large 
feeder of cattle and .sheep for a number of years, and his stock-raising 
interests liave in their extent anf! importance classed him with the pros- 
perous representatives of the business in Elkhart county. 

Mr. Bartholomew was married in 1895 to Miss Florence Dunn. 
a native uf Marion ccainty. Indiana. l)()rn in 1874. iler father. Re\-. 
Jesse Dunn, was born in Tipton ci.unl\. Indi.-iiia. and is a Lutheran 
minister now in charge of the church nt his denomination in Donegal, 
Pennsylvania. He came to Elkhart cnuntv in 1SS4, and was engaged 
in preaching in Benton for fourteen years. He still in\ns one hundred 
and sixty acres of land in. Clinton tow'nship and Ik- ■ iperated his farm 
while living in this county. He also tauglit school for a time and lilled 
the office of township trustee, to which he was elected on the Demo- 
cratic ticket. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Frances Clingen- 
smith, is a daughter of Sinmn and Louisa Clingensmith, and was Ijovu 
in Marion county. Indiana. Air. and Mrs. Dunn are the parents of 
three children; Florence, now Mrs. Bartholomew: I\-}-. the wife of 
Samuel Myers, a farmer, residing on her father's land in Clinton town- 
ship; and Arlist, who follows farming in Illinois. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bartholomew have a son and a daughter; Donald, 



HISTORY OF ELKITART COUNTY 6S5 

!x)rn in 1897; and Bernis, born July 3. 1901. The parents are meniljers 
of the Lutlieran church and tlieir active work in its behalf has been 
far-reaching and beneticial. Air. Bartholomew has ser^•ed as a deacon 
in the church for several years and has been superintendent of the 
Benton Sunday-school for the past ten years. His fraternal relations 
are with the Knights of Pythias, Castle No. 328, and went through all 
the chairs and was delegate to the State Lodge. Voting with the 
Democratic party he takes an active interest in political cjuestions of 
the day, as everv true American citizen should do, and is always firm 
in support of what he believes will promote good government and 
insure public progress. For the past six years he has been a member 
of the Democratic county central committee, and in the fall of 1904 he 
was elected township trustee, so that he is the present incumbent in 
that office. Flis interests, centering along lines of activity wherein is 
conserved the material, political and moral welfare of the community, 
ha\-e ma'ie him a valued nnd representative citizen of his native town- 
ship. 

W ILLIAM P.. BARNARD. 

\\'illiam B. Barnard, editor and proprietor of the ]\Iillersburg 
Grit and owner of a leading mercantile enterprise in Millersburg, was 
born in New Paris, Indiana, September 20, 1867. His father. \\'ill- 
iam T. Barnard, was a native of New York, born in 1827, and in 
1850 he came to Indiana, locating i/i Albion. He was a minister of 
the Methodist Episcopal church, devoting many years to that calling, 
but during the last few years of his life he conducted a drug store in 
Millersburg. From Albion he removed to New Paris in 1865 and 
was pastor of the church of his denomination in that place. He after- 
ward engag'ed in preaching in j\Iillersburg hut finally turned his atten- 
tion to the drug business there. He was a Mason in his fraternal rela- 
tions and a Republican in his political \iews. He became well to do 
in his business affairs, and in private and public life enjoyed the high 
regard of all with whom he was associated. All of the members of 
his father's family have departed this life sa^•e one brother, who is now 
employed in the pension department in Washington. AVilliam T. 
Barnard was twice married and had two children by the first union, 
Mrs. \A'. J. Charpie of New Paris, and LeRoy E., who is li\-ing at 
JMancelona. [Michigan, where he is engaged in loaning money, .\fter 
losing his first wife William T. Barnard was married to Miss Lizzie 
J- Stoo]is. who was born in Preble county. Ohio, in 1844, and was one 
of a familv of seven children of whom four are now living, her broth- 
ers being Samuel W. Stoops of .\lbion and A\'illiam Stoops of Toledo, 
Oliiti. Her sister is Syrena Morris, also of Albion. Mr. \\'. T. 
Barnard departed this life in 1882 at the a,ge of fifty-five years, since 
^vhich time liis widow has married \A'illiam Slyter. a retired farmer. 
Their home is now in Goshen, Indiana. AN'illiam B. Bai'uard of this 
rei'ie\\- was the eldest of four children of his father's second marriage. 



686 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

the others being Emma, the wile of J. A. Snapp, a practicing physi- 
cian of Goshen, Inchana; Mamie, the wife of D. A. Zartmen, a fruit- 
grower of Goshen ; and Sadie, who died in 1877. 

Wilham B. Barnard pursued his education in the schools of Mil- 
lersburg and in early life entered his father's store, clerking for his 
mother after the father's death. Later he was employed as a salesman 
in a store at Orland, Indiana, for five years and on the expiration of 
that period he returned to ■Millersburg and purchased the drug store 
of his mother, becoming its owner in 1892. It was then a small estab- 
lishment and from year to year he has enlarged the concern until he 
now has a double store and carries an extensive line of goods. He 
has broadened the Held of his business operations by adding to his 
stock of drugs a large line of general merchandise, and he now has a 
liberal patronage which is growing year by year. His business meth- 
ods are strictly reliable' and his fair dealing and earnest desire to please 
his patrons, combined with liis reasonable prices, have secured him a 
very gratifying trade. In 1892 the Gi'ii, a weekly newspaper, was 
established by \\'. S. Taylor, and in 1893 ^'^^'- Barnard joined C. H. 
Myers in the purchase of the paper and plant. After a partnership of 
four months IVIr. Myers retired and Mr. Barnard assumed full man- 
agement, being still editor and proprietor of this journal. The Grit 
is neutral in politics, is a good advertising medium and is a well 
printed sheet, being a five-column eight-page quarto published each 
Thursday. He has a good patronage, both on the subscription and 
advertising lists, and the paper is a welcome visitor in many homes. 

Mr. Barnard was married on the ist of September, 1889, to Miss 
E.nola Rosser, who was born in Orland, August 12, 1871, a daughter 
of William and Anna Rosser. the former a farmer by occupation. 
Mrs. Barnard was an only child and by her marriage she has become 
the mother of two children: W. Birch, born in 1891, and Angelo, in 
1899. '^'"'^ parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church 
and in his fraternal relations Mr. Barnard is a Mason, a Knight of 
Pythias and a Modern Woodman. He is independent in politics and 
is now serving as president of the school board. He takes an active 
and helpful interest in everything pertaining to general improvement, 
and through the columns of his paper and as a private citizen he has 
contributed in substantial measure to the welfare and upbuilding of 
his locality. His business career has been marked by consecutive prog- 
ress and the utilization of all of the opportunities which have come to 
liim and now he is one of the prosperous and prominent representatives 
of :\liriersburg. 

CHARLES E. XEIDIG. 

Charles E. Neidig, a leading man of affairs of the city of Goshen 
and who comes of a prominent familv uf Elkhart count v, was born two 
and a half miles south of the conntv seat on lanuarv 2, 186!;. He is a 





CA.,^ 



^^Kjl^l^c^^ 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTV 087 

son of William and Maria (Greenamyer) Neidig, representing families 
king and favtirably known in this county. 

The Waterford school, being not far from his birthplace, afforded 
Mr. Neidig the early training which was the basis for his business ca- 
reer. The first twenty-four years of his life were passed on the home 
farm and in the labors incident to an agricultural career, but since 18S9 
he has been thoroughl}- identified with Goshen, especially as a factor in 
its business affairs. He was employed in the postoffice four and a 
half years, and then engaged in the lumber business by purchasing the 
interests of James O. and Joseph Smith in the firm of Smith Brothers 
and Davis. For the subsequent five years the firm of Davis and Neidig 
carried on a flourishing trade. On April 22, i8g8. Mr. Neidig became 
the leading member in the firm ni Neidig. Drake and Kolb. and it is 
largely due to his energv and business enterprise, that this has come to 
be one of the most extensive retail lumjjer firms in northern Indiana. 
All kinds of lumber materials and building supplies, including Imilders' 
hardware, paints, oils and varnishes are carried in their large stock. 

An active Republican politically, Mr. Neidig for twenty years has 
been interested in political developments in this county, where he is 
one of the influential members of his party. Fraternally he affiliates 
with the Knights (if P\thias and the Benevolent and Protective Order 
of Elks. 

November 23. 1895, Air. Neidig married Miss Carrie Riley, and 
they have one child, Myra. Mrs. Neidig was born in Elkhart county, 
and is a daughter of James A. and Mary Jane (Berkey) Riley. 

Mr. Neidig holds a substantial place in the life and acti\-ities of 
Goshen. In the lifteen years that have elapsed since he came oft" the 
farm his career has been one of steady progress and prosperity until 
he is now counted among that coterie of men whose work and influ- 
ence are most potent in directing the current of business in Goshen. 

SOLOMON L. THOMAS. 

Solomon L. Thomas, conducting a hardware store in Millersburg, 
is a typical citizen of the middle west, possessing the enterprising spirit 
that has been the dominant factor in the growth and upbuilding" of this 
section of the country. He has spent his entire life in Indiana, his 
birth having occurred in Marshall county, near Plymouth, in i860. 
His father, W'illiam A. Thomas, w^as born in L'nion county. Indiana. 
June 10. 1833, and in 1837 he was brought to Elkhart county by his 
parents. Air. and Mrs. Samuel Thomas, who were natives of Noi'th 
Carolina. Samuel Thomas was one of seventeen who org^anized the 
township of Clinton, and in public affairs relating to general progress 
and improvement he took an active interest and helpful part, so that 
his name is inseparably interwoven with the ]>ioneer histor\- of the 
county. He was a farmer by occupation and thus ])ro\-ide(i for his 



6SS HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

large family, numbering sixteen children, of whom William Thomas 
was the youngest. One of the sons, Elkanah Thomas, is a farmer of 
Etna Green, Kosciusko county, and he and his sister. Mrs. O. E. Dewey, 
are the only ones now living. 

William A. Thomas was a young lad of only four years when 
brought by his parents to Elkhart county and he thus Ijecame familiar 
with its pioneer conditions, sharing witli the family in the usual hard- 
ships and trials incident to the establishment of a home in a frontier 
settlement. He learned the carpenter's trade, following it for many 
years. When a young man of t\\enty-two years he iDecame a member 
of the Methodist church, but afterward united with the Lutheran church 
and lived a consistent Christian lite for thirty-four years. His political 
allegiance was given to the Democracy. He married Aliss Jane Taylor, 
wlin was liorn in Eng'land, in 1838, and came In the L'nited States 
with her parents, who e\'entualh- located in Kosciusko county, Indiana, 
where her father followed the occupation of , farming. William A. 
Thomas departed this life March 5, 1901, in his sixty-eighth year, and 
his remains were interred in what is known as the Chapel cemetery 
on the old Thomas farm. His widow still survives him and is now 
living in ^lillersburg. She is a mem1>er of the Lutheran church and 
is one of the esteemed pioneer women of Elkhart county. In the tamil}' 
of this worthy couple were seven children: Jasper, now deceased; Jon- 
athan \\'.. a saie.sman living in Chicago; Solomon L. ; William, of 
Goshen, Indiana; Harvey, \\ho was engaged in the oil business in 
Englewood, Illinois, and nnw in business in the city of Goshen: Dove}-, 
the wife of Isaac Myers, A\ho is with the Lake Shore & Michigan 
Southern Railroad, at Ligonier, Indiana; and L. J., deceased. 

Solomon L. Thomas was educated in the public schools of Millers- 
burg and at the age of twenty ^'ears entered upon his business career 
as an employe in a blacksmith shop in Goshen, following that pursuit 
for three years. He then went to Kansas, where he worked as a plas- 
terer until 1889, iri which year he returned to Millersburg and pur- 
chased the hardware store of Lafayette Smith. He has since conducted 
this business with growing success, carrying a large line of shelf and 
heavy hardware, stoves, tinware ajid farm implements, as well as hard 
and soft coal. In his business life he has made a name that is synony- 
mous with that of integrity and straightforward dealing, and this has 
l">een one of the strong elements in his prosperity. He owns two lots 
on Main street and his business house has a frontage of twentv-four 
feet, but the other lot is vet unim]iro\ed. He also has a beautiful resi- 
dence on the same street. 

In 1893 ^^i"- Thomas was united in marriage to ?vliss Delia Dewey, 
who v.'as born in Clinton township, in 18-2. a daughter nf Benjamin 
Franklin Dewev, a native of Ohio, Avho came to Indiana with his par- 
ents. W'hen he had reached adult age he was married to Miss Mattie 
Lnngcor. and in order tn nro\-ide for his family he has followed the 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 680 

occupation of farming', his home being now in Clinton township. To 
him and his wife were liorn four children: Delia; Jessie,, the wife of 
Charles Miller: Warren, who is living in Nappanee, Indiana: and one 
who died in infancy. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas has lieen 
graced with three children: Paul, liorn in J 894: Helen, in. 1897; ''"*' 
Esther, in 1902. 

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are members of the Lutheran church, in 
whicli he is serving as a trustee and his name is also on the membership 
rolls of the Knights of I'ythias and Masonic lodges in Millersburg. 
.His political allegiance is given to the Democratic party, and he is 
now serving as city treasurer of ^lillersburg and has been in that olTice 
for ten years. He Ijelongs to one of the oldest pioneer families of the 
countv, and since the days when his grandfather aided in organizing 
Clinton townshi]> rejiresentatix-ts i;>f the name have lieen loyal to the 
public interests and active in sup]iort of measures which have 
for their object the welfare and ujibuilding of the entire community. 
It is a well attested maxim that the greatness of a state lies 
not in its machinery of government nor e\en in its institutions, but in 
the sterling qualities of its indivickial citizens in their capacity for high 
and unselfish effort and their devotion to the public good. Regarded 
as a citizen Mr. Thomas belongs to that class of public-spirited, useful 
and. helpful type of men whose ambitions and desires are centered and 
directed in iliose channels through whicli flow the greatest and most 
permanent good to the greatest number. 

ROBERT WESLEY DAVENPORT. 

Rol)ert Wesley Davenport, originator and organizer of the b'arm- 
ers' Mutual Telephone Company, of Millersburg, and a practical and 
progressive agriculturist living in Clinton township, was born in Un- 
ion township, Elkhart county, his natal year being 1861. The ances- 
try of the family can be traced back to England, whence John Daven- 
port sailed for the new world, taking up his atode in Rhode Island, 
in the eighteenth century. He was banished from that colony, how- 
ever, because of his religious views. Later generations of the family 
found homes in Ohio. Noah Davenport, Sr., a native of the Buckeye 
state, came to Indiana with his wife Catherine and their children, ar- 
riving in Elkhart county on the 8th of February, 1836. They settled 
in Concord township, west of Goshen, and they became the parents 
of six children : David and Martha, both deceased ; Noah : Susan, the 
widow of Heniy Van Scoik, a resident of North Liberty, Indiana : 
Mary, the deceased wife of Daniel Ulery; and Catherine married Adam 
Aliller and has also passed away. The mother of this family died in 
1872, at the age of sixty-eight years. 

Noah Davenport, Jr., was born in Montgomery county. Ohio, 
September 30, 1832. and was therefore but three years of age when 



coo HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Ijmught li\- his parents to this county, where amid pioneer environ- 
ments he Wets reared, sharing in the hardships of frontier life and in 
the arduous duty of developing a new farm and teaching school in the 
winter season. He wedded Sarah Geyer, who was born in Mont- 
gomery county. Ohio, January 4, 1831. Her father was born in the 
Shenandoah valley of Virginia, whence he removed to ^Montgomery 
county, Ohio, where he followed the occupation of farming, his death 
occurring in that state. He was twice married, his wives being sisters 
of the name of Artz. By the first union he had four children : Abra- 
ham, Isaac, Sarah. Mary. The children of the .second marriage were : 
Eliza, Catherine and Andrew. Both parents of Mrs. Noah Daven- 
port, Jr., are now deceased. To Noah and Sarah (Geyer) Daven- 
port were born six children : Catherine, deceased : Emma, who is the 
widow (if Albert Garver and lives in Goshen with her mother; Dora 
Belle and Levi, who have departed this life; Robert of Clinton town- 
ship; John, also deceased. The daughter Emma began teaching when 
sixteen years of age and successfully followed that pursuit for .sixteen 
terms, being regarded as a capable instructor of Elkhart county. Noah 
Davenport, Jr., was called to his final rest May 13, 1894, and his loss 
was deeply regretted, for he was known as a reliable business man, 
progressive citizen, an honored pioneer and a devoted husband and 
father. His widow still survives him and is now living in Goshen. 

Robert Wesley Davenport, reared upon the old home farm in 
Concord township near Dunlaps, began work in the fields almost as 
soon as old enough to reach the plow handles and thi-ough the sum- 
mer months he aided in the work of the fields, while in the district 
schools in the winter seasons he accpired his education. He now re- 
sides on section 29, Clinton town.ship, where he owns and operates 
eighty -two acres of rich land, and he is regarded as one of the pro- 
gressive and energetic farmers of his locality. Everything about the 
place is kept in good condition and modern machinery facilitates the 
work, while substantial buildings furnish shelter for grain and stock. 
In addition to his farming interests he was the originator and founder 
of the Farmers' Mutual Telephone Company, which laegan business 
with forty subscribers, the central being in his own dwelling for three 
years, and its headquarters later being transferred to Millersburg. 

On the 20th of December, 1883, Mr. Davenport was married to 
Miss Mary J. Cripe, who was born in Clinton township, in i860. Her 
paternal grandfather. Samuel Cripe, had seventeen children. By his 
first wife. Esther Cripe, there were three: Benjamin. Daniel and 
Jacob. For his second wife he chose Susan Mikesell and they had 
fourteen children : Joseph, Emanuel, Noah, David. Levi. Catherine. 
Magdalene. Fanny, Susan, Mary, Solomon, Elizabeth, .\aron and 
Tobias. With one exception all remained residents of Elkhart county 
and all reared families but one. Afost of them became resi- 
dents of Clinton township. The grandfather gave to each of In's chil- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 691 

dren eighty acres of land in Elkhart county and thus they secured a 
good start in hfe. Daniel S. Cripe, who died November 3, 1904, father 
of ]Mrs. Davenport, was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1821, 
and was only eight years of age when in 1829 he was brought by his 
parents to this state, the family home being established on Elkhart 
prairie. He married Miss Barbara Rarick, who died April 12, 1900, 
a daughter of Christian and Effie Rarick, and they became the parents 
of nine children: Lucinda, deceased; Elizabeth, who married A. S. 
Yoder, and has also passed away; Effie, the widow of Adam Opper- 
man, of Goshen; Isaac, who operates a restaurant in Goshen; Chris- 
tian, living in Goshen; Noah, a farmer of Canada; Mrs. Mary Daven- 
port ; Levi, a resident of Goshen ; and Ida, the wife of John Price, liv- 
ing west of New Paris. 

Mr. and Mrs. Davenpi^rt have a family of seven children : Ida, 
a teacher and graduate of North Manchester college; Grace; Gertrude; 
Pearl ; Ray and Jay, twins, the latter dying when one year old ; and 
Merle. The parents hold membership in the German Baptist Breth- 
ren church, in which they take an active interest, contributing gener- 
ously to its support. Mr. Davenport is a deacon in the church and is 
secretary of the German Baptist Brethren mission board of northern 
Indiana. His views on the temperance Cjuestion are indicated b}^ the 
active support wdiich he gives to the Prohibition party. He is an ad- 
vocate of all honorable and worthy principles, and in his relations with 
his fellow men has ever been straightforward and reliable. His word 
is as good as any bond and his business career has been such as neither 
seeks nor requires disguise. In August and September of 1900, in com- 
pany with D. R. Yoder, of Goshen, he went to Europe, and while 
abroad visited many points of modern and historical interest in Eng- 
land. Italy, France, Switzerland. Germany, Holland and other coun- 
tries, spending two months in the old world. 

HOMER A. JOHNSON. 

Homer A. Johnson, a prominent farmer of Osolo township liv- 
ing on section 19, was born in this township July 26. 1852, his parents 
being Guy C. and Frances C. (Hatch) Johnson. His paternal grand- 
father, Solomon Johnson, was a native of Vermont and became one 
of the pioneer settlers of Elkhart county, locating in Osolo township. 
There were few residents in this section of the state and he joined with 
the other frontier settlers in developing the county, planting the seeds 
of progress and improvement here. Throughout his entire business 
career he carried on agricultural pursuits. Guy C. Johnson, father of 
our subject, was lx)rn in Vermont and came to Elkhart county with 
his parents in the "305. Here he was reared amid the pioneer environ- 
ment and assisted in the arduous task of developing new land. His 
vouth was largelv a ])eriod of earnest toil, but he developed thereby 
the industry and enterprise which have prox'ed such imjiortant ele- 



6i)'2 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

ments in iiis later business career. At the time of his marriage he lo- 
cated in Osolo township and for many years successfully carried on 
general agricultural pursuits, but eventually retiring from active busi- 
ness life he took up his abode in the city of Elkhart about twelve years 
ago. There his remaining days were passed, his death occurring when 
he had reached the venerable age of eighty years. In politics he was 
a Republican, believing firmly in tlie principles of the party as most 
conducive to good government. Elis wife was a native of the state of 
New Y( rk and lived to be about sixty-six years of age. Her father, 
Nathaniel Hatch, was one of the early settlers of Cass county, Michi- 
gan. To Mr. and Mrs. Guy C. Johnson were born two sons and two 
daughters but only two of the family arc now living, the deceased sis- 
ter being Lora May, the wife of John Brumbaugh, and Laura is the 
wife of Kit McKean of Elkhart. 

Homer A. Johnson, the eldest of the family, is indebted to the 
public school system of Elkhart county for the early educational privi- 
leges he enjoj'ed. He afterward continued his studies in Notre Dame 
University at South Bend. He has always followed farming as a life 
work and is the owner of two hundred and six acres of rich and arable 
land on which he is carrying on general agricultural pursuits. He has. 
good equipments upon the farm, using the latest improved machinery 
in the care of the fields, and he annually harvests good crops as a re- 
ward for the labor he bestows upon his place. He has resided contin- 
uously in this county with the exception of one year which he spent 
in Kansas. 

Mr. Johnson was married in 1874 to Miss Clara Evans, a daugh- 
ter of Henry H. and ALatilda (Hicks) Evans. They have one daughter 
living, Geraldine C, who is a teacher and resides at home. She was 
educated in Elkhart Normal and Mennonite College, now of Goshen. 

Mr. Johnson exercises his right of franchise in support of the men 
and measures of the Republican party but has never sought or desired 
office. He has always taken a helpful interest in public affairs, how- 
ever, and in as far as possible has aided in furthering all movements 
for the general good. During a residence of more than a half cen- 
tury in the county he has witnessed many notable changes, for pio- 
neer conditions have been replaced by modern advancement and where 
once was seen wild and unimproved land fine farms are now found 
and the country is dotted here and there with schools and churches. 
Mr. Johnson has taken just iiride in what has been accomplished and 
has long been classed with the ])uMic-s])irited citizens of Osolo town- 
shi]). 

BKXJAMIX K^^\■. 

Benjamin iviw, one of the old settlers of l^Ikhart county, is lixiuL;' 
within one and a half miles of the city of Elkhart anrl is classed with 
the ]irominent and representati\-e farmers of Concord township, his 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COl'XTV fiOfi 

home being on section ii. lie was l)i)rn in Suniniil c<>iint\-, Ohio, 
Janiiar}- 9. 1S37. His father, John Row, was a natixe of L'nion county, 
Pennsylvania, and remained lliere until a younq- man. when he remo\'ed 
to Summit count}-. Ohi<i. In that locality he was married to ^liss 
Rlizabeth ^^"c\•rick. also a natixe of L'nion county, rennsyKania. They 
-lieg'an tlieir donieslio life in Summit count}-, Ohio, where ihe father 
worked as a gunsmith, having prexiousl}- learned the trade. He also 
carried on farming to a limited extent. In 1849 he ren-ioved to Elkhart 
countv, Indiana, reaching his destination on the 2jd of May and estah- 
lishing" his home in Washington town.shijj. where he remained for a 
short time, when he located in Concf)rd township. There he carried 
on general agricultural pursuits u]i to the time of his death, whicli 
occurred when he was about fifty-four years of age. lie always gave 
his political allegiance to the Democrac}- and kejit well informed on the 
questions and issues of the day. 

Benjamin Row, the onlv child rif ]\Ir. and Mrs. fohn Row. was 
reared in Summit countx-, Ohio, until twehe xears of age, when 1-ie 
came with his jwrenls to Elkhart countv, where he has now lived for 
fifty-six vcars. In his \-outh he aided in the arduous task of develop- 
ing a new farm and he continued to assist his father until the latter's 
death. In the meantiiue he was married on the sth of August, i860, 
to Miss Louisa M. Bickel, who was born in Summit county^ Ohio, 
May II, 184c, and was Ijrought to Elkhart count}- by her parents when 
only one and a half years old, since which time she has lived in Concord 
township. She is a daughter of Andrew and Catherine Bickel, who 
were pioneer settlers of this part of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Row- 
have l>econie the parents of seven children: Lydia A., the wife of E. 
Collins; Willard A.; John H. ; Cora, tlie wife of Bert Halsted ; Francis; 
Lucy, the wife of C, Stutsman; and Alice, the wife of Harley Hime- 
baugh. All were born in Concord township and were educated in the 
public schools there. The family home is one of the fine+^t residences 
in the township, having been erected hv Mr. Row in 1882. It is a fine 
brick building, containing thirteen rooms, is two stories in height, 
tastefull}- furnished and supi)lied with all modern coi-iveniences. He 
also has large and sulistantial harns and all other outbuildings neces- 
sary for the shelter fif grain, stock and farn-i machinery, and he uses 
the latest impro\-ed im])Iements in carrying- on the farni work. He has 
done eA"er\thing- in his pow-er to make liis farm one of the best in the 
county and feels a laudable pride in what he has accon-iplished. while his 
example is one that is well worth}- of emulation. .\s his financial re- 
sources have increased he has invested in niore land until he now- ow-ns 
four hundred and seventy four acres all in one body w-ith the excep- 
tion of a. tract of twent}--nine and a half acres in Jefifersoii tow-nship. 
which is timber land except two acres. His home is pleasantly and con- 
xenientlv located aliout one and a half miles from the citv limits of 
Elkhart and he is now- one of the most prosperous farmers of his 



fil'i HISTORY OF ELKHART COL'XTY 

county. He has taken an acti\'e i)art in jnililic affairs, has been a hfe- 
long" Democrat, and does all in his power to promote the growth and 
insnre the success of liis party, yet he has never been an office seeker, 
content to do his duties as a private citizen. Few men in the county 
are more widely or favorably known than Benjamin Row because of the 
extent and importance of his business interests, his reliability in all 
trade transactions, his attention to the .general good and his loyalty 
to family and friend?. 

ORLANDO CHURCH VERNON. 

Orlando Church Vernon, present county recorder of Elkhart county, 
was born on a farm in Benton tow^nship, this county, September i, 
1859, and has spent practically all the years of his life in this county. 
A son of Eli and Sarah Jane Frances (Butler) Vernon, his father, 
who was born in Zanesville. Ohio, came to this county when a >x)ung 
man, was married here, and taking up his residence in Benton town- 
ship has continued to make that his home to the present date. He has 
been a successful farmer, and a man whose character and opinions are 
held in esteem among all who know him. His six children, of whom 
ihf county recorder is the third, were all reared on the farm. 

Beginning his education in the country schools, Mr. Vernon later 
attended the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, where, 
liaving shown proficiency in penmanship, he completed the course while 
attending this institution. Obtaining a teacher's license, he taught in 
the public schools three years, thereafter conducted an institute of pen- 
manship in Ligonier for twO' years and a similar school in Goshen two 
years. After this career in educational work he returned to Benton 
township and began farming, which he has continued more or less un- 
der his personal direction ever since. About 1890 he began the breed- 
ing of thoroughbred stock, and in this line of agricultural industry he 
has gained a reputation throughout this part of the state. His farm 
is located three miles south of Millersburg. In 1897 at the organi- 
zation of the Ohio Improved Chester Swine Breeders' Association, at 
Cleveland, Ohio, he was elected vice president and a trustee of this 
association. In 1Q03 he was elected by this breeding association as 
judge of the Ohio Improved Chesters at the International Live Stock 
Show at Chicago. 

In 1902 Mr. Vernon accepted the nomination for county recorder 
(in the Republican ticket, and, being successful at the polls, has since 
administered the affairs of that important county office. In fact the 
affairs of this office have never been in a better shape than during the 
present administration. Mr. Vernon has a A'ery capable corps of assis- 
tants, and the uniform courtesy extended to everyone transacting busi- 
ness there has i)een of itself a pleasing factor ancl help in daily routine 
of affairs. ^\r. \^ernon is one of the well known men of Elkhart countv 





^ C/,^,yU>'2-<^r?z^r 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 695 

and has attained a place of influence among liis fellow citizens, due to 
his personality and force of character. 

Fraternally he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. He was 
married Octoher 19, 1882, to Miss L. Elva Longacre, and they have 
four chi!dren, namely : Flarrv E., Mary Frances, Esther R. and Russell 
].. . . , . 

CHARLES REI'LOGLE. 

Charles Replogle has throughout his hnsiness career been con- 
nected with the educational development of Elkhart county and is 
regarded as one of its most successful teachers. He resides in Osolo 
township, which Vvas also his hirth]3!ace, his natal day being May 3, 
1869. He is the fourtli child of J. D. and Harriet M. (Wilson) Re- 
plogle, and at the usual age he entered the public schools, where he 
continued his studies until he reached the age of eighteen years. He 
then began teaching, following that ]:rofession in the winter months. 
He also attended school, pursuing a teacher's preparatory course in 
the Indiana State Normal Scliool at Valparaiso. He has followed the 
profession for se\-enteen years and he taught his first term in a school- 
house in district No. 3. where he is now teaching. By reading, study 
and investigation he has continually broadened his own knowledge and. 
moreo\-er, he has the faculty of imparting clearly, concisely and readily 
to others the information that he has gained. He is also an excellent 
disciplinarian and upholds the high standard of education, so that he 
has done much to improve the public school system in the localities 
wliere his services liave been engaged. With the exception of one 
vear spent in Noble county, Indiana, he has taught continuously in 
this county. 

On the 27th of November, 1893. Charles Replogle was united in 
marriage to Miss Orpha May Baker, a daughter of Aaron and Sarah 
(Smith) Baker and a native of Osolo township. They now have four 
children — three sons and a daughter, — Qiarles Elmer, JosqA Aaron, 
Gladys Ruth and W'ayne Manon. Mr. Replogle belongs to the Knights 
of the Maccabees and politically is a Republican. He is a young man 
of genuine personal worth, exemplifying in his life the spirit of enter- 
prise and progress so characteristic of the age. 

GEORGE A. SMITH. 

George A. Smith, who is well known as a champion of temper- 
ance, morality and all that tends to the betterment of the human race, 
and who enjoys in full measure the respect of his fellow citizens, re- 
sides on section 22, Cleveland township. He was born in Stark courity. 
Ohio about nine miles from Canton, October 5. 1832. His father. 
John Smith, was a native of Alsace, France, now a part of Germany, 
and coming to America he located in Canton in 1828. when it con- 



696 HISTORY OF ELKPIART COl'XTY 

tained but two houses and those were Ixiilt of logs. 'Slv. Smith of 
this review now has in his jxjssession the blade of the saw that was 
used to build the first house in that place 

John Smith first worked by the day and later, when he had man- 
aged to save a small sum from his earnings, he purchased a little farm. 
In 1837 he came to Elkhart county with an ox team, being three weeks 
upon the road, it requiring one week to cross the Alaumee swamp. He 
located on section 27, Cleveland township, and jjurchased land which 
had alread\- been entered from the government, for which he paid fi\e 
dollars per acre. He improved this farm in the midst of the forest 
and made the place his home until his death, which occurred in 1878. 
when he was in the seventy-eighth year of his age. His wife, whose 
maiden name was Ann Hassig. was also a native of Alsace. Immucc. 
and they were married there. She lived to be eighty-seven years of 
age. departing this life in 1892. In their family were three sons and 
three daughters, all of whom reached adult age. 

George A. Smith, the fourth member of the family and the sec- 
(jnd son. was only four years old when lirought to Elkhart county and 
the days of his youth were passed in Cleveland township. His early 
education was obtained in a log schoolhouse in the home district and 
later he attended a seminary in New Berlin. Pennsylvania. After two 
and a half years devoted to study, in which he became well equipped 
for the practical and responsible duties of life, he returned to Elkhart 
county, and here, as a companion and helpmate for life's journey, he 
chose Miss Susan Ever, whom he wedded in December, 1862. She 
was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, and her death occurred in 
1-882. The following year Mr. Smith was married to Miss Mary 
Kelley, a native of this county. 

in 1862 Mr. Smith located on his present farm, then largely de- 
void of improvement, but at once he began to cultivate the land and 
add modern equipments, and the place to-day bears little resemblance 
to the farm which came into his possession more than forty years ago. 
He has erected a fine brick residence at a cost of five thousand dollars, 
and in the rear stand substantial and commodious barns and outbuild- 
ings, while the farm is divided into fields of convenient size by well 
kept fences, and the land itself is highly cultivated. The farm com- 
prises two hundred and eighty-fom^ acres of valuable land and Mr. 
Smith is successfully engagedi in general farming. He has also en- 
gaged in teaching school, having followed that profession for about 
eight terms. He has taken an active and helpful part in developing 
the county and promoting its progress along material, intellectual and 
moral lines. He served for several years as trustee of Cleveland town- 
ship, and during that time paid out of his own pocket about one thou- 
sand dollars. 

By his first marriage ^1r. Smith had four children: Albert. W'es- 
lev. .Anna and Clara, and bv the second marriage there is one son, Clif- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 697 

tnn C, wlio IS attending- the home school, while aU the others are mar- 
ried. 

Air. Smith is a stalwart Prohibitionist, having \-oted with that 
paity for twenty years and thus giving- expression to his views on the 
temperance question. He does all in his power to support the cause 
of temperance and inculcate its principles, and he is a member of the 
Evangelical church, in the work of which he takes an active and help- 
ful interest. His life has been one of unremitting industry, charac- 
terized by straightforward dealing, by public-spirited citizenship and 
by devotion to the ties of friendship and of family. He may well be 
classed with the leading men of the township in which he has so long 
made his home. 

ELAIER E. EV.WS. 

Elmer E. Evans, who is successfully carrying on general agricultural 
pursuits on section 27. Cleveland township, was born June i. 1861, in 
the township which is }et his home. His father. Henry H. Evans, was a 
native of New York and came with his parents to Cleveland township 
when a youth of fourteen years. The paternal grandfather was Henry 
Mason Evans, one of the pioneer settlers of this part of the state. Enii- 
grating westward he located in Cleveland township, Elkhart county, and 
ertered land from the .government, thus coming into possessi(-in of a tract 
that was wild and unimproved, but on which he soon turned the furrows 
and planted crops. His last days were spent in the city of Elkhart and he 
departed this life respected by all who knew him. Henry H. Evans was 
reared under the parental roof and as a con-ipanioji and helpmate he chose 
jMiss l\Iarga'-et Matilda Hubbard, the wedding ceremony Ijeing ]ierformed 
in Cleveland township. The lady is a flaughter of John Hubbard, who 
\Mis one of the earlv residents of this part of the state. Iiut died in Mich- 
igj'.n. j\lrs. Evans is still living, having reached the age of se\-enty years, 
aiii'i is classed with the worth\- pioneer women of the county. B)- her 
marriage she becan-ie the n-iotber of five children, three sons and two 
daughters, all of whom were liorn in Cleveland tOAvnship and yet sur\-i\-e, 
liamely : Lewis O., a resident of Colorado; Clara; Elsie, the wife of J. 
W. Longacre of Colorado; and Her\-y ]\Iasnn. w-ho is living in Elkhart. 

El-.ner E. Evans, the youngest of the faniily, w-as reared in the place 
of his nriti\-itv. no e\-ent of s])ecial ii-i-i])ortance occurring to xary the rou- 
tine of farm life in his youth. He w-as educated in the common schools 
;!n(l lemainec' with bis parents until tw-enty-six years of age. assisting in 
the work of the home farm, and gained the ])ractical know-led,ge that has 
enabled him to carefully direct bis agricultural interests since he began 
famiing on his own account. .Vt the time of his marriage he brou.gbt his 
iiride to the old homestead anil be now owns part of the original farm 
owned by his grandfather, the place comjjrising one hundred and seven 
acres of rich and aralile- land. Here he carries on general agricultural 



(398 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

pursuits and he has upon his place good equipments, using tlie hitest im- 
proved machinery in the cultivation of the fields. 

In 1887 Mr. Evans was united in marriage to Miss Frances J. Alarks. 
a daughter of Josephus and Fannie (Shej^herd) Marks. She was born 
and reared in Cleveland township, and her parents were early settlers of 
the localitv. They now have one daughter, Fannie M., who is at Imnie. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Evans enjoy the warm regard of many friends in this 
part of the state and their own home is noted for its gracious hospitality. 
Mr. Evans votes with the Republican party, and his fellow townsmen, 
recognizing his worth and ability, have frequently called him to public 
otifice. In local positions and as a citizen- he has always been prompt and 
faithful Ml tlie discharge of his duties. Both he and liis wife liold mem- 
bership 'u the Evangelical c1uu-ch. Salem clnuxh, in St. Joseph countw 

JOSEPHUS C. M.\RKS. 

Josephus C. :\larks is the owner of a farm of two hundred and thir- 
teen and a half acres, on section 10, Cleveland township, all well improxed 
and giving evidence, in its excellent condition, of the supervision of a 
painstaking, practical and progressive owner, who has prospered as the 
result of his persistency of ]uu-pose. He is a native of Berrien county, 
^Michigan, his jjirthplace l^eing the present site of Niles, his natal day 
June 10, 1834. His father was John Marks. His mother died when 
he was a small boy, and Josephus C. Marks was then reared by Jacob 
Smith from the age of three years, his home being on Beardsley's prairie, 
in Cass county, Michigan. There he remained until he had attamed his 
majority, working in the fields and meadows and through the winter 
seasons mastering the common branches of English learning taught in 
the pulilic schools. When he readied the age of twenty-one years he 
started out in life on his own account, without capital or assistance from 
any one. He worked by the month as a farm hand and from his wages 
saved two hundred and twenty-five dollars. He continued at that salary 
for two \-ears and then spent two years in working at the carpenter's 
trade, during which time his wages were raised from ten to fifteen dol- 
lars per month. Then abandoning the builder's trade, he turned his at- 
tention to farming on a small scale in St. Joseph county, Indiana, ]nu-- 
chasing fortv acres of land, which he cultivated for a year. In 1837 he 
came to Elkhart countv and for seven years rented the farm m Cleveland 
township upon which he now resides. He then purchased the property 
and as the vcars have passed has (levelo];ed a fine farm, rich and pro- 
ducti\'e. 

In 1850 Mr. Marks was married to Aliss Fanny Shepherd, who was 
born in Cleveland township, this county. December 17. 1837. Her 
mother also died when the daughter was small and she was then taken to 
Lake countv, Ohio, where she was reared by her grandparents, returning 
to the place of her nativity when she was about twenty-one years of age. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 691* 

Mr. Marks broiiglri; his l)ri(le to the farm upon which he had lixed fur 
three years and which has now been his home for ahnost a half century, 
and here five children have been born to them : Emma, the wife of Lorin 
Burkett, of Wexford county, Michigan : Alice, the wife of George Ross, 
who is living in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Frances, the wife of Elmer 
E. Evans, who is represented on another page of this work ; Clara, at 
home ; and Myrtle, the wife of Schuyler DeCamp, of Elkhart city. They 
gave to their children good educational advantages and Mrs. Evans and 
Mrs. DeCamp were successful teacliers up to the time of their marriage. 
Mr. and Mrs. Marks also had two sons. Arthur L. and Elmer E.. who 
died in childhood. 

Mr. Marks has held local offices and is zealoush' and enthusiastically 
interested in public progress and improvement in his community. When 
one examines into his life to find the secret of his prosperit}-. it is seen 
that no outside aid or fortunate circumstances have been the source of 
his success, which has had its root in his unremitting diligence and thor- 
ough mastery of the work that has come to his hand. Thus as the years 
have gone by he lias become the possessor of a valuable farm property 
and his example should serve as a. source of inspiration and encourage- 
ment to others, showing what may be accomplished. 

SOLOMON THORNTON. 

Solomon Thornton is a retired farmer, whii. after many }'ears' 
active connection with agricultural pursuits, has been vouchsafed the 
rest which should always crown years of activity when supplemented by 
good business" judgment and characterized by integrity and enterprise. 
He was born in Summit county. Ohio, November 8. 1839, and was the 
eighth child and fifth son in a familv of ten children who reached 
mature years. The parents were Henry and Sarah (Kixitzer) Thornton, 
both of whom were natives of Snyder county, Pennsvlvania. They 
were reared and married there and afterward removed to Summit county, 
Ohio, which at that date, 1831, was a part of Stark county. They came 
to Elkhart in 1856, settling in Geveland township, and Mr. Thornton 
devoted his time and energies to tlie cultivation and improvement of the 
farm throughout the remainder of his active business career. He died 
in 1879 at the age of eighty-three years, while his wife passed awav at 
the age of seventy-nine years. They had altogether thirteen children, 
but three of the number passed away in childhood. 

Solomon Thornton spent the days of his Ixjyhood upon the old farm 
homestead in Summit county. Oliio. where he remained until sixteen 
y?ars of age. when he came to Elkhart county. He has been a resident 
of Cleveland townshi]^ for about forty-nine years and throughout the 
period of his manhood has followed agricultural pursuits. He was also 
for two years engaged in the manufacture of 1>rick, but the tilling of the 
soil has claimed the greater part of his attention. For sixteen vears he 



700 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

followed farming, but he now lives retired in Elkhart, leaving- the active 
management of the place to others. He has one hundred and fifty-eight 
acres of rich land well improved, his farm being now a valuable proi>- 
erty, and the buildings thereon and the richly cultivated fields are evi- 
dences of his enterprise and carefully directed efforts. 

In i86S occin-red the marriage of Air. Thornton and Miss Susan 
Prjntius. a daughter of David and Barbera (Reber) Pontius. Mrs. 
Thornton was born in Summit county, Ohio, and at the time of their 
marriage the young couple located in Cle\-elan(I township about a mile 
west of their present home. There they li\ed for seven years, after 
which they took up their abode upon a farm north of their present place, 
continuing there for alwut six years. They have also lived on other 
farms in the count}- and spent one year in Elkhart, but for sixteen years 
have lived in Cleveland tOAvnshi]). They have 1>ecome the parents of 
three children who are yet living: Rosa May, Minnie Alice and Ida 
Pearl. Mr. Thornton has always been interested in community affairs 
and for a. long period gave his political allegiance to the Republican 
party. He served as trustee of his township for a term of four years 
and his aid can always lie counted upon to further any public move- 
nients. Nature seen-is to ha\-e intended that man should enjoy a period 
of rest in the evening of life. In his youth he is full of vigor and hope 
and in more mature years are added judgn-ient and business understand- 
ing that come from experience as the years pass by. He is thus enabled 
to direct his labors to the best advantage, and if he but make the best of 
his opportunities he can, througii the husbanding of his recources, win a 
competence that enables him tO' rest in later years. This Mr. Thornton 
has done and now he is living retireri. 

JOSHUA P.. CATTSHALL. 

Joshua B. Gattshall. of Goshen, has lieen a resident of this city for 
the past thirteen years, during which lime he has been (iiie of the lead- 
ing members of the Elkhart county bar and also well known as an edi- 
tor and journalist. 

Born in Marion count\-. (jhio. lnl\ 2h. 1853. he was a son of 
Philip and Maria (Barry) (iattshall. ihe former liorn near Johnstown, 
Pennsyl\-ania, and the latter in Maryland. The parents were n-iarried 
in Ohio, of which state I:oth the iiaternal anrl n-iaternal grandfathers 
\\-ere ])ionecr settlers. Great-grandfather "S'elverton Barrv was a' sol- 
dier in the l\e\-(!lnlii,nar\- war, and grandfather Elisha Barry served in 
the w-;n- ot iXij. The latter was a Virginia slaveholder, but afterward 
liljcrated all his slaves and, becoming olmoxious to his neighbors nn 
this account, left that state and moved to Ohio. He was a stanch sup- 
porter of his countr)' and a believer in equal rights to all, and at the 
outbreak of die Cixil war he lu-ged iiis sons and relatives to bear amis 
in defense of their countrv. and two of his sons and three grandsons 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 



701 



went to the war. Another trait of ]iis family besides their great loy- 
alty to country was length of life, nearly all his eleven children living 
to be more than threescore and ten. The parents of Mr. Gattshall were 
early settlers of Marion count}', Ohio, and both died there, the father 
in 1881 at the age of sixty-four, and the mother in 1897 aged eighty 
years. The father made farming his life work. 

Reared on his fathers farm and obtaining his preliminary educa- 
tion in the country schools, Mr. Gattshall at the age of fifteen obtained 
a certificate and began teaching school, which he alternated with atten- 
dance at school for his own instruction during the next eleven years. 




Joshua B. Gattshall. 



and in the meantime studied law. He was admitted to the bar in Ohio 
in 1879, and removed to Indiana in the spring of 1880 and for twelve 
years conducted an active practice at Warsaw. In 1892 he came to 
Goshen. For five years he was on the editorial staff of the Goshen Daily 
Times, afterward the Nm's-Tiines. In 1896 he took a cargo of high- 
class horses to London, England, for Edgar Snow, of Boston, return- 
ing to this county in No\'ember, 1896, when he again resumed editorial 
work for the Times. In 1898 he became chief clerk to Major J. H. 
Heatwole during the Spanish v.^ar, and spent some time in Cuba, and 
on the conclusion of his army service again became connected with the 
Nezvs-Times, which he continued until he resumed his law practice in 



702 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

|<J02. He is an able and skilleil lawyer, :iu(\ has a good practice in the 
cnunt}-. 

Ml". Gattshall is an earnest ad\()cate uf Republican principles and 
has in many ways contributed to the success of his party locally. Fra- 
ternally he is a Knight Templar Mason at ^^^arsa\v Commanclery and 
a member of the Knights of Pythias. 

October 28, 1879, he married Miss Emma J. Alathews, who was 
born in Jackson townshij), this county. They have one child living. 
Ralph, vvho is a graduate of the Goshen high school: their boy David 
<liecl when two years old. Mrs. Gattshall belongs to one of the pioneer 
families of this county. Her grandfather. Philip Mathews, settled here 
in 1S31. and erected the first hotel, or ta\-ern, on tiie site of Goshen. 
He died on a farm in this county. Mer father. David Mathews, is liv- 
ing i)n iu's farm in Jackson tow nshiji. being now eight}--two vears old. 

JOSIAH D. REPLOGLE. 

l"or almost sixty-six years Josiah D. Replogle has been a resident 
of Elkhart county, being numbered among her nati\'e sons. His birth 
occurred in Concord townsh.ip, November 14, 1838. and he now resides 
on section 22. Osolo township. He is descended from German ancestry. 
His paternal grandfather. John Replogle, was born in Germany and was 
about teri years of age when he came to America, settling in Ohio. His 
son. Peter Replogle, was born in Stark county, Ohio. January 18, 1806, 
and was there reared and educated, .\fter attaining man's estate he was 
married in that county and thence removed to St. Joseph county. Indiana, 
locating near South Rend in 1837. However, he remained in that local- 
ity for only a brief period, after which he took up his abode in Concord 
township. Elkhart county, upon a farm. There was a log cabin upon 
the place but few improvements had Ijeen made. He at once began to 
clea.r and cultivate the place and made it his home until his death, which 
occurred in 1849. His wife continued to reside thereon durhig the suc- 
ceeding eighteen 5'ears. after which she went to live with her son. Jo- 
.->iali D. Her maiden name was Lovina Porter and she was born in 
Ohio in 181 1. The Porters were of F.nglish lineage. To Mr. aud Mrs. 
Replogle were born nine children, six sons and three daughters, but only 
three of the number reached adult age: Rebecca, now the deceased wife 
of Franklin B. Markel : Abraham, who has also jiassed awav : and bi- 
siah D. 

The last named was the seventh in order of birth in his father's 
famil)' and was reared in Concord town'^hi]) until ei.ghteen \ears of age. 
In his youth be pursued his studies in a log schoolhouse. attending each 
winter for a brief period, wdiile the remainder of the year was given to 
farm labor. He was thrown upon his own rescnuTes at the \-e)')- early 
a.ge of eleven years and hired out to work by the month on a farm. He 
was thus emplo^•ed imtil se\-enteen years of age. when be entered upon 



HISTORY OI'' ELKHART COUXTV TO:^ 

an apprenticeship to the mason's trade in Elkhart, serving a full term, 
.rincl followed that occnpation until 1862. On the 9th of August of that 
year he i)ut aside all business and personal considerations that he might 
aid his country in the struggle to preserve the Union, and joined Com- 
pany (i. Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry, as a pri\ate. He was promot- 
ed to cor])(jra] tind color sergeant and sen'ed for three years, with the 
exception of about one month. He particijiated in a number of the most 
impoitant engagements of the war, including the battles of Chickamauga, 
Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain. Buzzard's 
Roost, Dalton and Jonesboro. At the last named place one-third of the 
regiment was lost in killed and w'ounded. Mr. Replogle. however, was 
never wounded, nor was he in a hospital, although at one time he had a 
hard sick spell immediately following the battle of Chickamauga. being 
unable to take any food for eight days. He went with Sherman on the 
celebrated march to the sea and also participated in the grand review in 
Washington where " wave after wave of bayonet-crested blue passed by 
the stand on which the president stood, watching the return of the vic- 
torious army." and in that parade he carried the flag at the head of the 
Seventy-fourth Indiana Regiment. 

He received an honorable discharge in March. 1865. and was mus- 
tered out at Indiiuiapolis. Indiana, after which he returned to his farm. 
living on tlie farm which he yet occu]3ies. 

On the 27tb of June. 1859. Mr. Replogle was married to Miss Har- 
riet M. Wilson, a daughter of David and Phoebe (Smith) Wilson and 
a native of Knox county. Ohio, Ijorn December ly, 1835. She was 
reared and Cflucated in her native connty anrl her parents were l>oth 
natives of Ohio. The}' Iiad a family of eleven children, nf whom Mrs. 
Replogle was the third. 

For a }-ear and a half before the war Mr. Replogle li\ed in Elkhart 
in the house which he built, and on the expiration of tiiis period he re- 
moved from bis city home to a log cabin on a farm where he now resides. 
He remained upon this farm for forty-five years and with the exception 
of his eldest son all of his children were here born. He is today the 
owner of two hundred and thirty acres of rich and arable land on wdiich 
are two sets of farm buildings, including two substantial residences and 
all the buildings necessary for the shelter of grain and stock. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Replogle have been born the following named : 
Arthur G.. who was born in the city of Elkhart. Eebruarv 12. i860, 
and is a resident farmer of Osolo township; Josiah Wellington, who was 
horn April 6. 1863, and is a resident of Goshen and g-eneral record keeper 
for the Knights of tlie Maccabees of Indiana; Edward, who was born 
September 6, 1867, and died July 28, 1881 ; Charles E.. \\\■\^^ was born 
May 3. 1869. and for thirteen years has been a teacher of Osolo town- 
ship; Ernest C. born January 2^. 187 1, and now assisting in the opera- 
tion of the home farm; Otis A., who was bom December 7, 1872. and 
is married and resides at Alishawaka : Elnora A., who was born Decem- 



704 PIISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

l)er 25. 1S74. and died St'plenilier _'0. 1898: and Kmniet and Eugene, 
twins, born ()cu-l)er 17, 1877. 

Mr. Replogle has Ijeen a life-long Rejuiblican and has taken an 
active and helpful interest in the local work of his party. He has served 
as road supervisor, as justice of the peace for eight years, and as town- 
shi]3 trustee for two terms of two years each, and also filled out an un- 
expired term. He was also township assessor for five years and in of- 
ficial service has always been found prompt and faithful, fully meeting 
every obligation devolving upon him. He belongs to Elmer Post No. 37, 
G. A. R., of Elkhart, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. He belongs to the class of citizens designated as self-made men 
and deserves all the praise that that term implies. Starting out when a 
young lad of eleven years, he had the care of his mother until her death, 
and he received no financial assistance or aid from influential friends, but 
by persistent purpose, resolute will and honesty he has worked his way 
upward, now occupying an enviable position in the regard of his fel- 
low men. and at the same time gaining for himself a place among the 
substantial farmers of the county. 

CHARLES DILLS. 

Charles Dills, who carries on general farming on section 2;^. Osolo 
township, was born upon this place, July 23, 1854. His father, Harry 
Dills, was a native of Vermont and came with his father, Morris Dills, 
Ito Elkhart county, Lidiana, when pioneer conditions existed throughout 
this part of the state. A location was made in Osolo township, and 
'there amid frontier environment the grandfather developed and improved 
a farm. The father assisted in this arduous task, giving his time and 
labor for the further cultivation of the old home place up to the time of 
his marriage. In Osolo township he wedded Miss Isabel Philson, a 
nati\e of Pennsylvania, who came to the west at an early day in com- 
pany with her parents, James and Susan Philson, who cast in their lot 
with the early settlers of Benton township, Elkhart county. Mr. and 
Mrs. Harry Dills began their domestic life upon a farm and about four 
years later Mr. Dills departed this life. His widow aftenvard became 
the wife of Richard Smith, and Charles Dills remained with his mother 
and stepfather through the period of his minority, assisting in the work 
of the farm in its various departments and attending the district schools 
through the winter seasons. He started out upon an independent busi- 
ness career when twenty-one years of age, turning his attention to farm- 
ing in Osolo township, and his labors, persistent and directed by sound 
iudgment, have made him one of the practical, progressive and prosper- 
ous agriculturists of the community. 

On the 31st of December. 1875. Mr. Dills was united in marriage 
to Miss Alice A. Laing. a daughter of Frederick and Mary fRupel) 
Laing, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsvlvania. Thev 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY "nj 

came to Indiana clnving tlic inoneer epoch in its improvement and settled 
in St. Josei)li connt\'. where their daughter. Mrs. Dills, was horn on the 
nth of June, 185(1. '"" ""•' '^idjject and his wife ha\-e heen horn five 
children wh.o arc yet li\ing. and tliev also lost one — IJernie. The others 
are LloAd, Alerwin, Bessie, Hazel, and Tlieron. 

At the time of his marriage Mr. [Mills located on the I'.arni which 
has since heen his home, and his attention has been given to general agri- 
cultural pursuits until now his place of two hundred acres constitutes (ine 
of the fine farms of the county, being improved with all modern con- 
veniences and equipments, including substantial buildings. He also raises 
some good stock, and the products of his fields are a marketable com- 
moditv, bringing to him a good financial return. Mr. Dills has always 
given his political support to the Repul;)!ican party and its principles, and 
has filled various local offices, proving a capable official whose first in- 
terest seems to be the public good. He was first elected to the office of 
trustee in 1894 and has filled the position for about six years. He is also 
substitute mail carrier. His duties are always faithfulh- jierformed and 
whether in public or private life he is true to the trust re])oscd in him. 

JOHN L. WARDEN. 

John L. Warden, sujjerintendent of the county poor farm, was horn 
in Stark county, Ohio, June 4, 1846, and is of Irish lineage. His pater- 
nal grandfather was a brother of (ieneral James Warden. His father, 
Harrison Warden, was also horn in Stark county, Ohio, and was a 
farmer by occupation, following that pursuit in the Buckeye state until 
his removal to Indiana about 1854. He located in DeKallj county, hut in 
later life returned to the county of his nativity, where his death occurred 
when he w;is in his eightieth year. He had married Miss Clementine 
Halter, a native of Germany, who was brought to America when but 
three years of age, and died in Ohio at the age of sevent}--eight years. 
They were the parents of a son and t\\o daughters: John L. ; Elizabetli. 
deceased; and Mary, the wife of Curtis Snyder, of Napoleon. Oliio. 

John I-. Warden spent the first eight years of his life in the county 
of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their removal to 
DeKalb county, where his youth was passed; while in the public schools 
he mastered the elementary l>ranches of English learning. The coun- 
try's need for men awakened his earnest consideration in i8Cij;, and re- 
solving to aid in the preservation of the Union he 1}ecamc a member of 
Companv D, One Hundred and Forty-second Indiana infantry, with 
which he served until the close of the war. He participated in the battles 
of Franklin and Nashville and was under the command of (ieneral 
Thomas. In 1864 he was ill with measles in the hospital. He received 
an honorable discharge at Indianapolis, having done his full duty as a 
soldier, and thougii he became familiar with the rigors and hardshi]:)s of 



706 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

war he never faltered in tlie pertDrniance nf duty and his loyalty made 
his a most creditable record. 

Following his retui^n from tlie suuth Mr. Warden traveled for some 
time in the east and the v.est, and in Henry county, Ohio, in 1870, he was 
married to Miss Louise Long, a native of that county and a daughter of 
William Long, who was also a soldier of the Civil war. Mr. Warden 
came to Elkhart county in 1882. locating at Goshen, where he was man- 
ager for the E. W. Walker Manufacturing Company for eight years. 
He was also engaged in the hotel business at Goshen and Elkhart for 
about ten years, being proprietor of the West Union in the former city, 
and of the Tremont in the latter. He alscj engaged in carpentering for 
a number of years and in IQ03 was appointed to his present position, 
being now superintendent of the Elkhart county infirmary and poor 
farm. In the administration of the business connected therewith he is 
enterprising, accurate and ]irompt. and his course has given general 
satisfaction. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Warden ha\e been liorn a son and a daughter: 
Orlie Harrison, who is li\ing in Huluth. Minnesota, where he is con- 
nected with a clothing firm: and ( kizellc. the wife of Jose])h Keely. now 
of Chicago. 

In his political views Mr. Warden has always lieen a Republican 
and at one time he served as janitor of the county court house. His 
interest in political cjuestions is such as every true .Vmerican citizen 
should feel, and he keeps well informed on the issues of the day. h'ra- 
ternallv he is well known and prominent. He belongs to the Knights 
of Pythias fraternitv. the Uniformed Rank, the Improved Order of Red 
Men. the Bene\olent and Protective Order of Elks and the Grand Army 
post at (ioshen. also the Tribe of Ben Hur and the Knights and Ladies 
of Columbia. He is widely known in Elkhart county, having long taken 
an active part in politics and public affairs, and none question his sin- 
cerilv of ])uri)ose and his devotion to what he believes to be right. 

X.VTH.WIFL e\ XIAVELL. 

Xathaniel C. Xewell, a leading and representative fanner of Osolo 
lownshi]). was born October 17. 1883. and is a son of one of the mo.st 
Iionored of Elkhart county's pioneer citizens — Uncle Xathaniel Newell. 
;iow deceased. He was a native or Chittenden county, Vermont, his 
birth occurring near Charlotte, January _'. 1809. He was of English 
lineage and bis parents were -\bd and Polly (Hollerbert) Newell, who 
were natives of C(.nnecticut. while their ancestors were early settlers of 
the New England states. .\bel Xewell carried on general fanning, and 
his careful management of his business interests brought to him well 
deserved success, while his unblemished integrity and sterling worth 
were un(|uestioned facts in his life record. He served his country in the 
war of 1812 and died in X'ermont, respected by all who knew him. 



HISTORY OF ELKH.VRT COL'XTY 707 

Nathaniel Newell was the third in order ot birth in liis family u£ 
four sons and five daughters, and from an early age he was familiar 
with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist in 
Vermont, his work on the old homestead being so continuous that he 
had little opportunity of enjoying even such educational advantages as 
the schools of that day afforded. During the winter season he was 
obliged to haul logs, and while still quite young he had to drive four 
yoke of oxen hitched to a sled, working in this way from early morning 
until long after dark. Determining to locate where he could secure- 
government land, he started westward in 1835, with all of his household 
effects in a wagon and accomjwnied by the wife that he had just married. 
She bore the maiden name of Lucinda Johnson and was a relative of 
Colonel R. M. Johnson, who it is said killed the Indian- Chief Tecumseh 
and thus put an end to much of the suffering which the Indians caused 
the white race on the frontier, 'i'he journey westward was fraught with 
dangers and diificultics. On reaching the Maumee swamp his wagon 
became stuck in the mud and after calling for help and hitching four 
yoke of oxen to the wagon he managed to complete the journey of thirty 
miles in five days. Continuing on his way to Adamsville, Michigan, after 
a brief sojourn there he established his home in Osolo township, Elk- 
hart county, where he jjurchased one hundred acres of land adjoining 
the homestead place. The young couple began their domestic life in a 
comfortable log house of one' room, which had been built in the midst of 
a little clearing of eight acres. Otherwise the farm was unimproved, 
but with characteristic energy Mr. Newell began clearing and cultivat- 
ing the land. In a short time he was called upon to mourn the death of 
his voung wife, who left two children to his care, and although the task 
was a difficult one he resoluleiv set to work tO' provide for his children 
and improve the farm. .\t that time there were only fi\'c \\lnte families 
living in the township, but the Indians were very numerous and his 
kindly treatment of them led them to supply him with venison, and fre- 
quentlv he was enabled to secure their services in some work on the farm. 
He prospered in his undertaking and when his capital was sufficient he 
invested in a fpiarter section of land for which be paid eiglit dollars jicr 
acre. There were no improvements ui^on it, but within himself lay the 
]jower and energ\ necessarv f«'.r the subjugation of the wild tract and its 
conversion for his own uses. He worked untirinsh-, adding to his prop- 
ert_\- from time to time, and ere his deatli he was the owner of eight 
hundrci! acres of very valuable land, of which over five hundred acres 
was cleared and cultivated. 

For his second wife Mr. Newell chose Miss Mary Ohls. and of tliat 
marriage there is one living child. Nathaniel, while of the first marria.ge 
one son survived, George. The latter, now a ]ir(miinent farmer nf the 
countv, was horn in Osolo tnwnsbi]) on the old family homestead. His 
boyhood days were spent on the olil homestead and he assisted in the 
arduous task of de\-eio])ing new laud .and cultivating the fields. For 



70S HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 

about two months each winter he would attend schools held in a little 
log building and supplied with primitive equiiiments, but ar the end of 
that time the school was usuall}' broken up by the unruliness of some 
of the older boys. The furnishings c.f the pioneer homes were also 
meager, the cooking being done over the fireplace, for there were no 
stoves at that time. Farm implements were ver_\- crude in comparison 
with the fine farm machinery of the present day and George Xewell was 
only eleven years of age when he took his place between the handles of 
the old wooden plow and was gi\'en charge of ten yoke of oxen. He 
continued to assist his father until twenty-three years of age, when at 
the outbreak of the Civil Avar he espoused the Union cause and became 
a member of Company ]\I. Second Indiana Cavalry, under Captain J. A. 
S. Mitchell, of Goshen. He rode horseback to Indianapolis and after be- 
ing mustered in started for the south, taking part, as his first engagement, 
in the sanguinary battle of Shiloh. Fie was afterward in the engage- 
ment at Pki Ridge, and at Murfreesboro he was captured and paroled. 
He- was then detailed in the quartermaster's department and served in 
the same until the close of the war. .After thixe years devoted to his 
country's service he returned to Elkhart county and resumed farming, 
being tlie owner of valuable farm property in the county, highly im- 
proved and richly cultivated. 

George Nevvell was marrietl to ]\liss Sarah -\. Compton. a natix'e 
of this cou.nt}-. in 1864. and tlie\- have two children. Minnie and X'a- 
thaniel. 

Nathaniel Newell was reared and educated in Osolo township and 
in 1905 was united in marriage to Miss Esther Christ, a daughter of 
Wallace and Mary Manning Christ, whose birth occurred in Osolo town- 
ship June 2, 1886. Their farm comprises one hundred and twenty-one 
acres of rich land and is valuable property, well improved and showing 
every evidence of the careful supervision of a painstaking and progres- 
sive owner. He is a worthy representative of a i^rominent pioneer fam- 
ily and the name oi Newell has been an honored one in this part of the 
state since Uncle Nathaniel Newell settled in Osolo township, taking a 
helpful part in the development of the frontier and winning the respect 
and friendship of all by his upright life and kindly nature. 

JAMES L. HARMAN. 

James L. Harman. a prominent attorney of Elkhart and a member 
of the Metropolitan Board of Police Commissioners of that city, was 
born in Mishawaka. St. Joseph county, Indiana, July 11, 1873. He 
was the only son of David and Carrie QIack) Flarman, the father a 
native oi Kentucky and the mrither of Canada, and both are now de- 
ceased. 

The parents moved from Mishawaka to Elkhart when the son 
was two vears old. and he was reared and educated in this cit\'. grad- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 709 

uating from the hii^ii schiml with the class of 1892. Having ah'eady 
decided upon the law as his profession, he began his studies in 1893 
and made rapid progress until he was admitted to the bar. He stud- 
ied with the late R. M. Johnson, and on November 19, 1894, was ad- 
mitted to the liar. Until April, 1897. he practiced as a member of the 
firm of Johnson and Ilarman ; then it was Harman and Barney until 
August, 1899; from that date until January, 1901, he was alone, and 
since then the firm of Harman and Zigler has conducted a very success- 
ful liusiness in the courts of this county and as counselors. Mr. Har- 
nian is thoroughly versed in the law and procedure, is a man of en- 
gaging personality and of wide acquaintance, and his success has been 
well achieved. He is very much interested in his city, and as a mem- 
ber of the }iIetropolitan Board of Police Commissioners occupies one 
of the most responsible positions connected with the municipal admin- 
istration. In politics be is a Democrat, and be has fraternal afBliations 
with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 

Mr. Harman married, in 1898, Miss Maude E. Cummins, a 
daughter of Charles E. Cummins, of Elkhart. They are Presbyterians 
in reh'gious affiliations. 

SAMUEL HOLTZ. 

Among the early settlers of Elkhart county who for many years 
ha\e been identified with agricultural interests and ha\-e also l)een a 
power for good citizenship and substantial progress in this part of the 
state is numbered Samuel Holtz, who resides on section 24, Osolo town- 
ship. Fie was born February 5, 1832, in Stark county, Ohio, about five 
miles fron^ Canton. His father, Jacob Holtz, was a native of Pennsyl- 
vania and was of German lineage. He removed from the Keystone 
state to Stark county, Ohio, and there follow'ed the occupation of farm- 
ing, departing this life there wdien his son Samuel was but eight years 
of age. His wife Ixire the maiden name of Susan Lininger and was of 
Scotch lineage. She also died in Stark county. 

Samuel Floltz. who was left an orphan at the age of eight years, 
was reared by his uncle John Holtz until fifteen years of age, when he 
started out in life on his own account. For three years he worked at the 
blacksmith's trade and for one year rented a coal bank in Stark county, 
opening up and o]3crr:fing a mine there On the expiration of three 
wears he sold that and in -Xiiril. 1834, he came to Elkhart county, locat- 
ing in Osolo townsh.ip on the place where he now resides. Here he 
cleared and impn)\-ed a farm, erecting all of the buildings, adding all 
modern equipments and accessories, and now has a well developed prop- 
erty wdiich in its fine appearance is indicative of his careful sujiervision, 
painstaking methods and progressive view-s along agricultural lines. 

In 185 T Mr. Holtz was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Creigh- 
ba'.im. who was born in Summit countw Ohio, and thev ha\'e two chil- 



710 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

(Iren : Sarah A., now the wife of O. 1''. Brussman, h\'ing- <in tlie home 
farm; and Cora Ida. the wife of Samuel Swinehart, of Elkhan. They 
also lost three children. Mr. Holtz has taken a deep interest in all that 
pertains to the welfare and improvement of the county and has ever 
given his earnest sup]wrt to the Democracv. He holds memhership in 
the Evangelical Lutheran church, in which he was at one time quite 
active. He tn\es his success entirelx- to his well directed efforts, for he 
started out in life with meagre cainlal. Init he possessed strong deter- 
mination arid a willingness to work. \\y perseverance and energ)- he has 
iwercome all o\ the obstacles and diHicullies in his path and has gained 
both a desirable competence and an honored name. Througli a king 
period he has li\ed in Elkhart connlw where he is now wi(lel\' and fa\- 
orabl}' known. 

jOHx w". milli-:r. 

John W. Miller has for so long a ]ierio(l been a resident of Elkhart 
county that he is numbered among its old settlers, and his life has been 
so well spent that he is classed with its most respected citizens. He was 
jjorn in Osolo township May i<S, JS38. His father, Jesse Miller, was 
a native of Ohio, and came to Elkhart county, about 1837, locating in 
the northern ]:)art of the county, where he remained for a year. He then 
traded his land there for a farm in Harrison tcAvnship, Elkhart count)-, 
upon whicli he spent his remaining days, his life's labors being ended in 
death when he was about sixty-six years of age. With the pioneer de- 
velnpnienl and improvement of this section of the state he was con- 
nected, and his aid could always be counted upon to further the interests 
f>f Democracy and of the Methodist E]3i,scopal church. His religious 
faith was a permeating influence in his life and made him worthy the 
regard in which be was uniformly held. He married Miss Lucy Dal- 
rymple, a native of Ohio, who died in Concord town.ship. Elkhart county, 
when about sixty-six years of age. 'I'hey were the parents of three sons 
and five daughters, and with one exception all reached adult age. 

John W. Miller, the fourth child and eldest son. was only about a 
\ear old when taken 1)\- his parents to Harrison townshi]>. this county, 
and upon the home farm he was reared, ])ursuing liis education in a 
•schoolhousc built of round logs and furnished with primitive equi])- 
ments in harmony with the methods of instruction. He remained at 
home, assisting in the work of the farm sa\-c through the siiort winter 
season when he attended school, and became familiar with all the duties 
and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. 

In i8'io occurred the marriage of John W. Miller and !\liss Mary 
Stutsman, a daughter of Daniel V>. and Retsv (Easbore) Stutsman, who 
came to this count\- at an early da\'. settling in Harrison townshi]), where 
their daughter's liirth occurred. .\t the time of hi,> marriage l\Ir. Miller 
located on a farm adjoining his father's ])lace, but after a year sold that 
property and liought his present i)lacc of residence about T^fi^. There 



HISTORY OF ELFvHART COUXTY 711 

were few )mpro\-ements on this place ami it stood in the midst of the 
forest, btit he has since developed one nf the best farms of the county. 
He has carried on general farming and lia,> also made a specialty of the 
raising of berries and other fruit. About twelve thousand lies were 
furnished from his farm to the Lake Shore Railroad Company, and also 
much timber was furnished for building cars. In former years Mr. 
Miller owned other farms, but has since disposed of much of his property, 
retaining possession of the old homestead, which comprises one hundred 
acres, all of which is valuable land, the greater part of it being under a 
high state of cultivation. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Miller ha\-e been born the following named: Cy- 
rus, who is inspector for the street railway company and is living in 
Concord township; Nervy, at home; Ira J., of Elkhart: Louis R., an en- 
gineer on the L-ake Shore Railroad, living at home: Ortha, the wife of 
Charles Dinehart. of Concord township: Edward, a druggist of Elkhart; 
and Lawrence, engaged as foreman of the Tablet Works, of Kalamazoo, 
Michigan. Mr. Aliller is a Demticrat 1>ut has no aspirations for public 
office. His entire life, covering sixty-seven years, has been passed in this 
county, and he is familiar with much of its development and growth. 
What to many is merely a matter (jf history is to him a matter of per- 
sonal experience, because of his residence here during the occurrence of 
certain events that haxe aided in shaping tlie annals and the |.)olicy of 
the county, and at all times he has furthered the movements for the pub- 
lic good. 

SAMUEL K. CAUFEMAX. 

Samuel K. CaufTman. following the occupation of farming on sec- 
tion 25, Osolo township, was born in Pennsylvania, October i. 1847. 
His fatlier, Peter Cauftman, was also a native of the Keystone state and 
in 1853 came to Elkhart county, Indiana, settling in \\'ashington town- 
ship, where he remained for four years, when he located in Osolo town- 
shi]3, there spending his remaining days, his death occurring when he 
had reached the veneralile age of eighty years. He was a lifelong Re- 
publican and a member of the Methodi.st Episcopal church, and at all 
times was loval t<> his honest convictions and honorable in all his rela- 
tions with his fellow men. Me wedded Mary A. Elorner, a native of 
Pennsvh-ania. and she lived to be sixty-one years of age. They were 
the parents (if five sons and five daughters, and nine of the f;unily 
reached manhood or womanhood. 

.Samuel K. Cauffman. the fifth member of the famih- and the second 
son. was about six vears of age when lie came to Elkhart county and 
the days of his bovhood anfl youth were passed m \\'ashingt()n and 
Osolo townships. He attended the schools of the neighborhood, and 
through the summer months assisted in the labors of the fields, working 
at home until twenty-one years of age, when he began farming on his 
own account. i"or three years after his marrias-e he lived upon a farm 



712 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

adjoining- liis present home and in J 877 lie erected his present lirick resi- 
denc:e. -which is one of the attracti\e and substantial dweHings of the 
iocahty. He owns one hun(h'ed and forty acres of Avell improved land 
and carries on general farmn-ig. his richly cultivated fields returning 
to him golden harvests. On the nth of Novemljer. 1904, an engine 
exploded on Mr. Cauffman's place, and Warren Bassett, a boy of ten 
years, John Boldenhouse and Mv. CaufTman's son Floyd were killed and 
others -were l^adly hurt — a disaster that caused dee]i sorniw throughout 
the neighborhood. 

^Ir. Cauffman was marn'ed }ilarch 11, 1873, to Miss Martlia J. 
Lacy, the fourth memlier of the familv of Michael and Eliza .-V. ( Barker) 
Lacy, wlio h;\d fi\-e children. The father was a native of Ireland and the 
mother of Ohio. ^Ir. and ]\lrs, Cauffiuan ha\-e four children: \\'illie. 
M-hii died in infanc}-; Fred L., whO' died at the age of four years; I'rank; 
and l-d(i)-d. -whn was killed in the explosion. 

Mr. Cauffman has always voted with the Republican part}-, and in 
his conimunitv is recognized as one of the strong and active workers 
in its ranks. He is now serving as a member of the advisory board, 
but has little time or inclination for pulvlic office, preferring that his 
undivided attention be given to his business affairs, wliich, carefully con- 
ducted, have brought to him a good return. His residence in the county 
covers a half century and thus he has a wide acquaintance, while the 
friendship of the greater majority is extended to him, for he has mani- 
fested in his career the qualities which go to make up a reliable business 
man and loval, public-spirited citizen. 

HENRY WARREN HINON. 

Henrv W'arren Hixon, organizer and proprietor of the Farmers" 
Bank of Middlebury, was born in Portage county, Ohio. March 21, 
1S33. His father, Solomon Landis Hixon, was a native ol Buffalo 
\'al]e\-, Pennsylvania, and was of German lineage, the original Ameri- 
can ancestors settling first in New Jersey. His uncle, John Hixon, was 
a soldier of the Revolutionary war. Solomon Hixon started out in 
life as a carpenter, and in 1839 removed tO' Portage county, Ohio, where 
he worked at his trade. He also bought land there and became inter- 
ested in farming pursiu'ts, but finally disposed of his propert}- in that 
state and removed to Elkhart county, Indiana, reaching his destina- 
tion DU Ihe 4th of April. 1834. He found a pioneer district, the picture 
presenting tracts of forest land and lu-iin-iprdved prairies. Locating in 
Middleiiury township he entered fmm the governn-ient one hundred and 
sixtv acres of land on section ten, on a part of which the village of Mid- 
dlel)urv now stands. In the spring he erected a log cabin prior to the 
arrival of his wife in this county. The next spring he built a barn and 
as soon as it was completed he sold his farm for eight hundred dollars. 
He then removed south of ]\Iiddle1^ur^•. where he li^-ed for a time. He 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 713 

was a great trader in real estate, and when he died on the 25th of 
Maicli, 1894, he was a wealthy man, having gained a very desirable 
fortune through his investment in property. He passed away in his 
eighty-ninth year after a long life of activity and enterprise in which his 
genuine worth gained him the respect and honor of tliose with whom he 
was associated. He held membership in the Baptist church and his 
early political support was given to the Democracy, but owing to the 
fact that his son, Henry \\'.. intended to cast his first vote for John C. 
FremonL the father also supported the pathfinder and voted the Repub- 
lican ticket, remaining an advocate of the party up to the time of his 
demise. He was a man of strong convictions, charitable in his purposes 
and kindly in his relations to his fellow men. He wedded Nancy Remele, 
who was born in Middlebury, Vermont, in 18 16, and 4ied March 29, 
1864. Her parents were Stephen and Mary Ann (Curtis) Remele. The 
father was of English lineage, his ancestors coming fro-m England and 
settling in X'ermont. Stephen Remele was a native of Vermont, and he 
named the town of Middlebury, Indiana, after the town of Middle- 
bur}-, \"ermont. He came from the Green Mountain state to Indiana 
to inspect the country in 1832, but settled near Akron, Ohio. In 1834, 
however, he came again tO' this state and took up his abode on section 
thirteen. ^Middlebury township. He was a farmer and land speculator 
and accumulated considerable property. In his family were four chil- 
dren, a son and three daughters, including Mrs. Nancy Hixon. Her 
husband. Solomon Hixon, was one of ten children, four sons and six 
daughters. Unto this worthy couple were l3orn five children : Henry 
W'.; Elizabeth A., who died at the age of twenty-one years; Stephen 
and Charles L., linth deceased: and Lavnnia, the deceased wife of Charles 
I. Mathers. 

Henry W. Hixon acquired his education in the district schools 
and tlie old Middlebury seminary. He engaged in teaching school for 
nine terms, working on the farm during the summer months and was 
thus engaged until after the outbreak of the Civil war. On the i6th 
of August, 1862, in the IMethodist church at Middlebury, he enrolled 
his name with the troops of the 21st Indiana Light Artillerv and thus 
served until mustered out at Gallatin, Tennessee. While fighting the 
bushwhackers on the gunboat, Orion, on the Cumberland river about 
four miles aljove Gallatin, he lost his right arm through the premature 
discharge of a cannon. This occurred March 25, 1863, and in May 
he was sent to (jallatin, where on the 4th of June, 1863, because of his 
injuries, he was honorably discharged. 

Mr. Hixon at once returned to his home and notwithstanding his 
crippled condition located on the farm and began its further develop- 
ment. Tn 1866 he removed to Middlebury where he entered intO' Ixisi- 
ness with his brother-in-law. Charles S. Mathers, buying wool, wheat 
and corn. After six months spent m that way he began an independent 
business as a loan agent and in 1890 he opened a pri\-ate bank which 



714 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

he called tlie I'armers' Bank. He nnw has an extensi\e jjatronage antl 
has cnntinuiinsly and sncccssfully conducted the business for fifteen 
}ears. 

Mr. Hix.in was married in iNhf. to Nettie Curtis, -a ho was born in 
Summit county. Ohio, and was a daughter of Charles and Eunice 
(Crager) Curtis. Her father, who was a nati\'e of Vermont, died in 
1893 at the age of se\'ent\--t\\o years, while his wife ]3assed awa}- in 
1856 at the age of thirt_v-three years. The great-grandfather of Mrs. 
Hixon came from England and settled in New England and the maternal 
grandfather came from Switzerland. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hixon have 
been born four children : F-'.lizabeth Alice, the wife of Dr. Hugh L. 
Conely, a practitioner of (iass City, Indiana: Ered S., wlio married 
Orpha Ames and is with his father in the bank and owns a farm at 
Stone Lake, LaGrange count\', Indiana; Edna May. who is the wife of 
^^'illiam L. Winn, an attorney of Whitehall, Illinois: and an 'infant. 

Mr. Hixon's mother organized the first Sunday-school in Middle- 
bury township and the subject of this re\iew is now the only one of her 
puijils yet connected with that school. He has in his possession four 
of the old ])archment deeds, three signed by President .\ndre\v Jackson 
and dated September 2. 1834. February 10, 1835. October 8. 
1835, and one signed by President Martin Y'an Buren. August i, 
1837. These are valuable (kjcnments, and are of the twenty-two deeds 
found in the county of Elkhart. He is a Rqjublican and for twenty-two 
years has .served as justice of the peace, his decisions being strictly fair 
and imiiartial He has alwavs been enterjirising and his interests are 
thoroughl)- identified with those of Elkhart county. ,\t all times he is 
readv to lend his aid and co-operation to any movement calculated to 
benefit business success of the state or advance its wonderful develop- 
nient and he is as loyal in citizenship as wdien he followed the stars 
and stripes to the south. In Imsiness he lias achieved success through 
honoralile effort, untiring industry and capaljle management and in ]>ri- 
\ate life he has gained that warm ]iersonal regard wdiich arises from true 
nobility of character. 

J.\MES MATHl'AVS, M. I). 

Ylanv accord to the medical profession the highest ]>osition in de- 
termining the value of the different callings to which man dex'otes his 
energies. .Ml acknowledge it to l^e the most important and a success- 
ful ])h\sician fills an important place in the community wdnere he re- 
sides. The elements oi self-.sacrifice and humanitarianism enter into 
the life of everv conscientious physician, without which no man in the 
calling attains to high rank. D/. Mathews is well known in New Paris 
and \-icinity. where he has won a favora1>le reputation for his skill and 
ability in his profession and he is so well known here that he needs 
no special introduction to our readers. He is a nati\e of Jackson town- 






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7. 



'inyi/}-:^ 



cJ(nyi.^^lk/ 



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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 715 

shi]) l<;ikhart Cdunt)'. where he was btini May j8, 1847. l^eing' the sec- 
ond 111 a famil\' of thirteen children, five sons and eight daughters, 
wlio were born to Edwin and Mary .\. (Mills) Mathews. The father, 
a native of Maryland, was a fanner by occupation and wdien a young 
man came to Indiana. Fie had ac(|uired a public school education, and 
lie was a man of strong con\ictions. always fearless in his defense of 
what he believed to be right. In politics he was a Whig until the 
organization of the Republican party, and he and his wife were ardent 
members of the Methodist church. When called to his final rest his 
remains were interred in Van Buren township, Kosciusko county. The 
name of Mathews is of Welsh origin and was originally spelled Matt- 
hews, jjut recent generations have dropped one of the t's. 

Dr. Mathews was reared on liis father's farm until fourteen years 
of age, when he started out as a wage earner, giving, however, a part 
of his earnings to his older brother and his parents. He attended the 
common schools of Elkhart county, and afterward ])ursued a grammar 
course in Goshen under Professor Valois Butler. He entered upon 
the profession of teaching in Benton township and his second school 
was in the home district. He regarded this merely as an initial step, 
however, to other professional labor, for at the age of nineteen he de- 
termined to enter upon the study of medicine and tegan reading under 
the direction of Dr. P. D. Harding, at Goshen, and he also acted as 
oi^ce Ixiy. He continued his reading there for three years and he also 
did whatever work he could secure that would yield him an honest dol- 
lar. It was in 1867 that he entered upon his studies and wdiile still un- 
der the supervision of Dr. Harding he attended a course of lectures in 
the Ohio Medical College, at Cleveland. About 1870 he entered the 
Detroit Medical College, where he remained for two terms and he also 
spent a summer term in that institution. There he took charge of St. 
Mark's Hospital -and he was graduated with the class of 1871. Later 
he pursued a post-graduate course in the same institution and was thus 
well (jualified for his chosen work by broad study and investigation, to 
which was added practical experience, which he gained in the hospital. 
About the time that he was ready to enter upon the active practice 
of medicine Dr. Mathews was married to Miss Jane G. Cowan, of 
Jackson township. He had intended to locate in New Paris, and in 
fact had arranged his office and fixtures, but at that time his uncle. Dr. 
Elias Jones, a physician and surgeon of W^ilf I,ake, Noble county, In- 
diana, expressed a desire to have Dr. Mathews take his practice, as he 
wished lo retire from the profession and enter the drug business. Ac- 
cordingly Dr. Mathews established his home at Wolf Lake, where he 
remained for ;ibout three years, meeting with good .success there. He 
wished, h(;\\e\er. to locate at New Paris, Indiana, and in 1875 he 
returned to Elkhart county, where for a time he gave his attention 
10 agricultural pursuits. l'"inally he located in the village and estab- 



716 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

lished a drug store, which he coiulucted in connection with the practice 
of medicine and surgery. He has heen quite successful here, keeping 
in touch with modern methods of practice, and his labors have been 
attended with gratifying success in checking the ravages of disease and 
in restoring health. 

Dr. Mathews is also a fancier of fine animals and particularly of 
the Golden Sable and white Scotch Collie. He has a fine kennel of 
the very best blood, his registered dog being Sallie Lou. Dr. Mathews 
was formerly a fancier and breeder of fine standard roadster horses, and 
dealt in such animals as Geo. Wilkes, Electioneer, Nutwood, Gov. 
Spragxie, Dick Taylor, Onward, Almount and Online and such brood 
mares as Green Mountain Marie, Beautiful Belle, Minnehaha. Miss 
Russell, Old Dolly, Belle Sprague. His animals are all of imported 
breeds. He also raises Buff Orphington chickens, Poland China hogs. 
Angora guinea pigs and Angora cats. He is possibly the only one in 
northern Indiana having pure-blooded stock of these kinds and his sales 
annually reach a large figure. 

Mrs. Mathe\\-s is a native of Elkhart county, horn April 27, 1845. 
and is a daughter of William and Narcissa (Jones) Cowan. She was 
a student in the common schools near her father's home, also studied 
in Oswego. Indiana, and in Goshen high school, after which she en- 
tered the Union Female Seminary at Xenia, Ohio, from which she was 
graduated with the class of 1866. She afterward engaged in teaching 
for three terms in Elkhart county. In addition to her literary course 
she pursued the study of instrumental music. Her father, who was a 
native of Ohio, born in 181 1, followed the occupation of farming 
throughout his entire life, and died in 1871. In his political views he 
was a Jackson Denioci-at. His wife, who was born in Ohio, in 1823, 
died in 1884. They were members of the United Presbyterian church 
and lioth passed away in Elkhart county. 

In his political views Dr. Mathews is a Republican, supporting 
the party since he cast his first presidential ballot for General U. S. 
Grant. In the line of his profession he is connected with Elkhart 
County Medical Society, and he is examining physician for the New 
York Life and Aetna Insurance Companies and also of the Modern 
Woodmen of America. Both he and his wife are members of the Meth- 
odist Ejiiscopal church arid he is now serving on the official board, 
while his wife has been chorister for a number of years. They have 
contributed generously to the work of the church and ga\-e liberally to- 
ward the erection of the new house of worship in 1885. They have 
in their possession four parchment deeds, bearing the signature of 
President Andrew Jackson, and executed March 16, 1832, while an- 
other one is sigired by Martin Van Buren. March 15, 1837. Dr. and 
Mrs. Mathews' are both well known in Elkhart county and enjoy the 
friendly regard of manv with ivhom thev have been lirought in contact. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 717 

WILLIAM H. SHULTZ. 

\\'illiani 11. SliulU. linvnsliip trustee of Micklleliiiry t(.n\nsliip and 
now engaged in tlie fire and life insurance btisiness in the town of Mid- 
dlelmry, was born in DeKalb count}-, Indiana. November lo, i860, and 
is of German descent. His father, George Shultz, a native of New 
York, died in '.873. Lie became a pioneer settler of Ohio, where he 
located in 184J. He was also in Indianapolis when the town was laid 
out and was prominently connected with the material impro\'ement of 
the western country through the building of canal locks and work at the 
stone mason's trade. His latter days were largely devoted to farming. 
He came to Indiana in 1854, first settling in DeKalb county. In his 
earlier \ears he had traveled extensivel\- over the cnuntrv, Init in 1842 
he was married and after that lived for longer periods in one place. As 
the xears passed he prospered in his Inisiness undertakings, so that at his 
death he was enabled to leave his family in comfortable financial cir- 
cumstances. His jiolitical views accorded with Democratic principles 
and he served as justice of the peace, as constable and in other local 
offices He married Saloma Walter, who was born in the state of New 
York and died in 1890, in her sixty-eighth year. She too was of Ger- 
man lineage and was a member of the Lutheran church. In their fam- 
ily were ten children, of whom they reared the following: Curtis, who 
is a farmer of DeKalb county : Allen, wdiO' follows agricultural pursuits 
in the same county; Shannon, a carpenter of Butler, Indiana: Franklin, 
deceased: Rosanna, the wife of H. C. Mann, a farmer of DeKalb county; 
.\rilla, the wife of M. .S. Graves, of Concord township: Lewis, who is 
a farmer of l^eKalb county: and William H. 

In the common schools of his native county William H. Shultz 
acquired his preliminary education, which was supplemented by study 
in Waterloo. He taught school for twelve years in DeKalb' and Elk- 
hart counties and also worked at carpentering and farming. Through 
his own etYorts he gained a start in the business world and whatever 
success he has achie\-ed is attriliutable entirely to his own labors. 

In 1887 Mr. .Shultz was united in marriage to Miss Nancy J. Pol- 
lock, a daughter of William and Elizabeth Pollock and a native of Noble 
county. Indian.'i, born in 1861. Her fatlier was a farmer and settled 
in Nol>le county in ])ioneer d;i\s. Mrs. Shultz was a faithful companion 
and heljMiiate to her husl;antl for sixteen years and then departed this 
life in the fall of 190,^ She left four children: Russell, who is now 
a telegraiih operator; Loren. who follows the same pursuit: Nola ; and 
Maynard. 

Mr. Shultz is a member of the Odd l<>llows society and his politi- 
cal allegiance is gi\en lo the Democracy. He served as assistant post- 
master at Middle1iin"y for eiexen years .-md in the fall of 1904 he was' 
elected trustee of Middlehur}- township, o\ercom'ng the normal Repub- 
lican majority of sevent}'-fi\-e and winning the election bv sixty-three 



718 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

votes, a fact which indicates his popularit}-. For the past ten years he 
lias been engaged in the insurance Imsiness, representing lx)th fire and 
life insurance companies. He is well known in Middlebury and is a 
re]:)resentative citizen of his locality. 

MOSES A. I'WRVER. M. D. 

Moses -\. Farver. engaged in the general practice of medicine in 
Middlebury. was born in I.aGrange count}-, Indiana, in 1866, his i)ar- 
ents being Abraham and Harriet (Snyder) Farver, the former a native 
of Holmes county. Ohio, and the latter of Somerset county, Pennsyl- 
\-ania. Both were of German lineage and of Holmes county, Ohio. 
The maternal grandparent died in Pennsylvahia. The Farver family 
was established in the Keystone state when it was still numbered among 
the colonial possessions of Great Britain. Abraham Farver was reared 
to the occupation of farming, which he follo\\ed as a life work. He 
removed from his native state to LaGrange county, Indiana, in iS("i,v 
and there purchased the farm upon which he spent his remaining da>-s. 
his death occurring in December, 1893, when he was sixty-six years 
of age. He had long survived his wife, who dqjarted this life at the 
age of forty-two. He was a memlier of the Dunkard church and at 
one time gave his political allegiance to the Democracy. His wife was 
likewise a mem1>er of an old Pennsylvania family and was one of six 
children. Her religious faith was indicated by her membership in the 
Mennonite church. Unto Abraham and Harriet Farver were born six 
children: Elizabeth, who married William Engle and is living in ]\[id- 
dlebury; Jonathan, a lumber merchant at Shipshewana; William, who 
is in partnership with his brother: Emma, the wife of Cornelius Troyer, 
a farmer living near Shipshewana, LaGrange county. Indiana: Barbara, 
the wife of George Renner. alsfi an agriculturist of LaGrange county : 
and Moses A. 

In the district schools and at LaGrange Moses A. Farver acquired 
his education and for eight vears he engaged in teaching school, but he 
regarded this merely as an initial step to other professional labor, for 
it was his desire to become a member of the medical fraternity and to 
this end he took up the study of medicine in the office and under the 
direction of Dr. Schrock at Shipshewana. Later he attended lectures 
in the medical department of the U'orcester University of Ohio and 
subsecjuently entered die Baltimore Medical College, in September, 1892. 
He was graduated from that institution in March. 1893. and he pur- 
sued ])(ist graduate work in 1897 "' Chicago Polyclinic. He entered 
upon the practice of his ]jrofessi(in in Topeka. LaGrange county, Indi- 
ana, in the spring of 1893. there remaining until October. 1894, when 
he came to INIiddlelutry. where he has since practiced with success. Good 
results ha\'e followed his efforts in the alle\-iation of human suffering 
;ui(l he has kept in touch with the onward inarch of progress made by 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 711) 

the medical fraternity, continually liroadening his miml and promoting 
his efficiency through reading and investigation as well as original 
research. 

In 3887 Dr. Far\er was united in marriage to Miss Elizalieth Hos- 
tettler, a daughter of Samuel J. and Katie (Mehl) Hostettler and a 
native of LaGrange count}-, born in 1868. Her father was a 'farmer 
Ijy occupation and was of German descent. The doctor and his wife 
now ha^■e seven children : Minnieola, Austin, Ah'in DeCosta, \\'illiam 
Hobart, Jennie Edith, Francis Franklin and Thelma. 

Dr. Farver and his wife are prominent socially and she is a mem- 
ber of the Lutheran church, while his membership relations are with 
the Knights of Pythias and the Maccabees. Fie is likewise connected 
with the county, state and American Medical Associations, while his 
political affiliation has been with the Republican party smce 1896. He 
is a young man pos.sessed of the enterprising spirit of the age, and in a 
profession where advancement depends entirel}- upon individual merit 
and capability he has won a position which is notalily successful and 
gratifying. 

\\tllia:\i b. page, m. d. 

Dr. \\'illiam B. Page, engaged in the practice of medicine in Mid- 
dlebury, was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, in 1871. His father, 
Tobias Page, was a native of Snyder county, Pennsylvania, where his 
ancestors located at an early day. His birth occurred in 1841 and in 
early life he learned the butcher's trade, which he followed for man}- 
years. He is now living in Elkhart county at the age of sixty-four years. 
His political support is given to the Republican party and he is a mem- 
ber of the r^Iennonite church. He married Miss Anna Brubaker. who 
was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, in 1840 and is of Cierman 
lineage. She too is a member of the Mennonite church, and they had a 
family of three children, but the eldest and the youngest. Anna and 
Tobias, are both deceased. 

William B. Page acc^uired his early education in the pulilic schools 
of Juniata county and afterward continued his studies in the Northern 
Indiana Normal College at Valparaiso, Indiana. He also took the 
greater ]>art of the teacher's course at Ada (Ohio) Normal School and 
subsequently he entered the Herring Medical College at Chicago, where- 
in he pursued a three years' course in medicine and surgery, being gradu- 
ated with the class of 1896. He afterward took post graduate work in 
Chicago Homoeopathic College and entered upon practice in Middlebury 
in tlie fall of 1896. Here he was quite successful in practice until the 
spring of 1899. when he went to India as a medical missionary, spend- 
ing two years in that country. Vt the end of that time he became 
ill with cholera and because of his invalid condition returned to his 
native land. He then traveled for a year in the United States, after 
which he assumed practice in Middlebur}-. where he has since remained 



720 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

and a lil>eral patronage is now accorded him. the consensus <if opini(in 
regarding his skill and ability being very favorable. 

In 1896 occurred the marriage of Dr. Page and Miss Alice Thut. 
a daughter of Peter and Mary (Steiner) Thut and a native of Hancock 
county, Ohio, liorn in 1S70. Her father is a farmer and comes of Swiss 
ance.str\-. Dr. and Mrs. Page had four children, hut lost the first three, 
Mary, William and Treva. Their surviving son, Ralph, was born Feb- 
ruary 5. 1903. 

Dr. and Mrs. Page are devoted members of the Mennonite church, 
and in politics he is a Republican. His professional relations connect 
him with the Elkhart County Medical Society, with the Northern Indi- 
ana and Southern Michigan Homtropathic Association and the Ameri- 
can Institute of Homoeopathy. He is always interested in e\-erything 
that tends to bring to man the key to that complex mystery which we 
call life, and it is well that he has a zealous attachment for his profes- 
sion, because it makes continuous demands upon his time and energies, 
lea\'ing him little leisure. 

\\'. W. SHO\\'ALTER. 

W. W. Showalter. who is engaged in general farming and the 
r;iising of sheep, is a nati\'e of I.aGrange county, Indiana, where be was 
born March 8, 1856. His father, John B. Showalter, was a native of 
Rockingham county, Virginia, and v>'as the third in order of birth in a 
family of ten children. One of bis lirothers came to Aliddlebury, Elk- 
hart county, where he died in the year 1903. The Showalter family is 
of Cierman lineage and early in the eighteenth century was founded 
in .\merica by representatives of the name who emigrated from 
the fatherland to Pennsylvania. In later generations the fam- 
ilv went to Virginia and it was in the old dominion that John B. 
Showalter was born and reared. He became a farmer and in 1855 
removed westward to Indiana, settling in Eden township, LaCrange 
countv. Later be took up his abode in York township, Elkhart county, 
\\here he sjjcnt bis remaining days. His entire life was devoted to the 
tilling (if the soil, managing bis farming interests with ability and skill 
so that reasonable prosperity resulted. His p<Viitical views upheld the 
principles of Democracy and he was a loyal member of the Lutheran 
church. He married Miss Frances Hedrick, also a native of Rocking- 
ham count\-, Virgnia, where her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hedrick. 
both died. Her father was a miller and was of Holland descent, the 
family having been established, however, in Virginia at an early period 
in its' colonization. Mrs. Showalter was the eldest in a family of seva: 
ch.ildren and through many years she has been a de\dted member of the 
Lutheran church. She still resides in Millersburg, Indiana, at the age 
of seventy-five vears, having for about seventeen years been a widow, 
for the death of lohn B. Showalter occurred in 1888, when he was 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 7-21 

lifty-nine _\tars <>{ age. This wcirtlix- cmiiile were the parents of five 
cliildren : Annie E., the wicknv of Samuel Stroup of Millersl>urg-; Ella 
v., wh(j is lixing in that place: W. W. of this review; Fanny, the wife 
oi Charles Barry, a merchant of Belle Plains, Kansas: and iMa^•, de- 
ceased. 

W. W. Sliowalter was a student in the common schools of Eden 
township, LaCrange county, but his educational privileges were meagre 
and it has been through practical experience that his knowledge has been 
largely acquired. He was reared to the occupation of farming, which 
has always claimed his attention and he is now living on section thirty- 
three, JefYerson township, where he owns and operates eighty-four acres 
of land. He has lived in Eden and Van Buren townships in LaGrange 
county, and in York, Clinton and Jefiferson townships in Elkhart county. 
He removed from Clinton to Jefferson townshi]) in 1900, taking up his 
alwde on the Abner Blue farm which he had jiurchased. Here he is 
carrying on general agricultural pursuits and is also feeding sheep, 
which is an important branch of his business. 

In 1883 Mr. Showalter was married to Miss Ellen Schmidt, who 
was born in Nattaway, Michigan, in 1862, her parents l>eing George 
and Mar}' ( Steininger) Schmidt. Her father is a farmer and now 
resides near White Pigeon, Michigan. Unto him and his wife were 
born five children, namely: Ellen C. ; Jennie: Ada, the wife of Henrv 
Schmidt: Hattie, who became the wife of Bert Swartz and is deceased: 
and Fred. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Showalter were born four children: 
Maude, whose birth occurred in Van Buren township, LaGrange countv, 
in 1884: Ralph, born in York township, Elkhart county in 1890: Tohn, 
born in Clinton township in 1899: and Clifford, born in Jefferson town- 
ship in 1903. The mother is a member of the Reformed church. Mr. 
Showalter is prominent locally in Democratic circles and in the fall of 
1904 was elected to the office of townshi]) trustee, which ])osition he is 



filli 



CHARLIE W. b:LLIOTT 



Chnrlie W. Elliott, postmaster of Middlebury and a stock dealer 
of Elkhart county, was born in Clinton township, this county, Februarv 
23, i86j. He is a son of Daniel and Cynthia (Larimer) Elliott. His 
father. Daniel Elliott, was born in Stark county, Ohio, and was one of 
ten children. His father. Thomas Elliott, was of English lineage. Dan- 
iel Elliott came to Indiana at an early period in the development of this 
state.' His j^arents had traveled overland by wagon, had visited Chi- 
cago and Iowa and eventualh- settled in Clinton township, Elkhart 
county. Indiana. There Daniel Elliott made his home until 1865, when 
be removed to Middlebury townshii; and purchased land on section ten, 
living ujKin that place until 1884, when he took up his abode in the town 
of Mi(ldle1)ur\-, where on the ist of January, 1885, '^^ established the 
Exchange 'iank. the first in.stitution of that character in Middleburv. 



722 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

The first dr;ift was issued to J. F. Cooper. He then conducted tlie hank 
successfuHy up to the time of his death, when it went into possession 
of Jonathan S. Mather, the executor of liis estate and it is now owned 
l)y the latter's son, Joseph D. Mather. After Daniel Elhott purchased 
a farm in ^Nliddlebury he also sold farm machinery and disposed of the 
hrst car load of Walter A. Wood binders ever sold in this county. He 
likewise engaged in the hardware business in Middlebury, conducting 
his store uritil 1872. when he sold out to the firm of Foster & Blough, 
while eventually the store passed into possession of the firm of Wise & 
\'arns. Mr. Elliott was a man of marked business enterprise, keen 
discernment and sagacity and accumulating a handsome property he 
left his family in very comfortable circumstances. He died July 22, 
J 896, in the sixty-third year of his age. He was a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, served as one of its officers and took a help- 
ful part in its work. He was also a strong Republican arid a man firm 
in support of his convictions. He did much to promote the commercial 
prosperity of Middlebury and his own business record was characterized 
by untiring activity and honorable principles leading to success. He 
married Cynthia Larimer who died in October, 1894. in her fifty-eighth 
vear. Her father, Moses Larimer, came to Indiana in an early day, 
settling in Clinton township, where he followed the occupation of farm- 
ing. He was of English lineage. 

Charles W. Elliott pursued bis education in the schools of Middle- 
bury and afterward gave supervision to his father's farm until twenty- 
foiu- years of age, wdien he entered bis father's bank, remaining there 
imtil the death of Daniel Elliott. On the ist of July, 1897, be was 
appointed postmaster of Middlebury and has since discharged the duties 
of the ofifice most acceptalily to his constituency and the general public. 
Li addition be is also engaged in dealing in horses and making ship- 
ments. He has likewise dealt in land and as a trader has become well 
known, manifesting in bis business enterprises keen sagacity and sound 
judgment. He is rarely mistaken in the value of any purchase which 
he makes and his sales have brought to him an excellent return. 

On the 14th of October. 1885, Mr. Elliott was married to Miss 
Mary M. Gary, a daughter of Victor and Barbara Gary. She was born 
on what is known as the Haw Patch in Noble county, Indiana, Janu- 
arv 13, 1865, her father having taken up his abode in this state when 
the work of improvement and progress had scarcely been begun. He 
followed the occupation of farming and upon the homestead farm which 
he developed reared his family of nine children. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott 
have become the jiarents of five children. Dick W., the eldest, born 
October 29, 1886, spent three years as freight clerk with the Michigan 
Central Railroad at Battle Creek and is now in the superintendent's 
office of the same road at Chicago. Rtitb, born February 21, 1888, is a 
graduate of the high school at Middlebury and is quite accomplished as 
a pianist. Helen, born March 24, 1892; Daniel Otis, born July 29, 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COL'XTY 723 

1S94. and AIcKinley. Ijorn Septemljer 20, 1901, are the younger mem- 
bers of the family. The parents are devoted adherents of the jNIethodist 
Episcopal church and Mr. Elliott's name is on the membership rolls of 
the Knights of P}thias lodge of Aliddlebuiy. He is a stanch and ardent 
Republican and for two terms has served as village clerk and now he 
is capably discharging the duties of .postmaster. In whatever relation 
of life we find him he is true to the trust reposed in him and he has a 
wide and favorable acquaintance in the county where he has always 
lived. 

vJEORCiE \V. BEMENDEREER. 

George W. Bemenderfer. an agriculturist also engaged in the manu- 
facture of brick in Jefferson township, was born August 11, i<S65, alxxit 
a mile and a half north of Goshen, in the township where he yet makes 
his home. His parents were Henry and Rebecca Bemenderfer. The 
father was born in I^udoun county, Virginia, August 18, 1824. and 
was a son of Peter and Susan Bemenderfer, who were nati\'es of Penn- 
sylvania, and in 1S13 removed to Virginia, where they lived until 1828. 
In that year they went to Stark county, Ohio, where they remained for 
ten years and on the expiration of that period they took u,p their abode 
in Carroll county, Ohio, where their remaining days were passed. Henry 
Bemenderfer, having arrived at years of maturity, was married to Re- 
becca E. Prince, the wedding being celebrated in Elkhart county, Sep- 
tember 2^, 1851. The lady is a native of Stark county, Ohio. In early 
manhood Henry Bemenderfer learned the carpenter's trade, which he 
followed for twenty-eight years, after which he devoted his time and 
energies to farming and the manufacture of brick, thus becoming closely 
connected with industrial interests of the county. He owned two hun- 
dred and fifty acres of land on section thirty-four, Jefferson toAvnship, 
and was prosperous in his business affairs. He held the office of town- 
ship trustee of Jefferson tov.nship for ten years and his interest in the 
public welfare was deep and sincere, being manifest in active effort for 
the general good. He died in 1904 and the county thus lost one of its 
representative and honored pioneer settlers. Unto him and his wife 
were born ten children: John P., Mary E., Charles H., George W., 
Cora E., Hattie \[.. Burtridge, Allen R., Malinda S.. and Emma, 
deceased. 

George W. Bemenderfer. whose name introduces this review, was 
a student in the country schools and afterward completed a commercial 
ccnirse in the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso. He was 
reared to farm life and when he put aside his text-books he returned 
to his home and took charge of his father's brick yard, which he oper- 
ated under his father's direction until his death and since that time he 
has been manager of the concern. He also manages the fami of two 
hundred acres and he has an average of twelve men in his employ 
thrnughout the entire vear. His business interests have grown deep 



72-t HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

in vtjlunie and ini]KJrtance and in ihe ciintrid nt liis affairs he has chs- 
l)Ia\"e(l excellent executi\e force and keen sagacit}-. 

Air. Bemenderfer was married in 1892 to Miss Magdalene Seibert, 
a native of Bristol. Indiana, born in 1871. Her father, Charles Seibert, 
is a carpenter and contractor and in his famil}- are five children: Charles, 
formerly a school teacher, who is engaged in the telephone supply busi- 
ness at T-'lkbart ; Emma, the wife of Ricliard Lake, a representative 
farmer t;f Jeft'erson township; Ai;igd,alene : Bertha: antl John, who is 
with Mr. Bemenderfer. L'nto our suliject ;ind his wife have been born 
six children : Elizabeth. Helen, Henry, Dart, Katbline and Alice. Mr. 
Bemenderfer is a memlier of the Lutheran church, while his wife be- 
longs to the Episcopal clnu'ch. He is a member of the Modern A\'ood- 
meu camp No. 4075. at Goshen, and is a Democrat, who is now serving 
on the town, board of super\'isors. He keeps well informed on the 
c|uestions and issues of the day and in local political circles is well 
kni'wn. His chief attention, however, is given to bis business afifairs 
ruid he niakes his home cin section thirty-four, Jefferson township, where 
he has two hundred acres of \'aluable land that he has placed under a 
high state of cultivation. In all of bis work he is eminently practical 
and he has ser\-ed faithfully in the upbuilding of ])ublic interests in the 
enterprising west. 

CHARLES L. LAMB. 

Among the jirominent business men (jf Elkhart county who have 
.attained success and are counted among the most worthy and honored 
citizens may he mentioned Charles L. Lamli. the president and man- 
ager (jf the (joshen Novelty & Brush Comjjany. He was born in this 
county on the 21st of January. 1S66. a son of David W. and Ann 
(Zelley) Lamb. The father, who was a nati\'e of Pennsylvania, came 
to Elkhart county in an early day. and his name is indelibly traced on 
the pages of its history from an early ejjoch. He is a mechanic In" 
trade, and for fifteen years was engaged in the furniture and undertak- 
ing business, but now, in the evening of a long, useful and honorable 
career, he is enjoying a well earned rest, relieved of the btuxlens and 
responsibilities of Ixisiness life. His \vife jiassed away in 1888, after 
liecoming the mother of tweUc children, eight of whom grew to years 
of maturity. 

Charles L. Lamb, the elexentb child in order of birth in bis i)arents' 
familv, was reared and received his educational training in Goshen, 
rmd after kning aside bis text-books ti! eng.age in the active battle of 
life be became an employe of the Hawks burniture Company, being at 
that tin.ie I'.ut sixteen years of age, and remaining with the company 
for six years, his last work having been in charge of the brush em]:)loyes 
on the second floor. His next employment was with the Lattia Lamb 
Company, nitb whom he remained four years as a designer and assis- 
tant foreman. In 1897 Mr. Lamb entered into business relations for 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTV 725 

himself, as a niamitacluier at furniture, and in the following year. 1898. 
formed a stock compan)-. consisting of (jeorge R. McMasters and Wood- 
son V. Messick, to which was given the name of the Goshen Xovelty 
& Brush Company. Tlie business was started in a very small mom. 
twenty by thirty feet, and employment was given to two men. but such 
has been the almost phenomenal growth, of this industry that at the ])res- 
ent time from forty to fifty workmen find constant employment in their 
works, and their capital stock has been increased to about twenty-four 
thousand dollars. The company now consists of the follotwing well 
known business men: Charles L. Lamb, president and manager: H. 
F. Cosbey. \ ice-president : \V. T. Pittenger. secretary : and George R. 
McMasters. treasurer. Upon the ladder of his own building Mr. Lamb 
has climbed to the prosperity which he now enjoys, for he entered the 
l>usiness world without a dollar and in delit, but his resolution and 
capability enabled him to overcome the obstacles in his path, and now 
no name stands more ]>roperly ])laced in the business circles of Goshen 
than his. 

Li 1883 Mr. Lamb was united in marriage to Emma May Cvil- 
bertson. and two chiklren have been born to them: Helen L. and Wilma 
M. In political matters he exercises bis right of franchise in support 
of the men and measures of the Republican party, and has taken an active 
interest in public affairs. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of 
America and of the Methodist Episcopal church. Wherever known 
he is held in high regard, and in Elkhart county, where his entire life 
has been passed, he lias a host of warm friends. 

charlf:s f. wyland. . 

Charles F. Wyland, owning and operating two hundred and thirty- 
five acres of land in Jefferson township, is one of the representative agri- 
culturists of his community. He was born in Harrison tOAvnship, this 
county, March 21, 1867. His father, John Wyland, was a native of 
Preble county, Ohio. an<l was one of a family of nine children, the 
others being Kate. Irene. Lizzie. Susan, Margaret, Jane. Moses and 
George. John Wyland learned the carpenter's trade in early life and 
has followed that pursuit to a greater or less extent while carrying on 
general agricultural intere-^ts. He is now living in Milford. Kosciusko 
county, Indiana. He married Miss Mary .\nn Whitehead, who was 
one of ten children, the others being John. Valentine. Louis, Jacob. Kate, 
Jane, Hester. Ellen and Lydia. deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Wyland l>e- 
came the parents of a son and daughter. The latter. Lulu Wyland. was 
married to John McDowell, .'ind after his death she became the wife of 
Jacob Hazel. 

Charles I". Wvland was reared to the occupation of f.arming and 
was educated in the public schools. Ha\ing arrived at )ears of matur- 
itv he was married in 1889 to Miss Emma .\rdilla Rodibaugh. the 



726 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

niiiili cl-,ilcl oi David Rodibaugh. Her father, who was born in Mont- 
gonier}- county. Ohio, in 1819, died in 1898, when ahnost eighty years 
of age. He was of German descent and was educated in the common 
schools of Ohio, He came to Elkliart county in 183 1 with his parents. 
David and Siloam Rodibaugh, who were natives of Pennsyh-ania. I\Ir. 
Rodibaugh was reared to farm life amid pioueer surroundings and he 
became a very prosperous business man, accumulating nine hundred acres 
of land. He also owned a flouring mill in Jackson township and in 
partnership with Edward Clark was the owner of a woolen mill near 
Go.shen. He was likewise proprietor of a saw mill and he had other 
property. He was a very wealthy man, accumulating his fortune entirely 
through his OAvn well directed effort and judicious investment. His 
path was not strewn wdth the wrecks of other men's fortunes, for he 
was never known to take advantage of the necessities of his fellow 
men in any business transaction. Straightforward and honorable in 
all his dealings, he lived peaceably with his friends and neighbors and 
was a man universally esteemed and honored. As a pioneer settler he 
remembered when the deer and wolves were numerous, when Indians 
still visited the neighljorhood and when the work of improvement and 
progress seemed scarcely begun. He watched the development of Jef- 
ferson township from a wilderness into productive fields, containing 
within its borders some of the finest farms of this portion of the state. 
David Rodibaugh was twice married, Miss Martha Shaw becoming his 
wife in 1842. She was born June 26, 1823, and died June 16, 1852. 
They were the parents of four children, but the first born died in in- 
fancy, while Albert W. has also passed away and Elmira died in 1872. 
The only living representative of that generation is Lorenzo, who is 
now engaged in the lumber business at Cape Girardeau, Missouri. For 
his second wife David Rodibaugh chose Rebecca Baringer, who died 
in 1900 at the age of seventy-one years. Her father, David Baringer, 
came to Indiana at an early day, settling in Jackson township, Elkhart 
county. He married Susanna Ritz and they became the parents of 
sixteen children. By his last marriage David Rodibaugh has nine chil- 
dren : David D.. who was born in Goshen April 11, 1856: S. Dayton, 
born November 3, 1857, and now deceased: .Xndre-w Jackson, born May 
29, 1859; Rebecca J., who was born May 20. i860, and is the wife of 
Ira Miller of Baintertown, Indiana ; Lucinda, the wife of Jacob Wyland. 
Jackson township : Susannah, who was born April 20, 1865, and is now 
deceased; Oliver P. Morton, who was torn October 13, 1863, and has 
passed away; Lovina, who w^as born December 31, 1866. and is the 
wife of Albert Brothers, of Elkhart Prairie : and Emma Ardilla. who 
was born March 8. 1868, and is now the wife of Qiarles F. Wyland. 

UntO' Mr. and Mrs. Wyland has lieen lx)rn one son. Ralph, whose 
birth occurred in .\ugust, 1890. Mr. Wyland votes with the Repub- 
lican party but has never sought or desired office, preferring to give 
his undivided attention to his Imsiness affairs. He now owns two bun- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 7-J7 

(Ireil an;I thirt_\-fi\-e acres nf land on section twenty-six, Jet^'erson town- 
shii) ami in the operation and control of his agricnltural interests is 
meeting witli signal success. 

WILLIAM E. GRINER. 

\\^illiam E. Griner, a member of the finn of Griner Brothers, deal- 
ers in lumber, coal, salt, cement and general building materials in Alid- 
dlebury, is a native of Middlebury township, born February 6. 1864. 
He comes of German lineage. His father, Simon Griner, was horn in 
W'ayne county, Ohio, in 1843, and is now living in Middlebury. In 
1853 he arrived in Indiana in company with his father, Philliii Ciriner. 
his mother having died during his infancy. Phillip Griner purchased 
land on section twenty-seven, Middlebury township, and there carried 
on agricultural pursuits up to the time of his death. Simon Griner 
was reared to the occupation of farnu'ng and devoted his entire busi- 
ness life to that vocation, but in 1901 retired from active business cares 
and is now living in ]Middlebury in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. 
He is a member of the Lutheran church and he exercises his right of 
franchise in support of the men and mea.sures of the Democracv. He 
married Miss Adeline Wert, who was born in Ohioi in 1844 «i"'l '"^ ^ 
daughter of John Wert,, who was likewise a native of that state and 
was of Gemian descent. He came tO' Indiana in the "50s. locating in 
Middlebury township, and here he followed the blacksmith's trade. It 
was upon her father's farm here that Mrs. Griner was reared, spending 
her days under the parental roof up to the time of her marriage. She 
is a member of the Lutheran church and a most estimable lady. By 
her marriage she became the mother of five children: \\'illiam E. : 
John, who is in partnership with his brother, Valentine, wlio is em- 
ployed by the firm of Griner Brothers : Oscar, a merchant of Middle- 
bury; and Frank, who previously followed farming and is now living 
in Middlebury. 

William E. Griner attended the district schools in his earlv \-outh 
and afterward pursued normal courses in Elkhart and Goshen. He 
taught for three terms and then entered mercantile life as a salesman 
for the firm of Stutz & Son. with whoin he remained for five years. In 
1893 he embarked in the lumber business with his father, under the 
firm style of S. Griner & Son, but in 1895 the senior partner withdrew 
and was succeeded by John Griner, the present firm of Griner Brothers 
being then organized. They handle lumber, coal, salt, cement and gen- 
eral building materials and have secured a liberal patronage by reason 
of business methods which neither seek nor require disguise. 

In 1885 Mr. Griner was united in marriage to Miss Frances Bed- 
ford, a daughter of Henry and Mary Bedford and a native of Washing- 
ton township, born in 1864. Her father was a farmer by occupation 
and was of English birth. He came from Pennsvlvania to Indiana 



728 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXT^" 

witli his parents in his linyhimd (lay,-> and was nne of the early residents 
of this state. ]\Ir. and Mrs. (Iriner ha\e becDme the parents of a 
daug'liter and two snns : Aiyrtie. Otis and Harley. Airs. Griner is a 
member of the Lutheran churcli. In his pohtical affihations Mr. Griner 
is a Democrat and lias ser\e(l as president of the town board for two 
years, wliile for more than four years he was trustee of the township. 
Jol;n Griner married Effie Shutt. a daughter of John Shutt, and 
Ihcy arc also members of the Lutlieran cliurch. He likewise belongs to 
the Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Good Samaritan lodge and 
in his political views is a Democrat. The brothers are enterprising 
business men, prominent and w idely known in the enterprising town of 
Midcllebury. Their ]5opularity is well deserved, for they displav the 
characteristics of unbending integrity, unabating industry and energy 
that never flags. Moreover they are ]mblic spirited and thoroughly inter- 
ested in wliatexer tends to^ promote the moral, intellectual and material 
welfare of Middlebur\'. 

H.VRVEY ^^■ K.\NTZ. 

Harvey W. Kantz. of Bristol, is dexoting bis attention to a pro- 
fession wherein influence or financial assistance avails little or naught 
liut where advancement must be secured through individual merit, close 
application, a thorough understanding of the principles of jurisprudence 
and correctness in their application t(^ the points in litigation. Well 
e(|uippcd in these necessary qualifications for the practice of law. Har- 
\c\' \\ . Kantz has gained for himself a ])roniinent place as a member 
of the bar of Elkhart count}-. Moreover he is very popular in bis home 
district, as shown by the fact that when elected township trustee, which 
oftice he is now filling, he ])olled the largest vote ever recei\'ed b}' any 
candidate for the ]X)sition. 

Mr. Kantz is a nati\"e of Snvder county, Pennsyh'ania, born on 
the 31st of October. 1863. His father, Samuel B. Kantz, was likewise 
a natis'e of Pennsylvania and vias of German lineage. The great-great- 
grandfather was John Kantz. a soldier in the colonial army, fighting 
for the ind.ependence of the nation. Samuel Kantz de\-oted his life to 
agricultural pursuits and passed away in the place of bis nativity on the 
fst of May, 1872. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah Wetzel 
and was a native of Pennsylvania. Her grandfather, Henry Wetzel, 
was a nejihew of Lewis W'etzel, a famous Indian fighter, trapper and 
huntsman, who was a comi)anion of Daniel Boone in his explorations 
and discoveries in Kentucky and the west. Mrs. Kantz still survives 
her hustend and is now living in Freeburg, Pennsyhania. By her mar- 
riage she became the mother of eight children, six of whom are yet 
living. 

Harvev \A'. Kantz. the fourth in order of birth, was reared in his 
native county- and pursued his education in the schools there. l>eing 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 7-29 

graduated with honors from Freeburg Acadeni}- in the fall of iSiSi. 
He hail determined to seek a home and business opportunities in the 
western country and after his graduation he completed his arrangements 
to leave Pennsylvania and in the fall of the same year took up his alxwle 
in Dau\ille, Indiana. After attending the Indiana Normal School for 
a short time he rennn-ed to Bristol and the following spring he went 
to Valparaiso, Indiana, where he attended school for one year, thus 
becoming better equipped for life's practical and responsible duties. On 
the expiration of that periofl he returned to Bristol, where he taught 
school for three terms and in the meantime also continued his studies in 
the Indiana State University at Bloomington. In 1886 he went to Flor- 
ida, locating at Bartow, where he was engaged in teaching school, and 
when he had spent two years in the sunny south he returned to Bristol, 
whence he afterward went to Goshen, Indiana, where he became a law 
student in the office and under the direction of the firm of Wilson and 
David, well known attorneys. Having mastered the principles of juris- 
prudence he successfully passed an examination that admitted him to 
the bar and he subsequently located in Bristol, where he has since been 
engaged in successful practice, gradually building up a business that is 
noAv of a very extensive and im])ortant character. Following his return 
to this place he again engaged in teaching for two terms but his entire 
time and attention are now given to his professional ser\-ices and his 
devotion to his clients" interests is proverbial. He has been very suc- 
cessful in his practice and has achieved prominence and distinction as 
a member of the bar. He throws himself easily and naturally into the 
argument with a self-possession and deliberation that indicates no strain- 
ing after effect. There is. however, a precision and clearness in his 
statements and acuteness and, strength in his argument which s])eaks 
a mind trained in the severest school of investigatif.m and tn which 
close reasoning has become haliitual an<l easy, 

Mr. Kantz is not onJy well known professionally but has also fig- 
ured ]ironfinently in political circles in his community. He was electe<l 
township trustee in 1890 and re-elected in the fall of 1904, so that he is 
now serving in that ca]iacit_\'. He has also been city treasurer and in 
1893 he was appointed and served as postmaster, filling the office dur- 
ing President Cleveland's second administration. On the occasion of 
his second election as townshi]:) trustee he ])<)lled the largest vote ever 
given to any candidate for that position, <i\erciiming a Republican ma- 
jority and winning the election by a majority of one hunclred and six. 
while in the same tO'wnshii) Roose\'elt recei\ed a majorit\' of one hun- 
dred. This is a fact of which Mr. Kantz has c\-ery reason to be i}roud 
and it indicates in unmistakable manner his personal popularit\- and the 
confidence and trust reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. 

On the 5th of March. 1884, Mr. Kantz was united in marriage to 
Miss Laura B. Mitchell. The\- have one child. Ruth \'. Fraternallv 
he is connected with the In<lependcnt Order of Odd l~ello\\s and the 



730 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Knights of Pythias. His rehgioiis faith connects him with the German 
Reformed church, while his wife is a member of the United Brethren 
church. They enjoy the hospitahty of the best homes of Bristol and 
are well Icnown in social circles here, while in business and professional 
circles Air. Kantz occupies an enviable position. He is a gentleman 
of genial manner and unfailing courtesy, who has gained personal popu- 
larity and at the same time has won the admiration of his fellow men 
by wdiat he has ticcomplished in the business world. He is largely self 
educated and self made and his inherent strength of character and the 
de\'elopment <if his latent talents have made him a man of ab.ilitv. wlmse 
efforts are crnwned with success. 

MICHAEL AHTCHEL. 

]\lichael Mitchel was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, October 
30. 1820, and was there reared by his parents until he reached manliood, 
when he turned his face westward to the then new and undeveloped valley 
iif the Mississippi. Going first by wagon to Illinois w^ith an uncle, he 
then \isited parts of Iowa, from thence walking nearly all the way back 
to his birthplace, passing through the northern part of Elkhart county, 
Indiana. Again turning westward, he went to Stephenson county, Illi- 
nois; again passing through the St. Joe River valley, but not being satis- 
fied with Illinois he started to return to his native state, but when he 
reached Elkhart, then a very small village, and meeting old Doctor 
Beardslcy, the founder of this village, who advised him to locate in this 
county, lie selected a farm four miles east of the village on the south 
bank of the beautiful St. Joe river, known as the Mitchel homestead. 

On the 1 6th of March, 1848, he was married to Elizabeth Ann Mid- 
dlcton, whose birth occurred February 9, 1826, in Franklin county, Ohio, 
ii\-e miles north of Columbus. She is the daughter of John and Eliza- 
lieth (Downing) Middleton. who were pioneers of Franklin county. 
Ohio. Mrs. ;\Iitchel was only four years old when brought to Elkhart 
count\' by her parents in 1830, at which time the family home was estab- 
lished on the east edge of " Two Mile Plain," east of the now city of 
Elkhart, which at that time was an unbroken wilderness and the haunts 
of the red men. Mrs. Mitchel enjoys the distinction of being one of the 
few pioneers who are left to tell of the early trials of settling and making 
out of Elkhart count)- the third in rank and first in many things in the 
great state of Indiana. Her early home was the first to be established 
in the north part of the county, and was the scene of many pioneer inci- 
dents, such as Indian gatherings, at which times the good mother of the 
little family would dread for fear of some harm to the father or children: 
also the headquarters for prospecting and home-seeking parties: of the 
religious meetings in the days of the circuit rider that would last for 
weeks, when the scattered settlers would gather from twenty to thirty 
miles to pay homage to their Creator: and many incidents during the 




c/^/Ua^. S^^Ja^<::A^yUJ^Aj. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY T31 

Black HaA\k war and subsequent remo\ement of the Pottawottomie 
Indians from the county and northern Indiana and southern Michigan. 
Mrs. Mitchel has now hved in Concord township for seventy-six years, 
is in good lieahh and in possession of ah her faculties, is widely and 
favorabl}- known, and has the esteem and good will of all with whom, 
she has been associated. By this marriage were reared to man and 
womanhood four children, all still living: Sarali E., widow of John 
Hass of Clarion, Charlevoix county, Michigan; Rhoda A., wife of 
Edmond Eby, of Concord township, Elkhart county, Indiana ; William 
M., who occupies the old Mitchel homestead; Eudora V., wife of Francis 
R. Eight; and another, John C. F., who died at the age of seven years. 

Mr. and Mrs. Mitchel after their marriage set about clearing and 
making a home on the land acquired by purchase, and Ijuilt them a small 
house near the mouth of Pine creek, where they continued to live and 
prosper until 1856. They built what was at that time the largest dwell- 
ing Iiouse and barn in the north end of Elkhart county, located on the 
south bank of the beautiful St. Joe river in section 36, Concord town- 
ship. There they continued to live and enjoy the fruits of honest toil, 
tilling the soil and rearing the domestic animals best adapted to the 
successful operation of a first class grain and stock farm. Here in the 
shadow of the oaily natural growing pine in Elkhart county Mr. and 
]Mrs. Mitchel lived and reared their family, saw the eldest daughters 
married and listened to the prattle of their grandchildren. 

;\Ir. Mitchel was a Whig and later affiliated with the l-iepublican 
party, oi which he was a staunch supporter of its foimders and princi- 
ples, especially of its protection to American industries. He never 
aspired to any public office, nor would he accept any, much preferring 
the quiet of his home to the bustle of public life. He accumulated con- 
siderable land and, property, owning at his death nearh' four hundred 
acres of the l)est and most desirable land in Concord township, which 
was well improved and in a high state of cultivation. He enjoyed the 
good will and esteem of all with whom he came in contact, and by his 
reputation for truth and honesty in all business transactions won for 
himself and famil}- a place among the first families of the community 
in which he li\'ed. He became a member of the Methodist church in 
early life and always remained a firm believer in its teachings. 

Mr. Mitchel died September 10, 1890. in his seventieth year, after 
a long illness of Bright's disease. His remains were followed to his 
last resting place by his entire famdy and hundreds of neighbors, friends 
and promment people of the community. His remains were laid to 
rest in the family lot in the Rowe cemetery, wdiich he assisted to found 
and maintain. His grave is marked by a very substantial monument 
erected by his son William and bearing , this inscription : 

" Dear father is gone, his trials all are o'er, his 
Triunips ha\e begun." 



732 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

\\ILL1A?^I M. MITCHEL. 

William IM. ^Fitchel was liorn Jul}- 22. 1867. in CDiicnrd township, 
Elkhart county, Indiana. His was the fourth birth and onl\' son to 
grow to manhood born to Michael and Elizabeth A. ( Middleton ) 
Mitchel, who were among the pioneer settlers of the township, and 
whose grandparents on the mother's side were the first white family 
to .settle in what is now Concord township, coming to the county in 
1829 and making a home on the east edge of what is known as " Two 
Mile Plain," just east of the now industrious city of Elkhart and within 
one mile of the birthplace of the above descendant. Mr. Mitchel w^as 
reared on the farm of his father and attended the pu)>lic schools of his 
township until in 1885 and '86 he took a course in the Northern Indiana 
Normal School at Valparaiso, Indiana, completing the business coin"se 
widi credit to the institution and himself. Throughout his entire life 
he iias carried on general agricultural ])ursuits, yet fincHng some time 
to ('.evote to other business. He is the owner of the original Mitchel 
homestead of one hundred twenty-four acres, and has added to it until 
he is the possessor of two hundred fifteen acres of rich and aral>le land 
along the beautiful St. joe ri\-er, and which he keeps under his direct 
.supervision. Here can be found all of the latest up-todate machinery 
and tools for carrying on general fanning, stock raising and dairying. 
Mr Mitchel is one of the incorporators and promoters of the Bristol 
Creamerv and Manufacturing Company of Bristol, Indiana, and owns 
considerable stock. He is also an active worker and co-operator in the 
work of Purdue University, also of the State Agricultural Experiment 
Station and the E'khart County Farmers' Union, under whose direction 
the Annual Farmers" Institute is held, having been its secretary for two 
vears and a member of its important committees since its organization. 
He lias always been active in any enterprise that will enhance the growth 
and value of the resources of the St. Joseph valley. Besides his farm 
he has i)ro])crtv interest in Elkhart and also in the oil fields of central 
Indiana. 

On the 7th of June, 1893, INlr. Mitchel was wedded to Miss Myrtle 
V. Stutsman, a daughter of Edward C. and Elizabeth (Mitchell) Stuts- 
man and a nati\-e of Jefferson toiwnship. Elkhart county, born August 
15, 1873. She is the eldest of three daughters and pursued her educa- 
tion in the public schools of the count\-. There are three children Us- 
ing of tliis marriage: Nellie May, Imrn .Xiiril 17, 1894: Beulah E., born 
lulv 9, 1898; and Mice I.. I^orn March 15. 1903. The daughter I'lossie 
died No\eniher 18. i89ri. at the age of four da\s. .Mr. Mitchel was 
reared in the faith of the Republican party and has .seen no reason t<> 
transfer his allegiance to other political organizations where n;itional 
issues are inxolved. but at local elections he votes independently, and in 
1806 was a candidate for county treasurer on the independent ticket. 
His long residence in Concord township and his activity in agricultural 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 733 

circles have made him well known throngh northern Indiana and south- 
ern Michigan, while the sterling traits of his character have been such 
as have gained for him uniform confidence and trust, making him a 
citizen well worthy of representation in this volume. 

JOSEPH HASTINGS CAINON. 

Joseph Hastings Cainon, one of the oldest engineers, in point of 
service, connected with the Lake Shore Railroad, for many years a 
well known and prominent citizen of Elkhart, was horn in Richland 
county, Ohio, on a-farm near Mansfield, June i, 1848. His ])arents, 
John and Catherine (Bairns) Cainon, were Ijorn in Ireland and were 
brought to this country- when children. The father was a soldier in the 
Sixty-fourth Ohio, in Sherman's brigade. 

Mr. Cainon. like all the rest of his parents" children, was reared 
on the homestead farm in Richland county, Ohio, but practically all 
his adult life has been devoted to railroading. He was nineteen years 
old when he left home in 1867 and went to Toledo, where he began 
his railroad career as a fireman on the Lake Shore. In 1869 his ability 
and diligence had won him promotion tO' yard engineer, and in 1871 
he became a resident of Elkhart and has since been one of the trusted 
and capable engineers of the great Lake Shore road. Tliere are very 
few- men who can point to a longer or better record than that of Mr. 
Cainon. It is with such men that the lives of thousands are entrusted 
every day, and in view of this there are few positions of greater trust 
and therefore of greater honor than that occupied by the railroad engin- 
eer. Mr. Cainon is a charter member of the Brotherhood of Locomo- 
tive Engineers, and has been acti\'e in the same for many years. 

In politics Mr. Cainon is a Republican, and in November. 1902. 
was elected county commissioner of Elkhart county, an election which 
indicates the esteem in which he is held throughout his part of the 
county. Eraternally he is a Knight Templar Mason, and he has long 
been one of the influential members of the Eirst Congregational church 
of Elkhart, at this writing lieing president of the Iioard of trustees. 

Mr. Cainon married, in Elkhart. Miss Theodosia Menges, whose 
father. George ]\Ienges, is a prosperous and well known farmer of this 
county. They have one son. Cutler J., who is in school. 

JOHN r. WALMER. 

John E. AValmer, following the occupation of farming in Middle- 
bury township, was born in the village of Middlebury in 1850 and is 
a representative of one of the pioneer families of this part of the state. 
His parents were John and Magdalena (Hoff) Walmer. The paternal 
grandfather, George Walmer, was a blacksmith and farmer, and while 
living in Pennsylvania he was married to Miss Sarah Fisher, by whom 
he had six children : Joseph, George, John, Lydia, Catherine and Eliza- 



734 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXT^' 

lietli. The mother (hed when her .son Jnhn. tlie father of our subject, 
was a small boy and Georoe Walmer afterward married Catherine 
Shuey, iicc Mills, who died April 7, 1877. '^t the age of ninety years. 
There were three children by the second marriage: Maria, Mattie 
and Benjamin, (ieorge Walmer, the grandfather, settled on a farm 
in Wayne county, Ohio, where he died in February, 1856, at the age 
of sixty-eight years. He was a man of unblemished reputation, re- 
spected by all who knew him. He left a family who were a credit to 
h-is name, including John W'almer. father of our subject. 

John \\'almer was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, Sep- 
tember 26, 1817, a^id was of German lineage. His educational privi- 
leges were Cjuite limited, but he learned to read in both the Gemian 
and English tongues. He learned to count after attaining manhood 
by splitting rails by the hundred, it lieing necessary that he keep track 
of his work m order that he might know if he was receiving the correct 
])rice for his labor. The first work which he did on his own account 
was the clearing of land. In 1S44 he removed to Elkhart county in 
company with his young wife, traveling through the black swamp of 
Ohio. Eventually he reached his destination and settled on section 
thirty-three, Middlebury township, about a mile south of the farm on 
which John F. Walmer now resides. There the father at once began 
clearing and cultivating the land and to his original tract he added 
eighty acres. In the winter months when he could not work in the 
fields he engaged in the manufacture of brooms. He possessed much 
mechanical ingenuity and could perform almost any service along me- 
chanical lines. His chief attention, however, was given to his agricul- 
tural interests and he became the owner of two hundred and eighty-six 
acres of very fine and productive land. Upon his place he also had a 
sawmill which was operated by water power and in addition to his farm- 
ing property he owned a residence in Elkhart and a store building in 
that city. He was a man of good physique and strong constitution and 
he led a most useful and acti\e life. Although his business cares made 
lieavy demands upon his attention he yet found time to broaden his 
mind in the acquirement of useful knowledge through reading and 
study at home. He alwavs kept well informed on the questions and 
issues of the day and his p<ilitical support was given to the Democratic 
part}'. He held membership in th.e Reformed church. His wife, who 
Avas born in Wayne county. Ohio, March to, 1819, was a daughter of 
George and Catherine ( Hess) Hoff, b<ith of whom died in Wayne 
county, Ohio. Her father was a blacksmith and farmer. Mrs. Wal- 
mer w-as also a member of the Reformed church and her death occurred 
Augtist II, 1887. .About ten years later John Walmer departed this 
life, being called to his final rest October 15, 1897. They were the 
parents of two children, the daughter being Amanda E.. the wife of 
Aaron Work, an insurance agent of Middlebury. who has also l>een 
townshijj trustee. They became the parents of four cjiildren : Luetta, 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY T;ir, 

George, John and Charles. Iiut the last named died at the age of six 
years. ].uetta became the wife of William Barger, a box manufacturer, 
and the}- have one son, Everett. His father is proprietor of a garage 
at South Bend. Indiana. John Walmer, Sr., also had an adopted daugh- 
ter, Idella J. Poorbaugh, who has been a member of the family from 
the age of eight years. She too belongs to the Reformed church. 

John F. Walnicr, whose name introduces this record, is indebted to 
the district schools of his native county for the educational privileges 
he received. He was reared upon his father's farm and it is yet his 
place of residence. He owns here eighty acres of land on section twen- 
ty-six, Middlebury township, and he also has one hundred and' twenty- 
five acres on section thirty-three and forty acres on section twenty-nine, 
so that his possessions aggregate two hundred and forty-five acres. His 
farming propert}- is valuable and his carefully directed labors bring to 
him very gratifying success. He works along progressive lines and 
has a farm well equipped with modern accessories. He raises stock in 
addition to the cultivation of the fields and this branch of business like- 
wise proves profitable. In politics he is a Democrat and he h(^lds mem- 
bership in the Lutheran clnuxli. 

BUCKNER F. FREELAND. 

Buckner F". Freeland, closely associated with industrial and manu- 
facturing interests in Middlebury, being the owner of the Pioneer Manu- 
facturing Company, was torn in Preston county, \Vest Virginia, in 
1848. The family is of English lineage and was founded in the new 
world by John FYeeland, who, on crossing the Atlantic to America, set- 
tled in Preston county. West Virginia, where he died at the venerable 
age of ninety-two years. His family numbered thirteen children, of 
whom Aaron was the fourth in order of birth. One son, George, was 
in the Civil war with the Seventeenth West Virginia Volunteer Infan- 
try. His son, Aaron Freeland, was born in Preston county and 
was in the service of the government during the Civil war. He did 
not enlist in the army, but his sympathies were with the north. He 
held membership in the Episcopal church and in his political views 
was a Democrat. His business affairs were capably managed and be 
became quite well to do. He married Elizabeth Bucklew, who- was born 
in Preston county. West Virginia, where she died in May, 1862. She 
was one of the four children of Jonas and Peggy (Morris) Bucklew, 
the former of English and the latter of Pennsylvania Dutch descent. 
Mr. and Mrs. Freeland became the parents of five children : Mary 
Catherina, the deceased wife of William Taylor; Buckner F. ; John W., 
a prosperous farmer of Preston county. West Virginia; Florida, the 
wife of O. C Humphries, a railroad man living at Elkins, West Vir- 
ginia; and Missouri, who married Clark Fickev, and after his death 



T^r, HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

became the wife of a Mr. J^a\is. who is a mason li\-ing at Terra Alta, 
West Virginia. 

Buckner 1*". Treeland pursned liis studies successively in the schools 
of Terra Alta and Webster, West Virginia, and Oakland, Maryland. 
He was reared upon his father's farm and in 1862 he entered the gov- 
ernment service as a teamster, remaining thus until January, 1865, 
when he regularly enlisted in the Sixth West Virginia Infantry, with 
which he ser\-ed until the close of the war, being mustered out at Wheel- 
ing. He then returned to his home in Grafton, West Virginia, where 
he was employed for a year Ijy the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Com- 
pany as brakesman. He then returned to the home farm for another 
year and in November, 1867, he came to Elkhart county, Indiana, locat- 
ing at Millersburg, where he followed carpentering and other pursuits. 
Subsequently he entered the service of the Lake Shore and Michigan 
Southern Railroad Company, with which he learned telegraphy and for 
twenty-one years he was operator and agent for the company at Millers- 
burg and Vistula. He then resigned and came to Middlebury where 
he began the manufacture of fanning mills and grain cleaning machines, 
continuing in that enterprise for three years. He next began the manu- 
facture of galvanized tanks, heaters, feed cookers and wind mills and 
is still carrying on this business under the name of the Pioneer Manu- 
facturing Company. The output of the factory is now large and the 
Inisiness is profitable. 

Mr. Freeland was married in Ma}-, 1868, to Miss Mary (J. Stauf- 
fer, who was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1848 and was 
one of a fanuly of four children. Mr. and Mrs. Freeland have eight 
children : Curtis A., a manufacturer of Sturgis, Michigan ; Lora, the 
wife of Frank Van Epps, who is in the railroad service and makes 
iiis home at Jacksonville, Florida ; Bruce W., also a manufacturer of 
.Sturgis; Lloyd B., who is associated with his Ijrothers in their manu- 
facturing interests; Roy W. ; Amy, at home; Amos J., who is with his 
father; and Emmert, who died in infancy. 

Mr. Freeland votes with the Democracy. His advancement has 
been won through his own efforts and his business prosperity is well 
merited, as it is the reward of earnest labor. He has based his business 
principles and actions upon strict adherence to the rules which govern 
industry, economy and unswei-ving integrity. What he is to-day he 
has made himself. By constant exertion, associated with good judg- 
ment, he iias raised himself to the creditable business position which he 
now holds, having the friendship of many and the respect of all who 
know him. 

EDIMUND P. RUCKER. 

Edmund P. Rucker, editor of Truth, published at Elkhart, was 
born July 11, 1878, at Louisville, Kentucky, his parents being Alexander 
Campbell and Anna M. (Stultz) Rucker. The father was a lawyer by 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTS' T;J7 

profession and the ancestral history of the Rucker famil\- can lie traced 
back to the Huguenots. 

E. P. Rucker acquired his early education in the public schools of 
his native city and continued his studies in the Louisville Manual Train- 
ing High School. He has always had a taste for newspaper work, 
both in writing and drawing, and a year after leaving school he became 
a reporter for Louisville papers. In his school da}-s he had carried 
papers for different newspajjer offices in his native cit>- and when be 
put aside his text-lxjoks be spent six months in Texas for the benefit 
of his health, after which be returned to Louisville and as before stated, 
entered upon his business career as a reporter. He was thus engaged 
until 1901, when he removed to Elkhart and in December of that year 
]>ecame editor of Truth, which position he still holds. 

In November, 1900, J\Ir. Rucker was married at Atlanta. Georgia, 
to Miss Laura Thomas Crider. Fraternally he is an Elk and a Samari- 
tan. He has always been interested in outdoor athletics, played foot- 
ball in his earlier years and was associated with many sports in Louis- 
ville. He is ever striving for a high standard in jdurnalism and has 
largely kept his paper up to his ideals in this regard. 

AUGUSTUS (i. SHETTEL. 

Among the worthy citizens that Pennsylvania has furnished to 
Elkhart county Augustus G. Sbettel is numbered. He was born in 
York in the Keystone state in 1852, the fifth in a family of six children 
whose parents were John and Sarah (Gross) Sbettel both of wdiom 
were natives of York, Pennsylvania. The father was of German descent 
and was a farmer by occupation. He belonged to a family of seven 
children of which he was the third. He became well to do in his Ixisi- 
ness interests and was known as a man of genuine personal worth. He 
possessed strong convictions and unfaltering determination in support 
of what he believed to be right and he was moreover a man of charitable 
views and kindly nature. In politics he was a stanch Republican and 
he was an active worker and interested member of the Lutheran church, 
in which be served as deacon, while for many years he was superinten- 
dent of the Sunday school. He enjoyed the highest esteem of friends 
and neighbors and was well known throughout the communit}- in which 
he made his home. He died in 1902 at the advanced age of eighty-six 
years, while his wife, still surviving him. is now eighty-three years of 
age. She too is of German lineage and is one of the six children of 
Daniel and Sarah (Myers) Gross, the former a farmer by occupation. 
Mr. and Mrs. Sbettel were married in 1842 and their family were as 
follows: Daniel, who died in York; Samuel, who is living in York; 
Louisa, deceased; Caroline, the wife of Augustus Hoover, a cigar manu- 
facturer of Zion's View, Pennsylvania; Augustus G. ; Emma, at home; 
and Ichn. living in York, Pennsylvania. 



738 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Aui^iistiis G. Shettel was educated in the 'public schools of his 
native ])!ace and worked on the farm through the days of his boyhood 
and youth, continuing at home with his father until twenty-one years of 
age. He arrived in Indiana in 1874. settling in Middlebury. where he 
secured a position in the general mercantile store of his cousin, A. S. 
Gross, with whom he remained as a clerk for eight years. Then in con- 
nection with John C. Mehl he purchased the store from Mr. Gross and 
the business was conducted under the firm name of Shettel & Mehl for 
three years. On the expiration of that period they sold out to A. F. 
A\'iiden of (loshen, with whom Mr. Shettel remained as a clerk through 
the succeeding three years. He also acted as salesman with the firm of 
C. Stvitz & Son for seven years, but in the meantime he purchased a 
farm in Jefferson township, comprising one hundred acres of land and 
on this lie took up his abode after leaving the mercantile house of Stutz 
& Son. A few months later, however, he returned to Middlebur}' and 
purchased the large business block belonging to Jacob Pfeiffer. He 
carries a well selected line of goods and is constantly enlarging his 
stock in order to meet the demands of a growing trade. 

On April 14, 1880, Mr. Shettel was married to Miss Rosalia Hall, 
a daughter of Joshua Hall and a native of Cass county. Michigan, born 
in 1857. Her father was a farmer who came from New York at an 
early day and settled in ]Micbigan. In his family were eleven children, 
of whom Mrs. Shettel is tlie youngest. By her marriage she has become 
the mother of three children: Claude, born March 20. 188 1 ; Walter. 
September 15. 1882; and Roy. September 8, 1888. The parents are 
members of the Lutheran church and are actively interested in its work 
in various departments. Mr. Shettel is a stanch Republican, unswei^v- 
ing in his allegiance to the principles of the party. He has passed on 
the highway of life many who started out better equipped for the jour- 
ney, having more advantageous surroundings, but through his own exer- 
tions he has attained an honorable position and prestige among the busi- 
ness men of Middlebury and with signal consistency it may be said that 
he is the architect of his own fortunes, one whose success amply justifies 
the application of the somewhat hackneyed but most expressive title " a 
self-made man." 

ELLSWORTH \\\RNS. 

Ellsworth Yarns, a member of the firm of Wise & Varus, dealers 
in Iiardware in Middlebury, was born in Berlin, Ohio, in 1862 and is 
of Scotch descent. Flis father, Joseph Yarns, was a native of Pennsyl- 
vania and one of a family of seven children. He was reared to the 
occu]3ation of farming, which he followed as a life work and he was a 
faithful mem1>er of the Presbyterian church, so that at his death, which 
occurred when he was at the comparatively early age of thirty-eight years, 
he left behind him the record of an honorable career. His political 
allegiance was given tn the Republican party and he never faltered in 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 739 

his support of any cause which he teheved to be right. His wife bore 
the maiden name of Ehza Strubbe and was a native of Germany, whence 
she came to i\.merica with her parents. Air. and Mrs. Harman Strubbe, 
in the year 1845. They located near Winesburg, Ohio, where her father 
foHdwed the trade of cabinet making. In his family were nine chil- 
dren. Mr. and Mrs. Varus became the parents of four children : George 
S., who is a farmer and mail carrier on a rural route; Jefferson, a farmer 
living near Millersburg. Ohio ; Ellsworth, of this review : and Jessie, 
the wife of Jacob Eusev, a railroad engineer living in Millersburg, 
Ohio. 

Ellsworth \'arns pursued his education in the common schools of 
Berlin. Ohio, and was reared to farm life, taking bis place in the fields 
at an early age and assisting in all the departments of farm labor until 
after he had attained his majority. In 1887 be came to Indiana, set- 
tling at Middlebury, wliere he has since made his home. Here he 
entered into partnership with William W. Wise and established a bard- 
ware store, in which they are still engaged under the firm name of Wise 
and Varns. They carry a carefully selected line of shelf and heavy 
hardware and then- business has enjoyed a healthful growth, their trade 
now bringing to them a gratifying income annually. 

Mr. Vai-ns has been married twice. In 1888 he wedded Miss Jen- 
nie Thompson, a daughter of R. B. Thompson. She died in 189: at 
the age of twenty-eight years, leaving two children : Reginald and Flor- 
ence. Mr. Varns w-as married in 1896 to Clara Hoover, a daughter 
of Samuel and Catherine Hoover and a native of Middlebury, born in 
1870. Til ere is a son and daughter by this union, Clarence and Cath- 
erine. Mr. Varns votes with the Republican party and is now ser\-ing 
as a member of the school board. The cause of education finds in him 
a warm friend and he is equally helpful in his advocacy of all measures 
for the public good. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and 
the Knights of Pythias and in his life exemplifies the beneficent spirit 
nf those organizations. Both he and his wife hold memliership in the 
ilethodist Episcopal church and are held in warm regard by all wlio 
know them. 

MARTIN V. STARR. 

As editor and manager of the News-Times Printing Company it 
has been the fortune of Mr. Starr to build up and place in the first rank 
of importance among Elkhart county journals, first the Goshen Nczcs, 
and later, by consolidation, the Ni\^-s-Tiiucs. the history of which large 
newspaper enterprise has been detailed on other pages of this work. 

Mr. Starr has been identified with the newspaper and publishing 
business since his school days, and his rise in the field of journalism is 
due to his own unaided efforts. Born August 12, 1861, in Williams 
county, Ohio, on the Starr homestead farm, at the age of seventeen, 
after having attended the aimmon schools, he resolved to learn the 



740 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

printer's trade, for that purpose entering the ot^ce of the Hicksville 
(Ohio) Nctw, then owned by his brother. As an apprentice he mastered 
the trade of typographer and passed successfully through all the branches 
of work which form the best preparation for the career of journalist and 
publisher. In partnership with T. G. Dowell, a young business man at 
Hicksville, he purchased the Ninu's plant, and for several years success- 
fully conducted the paper. At the age of twenty-one Mr. Starr was 
elected township clerk, and later was chosen secretary of the Fair As- 
sociation. 

In December, 1883, having sold out his interests in Ohio, he came to 
Goshen, which has since been his home. He and his brother estab- 
lished the Dmly Neafs in Goshen, and he became successively reporter, 
editor and manager of this well known newspaper. \Mien the Nezi's and 
the Times were consolidated in igoi Mr. Starr continued as editor and 
manager. 

Active and influential in the movements which during the last few 
years have resulted in a general advance along the line oi industrial and 
civic prosperity for Goshen, Mr. Starr has taken a prominent part in the 
work of the Goshen Commercial Exchange and all other co-operative 
and organized efforts for the city's welfare. He is a communicant and 
senior warden of St. James" Episcopal church, and fraternally is affiliated 
with the Masons, Knights of Pythias and Maccabees. 

Mr. Starr married, in 1886, Miss Marie Cleis, who died in 1889, 
leaving two children. Cleis William and Marie. June 26, 1895, he mar- 
ried Miss Mary Louise Butterfield. and they have a daughter. Harriet. 

HORACE H. MOSIER. 

Hon. Horace H. Mosier, representative from his district to the 
state legislature and manager of the Bristol Banner, was born in Xew 
Haven, Allen county, Indiana, January 13, 1872. His father, Cyrus F. 
Mosier, was a native of Seneca county. New York, and was a son of 
Cyrus and Rebecca (Weeks) Mosier. The great-grandfather was a 
soldier of the Revolutionary war, A-aliantly aiding in the struggle for 
independence. Both Cyrus and Rebecca Mosier were natives of the 
Empire state, and the former, in connection with the millwright business, 
conducted a carriage factory. The Weeks family was related to the 
Mosier family in the maternal line. Several members of the family were 
killed in the memorable Wyoming massacre. In the family of Cyrus 
and Rebecca (Weeks) Mosier were three children: Horace, deceased: 
Cyrus F. : and Charles, who was drowned in a spring. 

Cyrus F. Mosier was only two months old when his father died 
and his mother removed to Corning, New York, where she remained 
for six years. She then went to New Haven, Indiana, where she mar- 
ried Rufus McDonald, one of the prominent men of that ]ocalit\-, Bv 
this union there were two children, of whom one is living — Rufus. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTV 741 

When a boy Cyrus JNlosier was thrown upon his own resources, but 
though he met many hardsliips and chfficulties he was equal to all ot 
them, possessing great determination and strength of character. With 
what he was able to save from his meager wages, he paid the exiienses 
of his education, and at the end of six years of strenuous work he 
secured the principalship of the school in which he had been an apt 
pupil. He put aside his duties in the schoolroom, however, in 1861, and 
was the first man in DeKalb county to respond to President Lincoln's 
call for troops, joining Company F, Twelfth Indiana Regiment, as a 
private. Later he was made a sergeant of Company E, Fifty-fifth Regi- 
ment, and still later was commissioned first lieutenant of Company D, 
One Hundred and Eighteenth Indiana Infantry, serving in that capacity 
for two vears and one month, or until about the close- of the war. 
He was captured with seven thousand men, but made good his escape 
without seeing the inside of prison walls. He was in many hotly con- 
tested battles and proved himself a brave and intrepid soldier. 

Following the war Cyrus F. Hosier was engaged in the manufacture 
of brick for two years, when he returned to New Haven. Indiana, where 
he engaged in teaching school. For seventeen years he was one of the 
prominent educators of that section and was widely known and hon- 
ored for his ability, contributing in large measure to the substantial 
improvement of the schools. He served for two terms as city attorney 
of New Haven, being elected on the Republican ticket, in an acknowl- 
edged Democratic stronghold — a fact which plainly indicated bis ])er- 
sonal popularity and the confidence reposed in him. He afterward 
removed to Maysville, Indiana, and established a newspaper, but in the 
spring of 1877 he came to Bristol and founded the Bristol Banner, 
a partisan organ that made itself a monitor and guide for the Repub- 
lican party within its jurisdiction. He was chosen twice to rejiresent 
his district in the state legislature, where he served with credit and 
distinction both to himself and party, and then declined a renomination. 
He was president of the People's Mutual Benefit Society for a number 
of years and contributed in large measure to its pinsperitv. He was also 
treasurer of the Fidelity Building and Savings Union of Indianapolis, 
and spent much of his time in that city. He held member.ship with the 
Grand Army of the Republic and the Odd Fellows, and he \\'as always 
a public-spirited citizen, ready to do his share to further anv enteqjrise 
for the advancement of his city or state. He wielded a wide influence, 
leaving the impress of his individuality for good upon manv lines of 
public thought and action. 

On the 24th of May, 1862, Cyrus F. Mosier was married to Drusilla 
L. Roe. They lost two children, Urtes V. and Inez B., and their sur- 
viving son is Horace H. Mosier. The father died in x\pril, 1901. at the 
age of sixty-one years. 

Horace PI. Mosier acquired his education in the public schools of 
Bristol and Indianapolis and in tlie Northwestern ^Militarv Academy of 



742 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Chicago. He completed a course in stenography and typewriting in the 
Business Cohege at Indianapohs, after which he accepted a position with 
the People's Mutual Benefit Society, at Benton Harhor, and thence came 
to Elkhart for the same company. Later he entered into Imsiness rela- 
tions with the Fidelity Building and Savings Union, at Indianapolis, 
where he remained for eight years, when his health failed and he spent 
eighteen months in recuperating. He next opened a fire and life insur- 
ance office at Elkhart and afterward in Lidianapolis, and in Decemljer, 
1898, he returned to Bristol to take charge of the Bristol Banner, a 
weekly paper, established by his father in 1877, and now conducted and 
published by him. Under his guidance the Banner has maintained a 
position among the leading papers of the county and through its columns 
he champions many measures of a salutary nature, proving of direct 
benefit to the community at large. 

On the 5th of July, 1893, Mr. Mosier was married to Miss Jennie 
E. Bickel, a daughter of Charles E. and Harriet Bickel. She was born 
August 23, 1871, in Bristol, in which city her father was a pioneer 
hardware dealer. They have two children, Marie G. and Bruce B. Mrs. 
Mosier is a member of the Episcopal church. Mr. Mosier belongs to the 
Masonic lodge in Bristol, the chapter at Elkhart, and also holds member- 
ship relations with the Odd Fellows. Knights of Pythias, Maccabees, 
Woodmen and Samaritans. 

Mr. Mosier's study of the principles and movements involving the 
progress and welfare of the country has led him to give an unfaltering- 
support to the Republican party and his fitness for leadershiji and devo- 
tion to the general good has caused his selection for public honors and 
responsibilities. He has been president of the town board of Bristol 
and in 1904 he was elected to represent his county in the state legislature 
and is now chairman of the committee on house and mil bills and also 
served on the education, reformatory institutions and other committees. 
He is a student of the signs of the times and the advocate of progress 
whether in or out of office, laboring as earnestly for the general welfare 
throug'h the columns of his paper as in legislative halls. 

JOSEPH HOLTOX DEFREES. 

lose])h Holton Defrees. the senior member of the law firm of 
Defrees, Bra(-e & Kitter, of Chicago, was born in Goshen, Indiana, A])ril 
10, 1858. His ancestors were I^'rencb Huguenots, who came to this 
country ]jrior to the war of 18 r.?, in which conflict the famih' was rep- 
resented. The ]!arents nf our sul)ject were James McKinney and Vic- 
toria (Holton) Defrees. They died during the childhood of their son 
Joseph, wlio Avas accorchngh- reared bv liis grandfather. Joseph H. De- 
frees, a ])rominent citizen of Indiana and a men.iber of congress from 
that state during the reconstruction jieriod. His limther. Jnhn D. 
Defrees, \\a^ the founder of the lndiana]iolis Journal ;ind was the public 
printer under Presidents Lincoln, Grant and Hayes. 





^9^^e^A 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 743 

Having laid his educational foundation in the public schools of his 
nati\e state, Mr. Defrees of this review continued his studies in Earlhani 
College, of Richmond, Indiana, and later pursued a course of study in 
the Northwestern University of Illinois. At the age of eighteen years 
he began preparation for tlie Ixir as a student in the law office of Baker 
& Mitchell, of Goshen, Indiana, for many years the most prominent law 
firm in nortliern Indiana, and upon the election of Judge Mitchell to 
the supreme bench of that state Mr. Defrees became a partner of Air. 
Baker, under the firm style of Baker & Defrees, while later the firm be- 
came Baker, Defrees & Baker. In 1888 Mr. Defrees came to Chicago 
and here has made a specialty of corporation and real-estate law, and has 
secured an extensive clientele in those departments of jurisprudence. 
For a time he engaged in practice as a member of the firm of Shuman 
& Defrees, later with the firm of Aldrich, Payne & Defrees, and is now 
the senior inemher of the firm of Defrees, Brace & Ritter, which ranks 
high at the Chicago bar. Since his twenty-second year Mr. Defrees has 
engaged continuously in the practice of law, and his professional career 
has been characterized by unflagging industr}-, without which there can 
be no success in this the most exacting of all the ]M"nfessions. 

On the 4th of Octolier, 1882, Mr. Defrees married Miss Harriet AIc- 
Naughton, of Buffalo, New York. They have one child, Donald De- 
frees, who was Ixjrn in 1885. His ,i>rimary education was accjuired in 
the Princeton-Yale School, of Chicago, and St. Paul School, of Concord, 
New Hampshire. He graduated from Yale University with honors 
in the class of 1905. He is now a student at the Harvard Law School. 

Mr. Defrees is a welcome member of the Union League, Hamilton. 
City, Law and Chicago Clubs, of the Midlothian Country Clul), and is 
a valued representative of the Chicago Bar Association. In politics he 
is an earnest Republican, and though never an aspirant for office has 
a full appreciation of the responsibility that rests upon every .Vmerican 
citizen to support the measures which are best calculated tn promote the 
welfare of the nation. 

FREDERICK :M. AITKEX. M. D. 

Dr. Frederick yi. Aitken, for thirty-five years a member of the 
medical profession in Bristol, occupies the position in public regard 
to which his years of practice and ability justly entitle him. He was 
born in Buffalo, New York, in 1846, and is of Scotch lineage, his 
grandfather, John Aitken, having been a native of Scotland, whence he 
came to America about 1790. He was a shoemaker, as was also his .son 
Andrew, who later, however, turned his attentitin to merchandising. 
Andrew .\itken, father of Dr. Aitken, was born in New York city 
and about 1846 removed to Buffalo, where he engaged in the shoe busi- 
ness. In 1850 he came to Bristol, Elkhart county, where he engaged in 
the boot and shoe luisiness and eventually conducted a general mercan- 



744 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

tile establishment, having a good and profitable business. He was a 
member of the Episcopal church and belonged to the Masonic lodge, 
in which he was a past master. His early ixditical support was given 
the Republican party and later he joined the ranks of the Democracy. 
He was a man of intelligence, called to public office on a number of 
occasions, and his capable service and sterling personal traits of char- 
acter gained him good standing among his fellow men. He died in 
1892. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Sarah E. Romaine, was 
born in New York city, in 1814, and died in 1901. She was a daughter 
of Jacob and Elizabeth (Brown) Romaine, the former a school teacher. 
The Romaine family is of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Aitken had 
but two children, the daughter .\nnie being now the wife of John 
Santschi, a music teacher of Goshen. 

Dr. Aitken, who is his sister's senior, was educated in the Bristol 
schools, having been brought to this city when about four years of age. 
He read medicine in the office of Dr. F. C. Eckelman, then of Bristol 
and now of Elkhart, and followed his preliminary reading by study in 
the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of New York city, which he 
entered in 1864. He was graduated in 1868. as a physician and surgeon, 
and for two years practiced in the eastern metropolis. He then returned 
tO' Bristol, where he has practiced continuously since 1870. antl he is 
one of the best as well as one of the oldest physicians of the county. 
He has always read and studied, carrying his investigation far and wide 
into the realms of medical research, and in practice he has shown ready 
adaptability of theories to the practical work of the medical fraternity. 

Dr. xAitken has been married twice. In 1874 he wedded Miss Mar- 
garet Rough, who was born in Pennsylvania, was a daughter of Samuel 
Rough and died in 1894, at the age of forty years, leaving one child, 
Charles A., who is now a bookkeeper in Goshen. For his second wife 
Dr. Aitken chose Mrs. Elizabeth (Crocker) Kleckner. a daughter of 
Henry Crocker and the widow of Daniel Kleckner. She A\as born in 
Michigan in 1854. Dr. Aitken holds membership in the Episcopal 
church, and his wife is a communicant of the Lutheran church. He is 
an exemplary Mason and for twenty-five years has been secretar^• lif 
the lodge in Bristol. His political allegiance is given the Democratic 
party and he has been corporation trustee, clerk and member of the 
school board. His interest in community affairs is deep, sincere and hel]> 
ful, and professionally and socially his standing in the public regarrl 
is enviable. 

H. B. APP. 

H. B. App, an influential and successful merchant of Bristol, con- 
ducting his store along modern business lines, was born in Snyder 
county, Pennsylvania, April 26, 1852, and is a son of John H. and 
Sarah (Bassler) App. who were also natives of Snyder countv. The 
family is of German lineage and was established in Pennsvlvania duriu"- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 745 

an early period in its settlement. John H. App was a farmer by occu- 
pation and on coming to Indiana in 1861 settled about a mile antl a half 
west from Bristol, where he purchased a tract of land and carried on 
farming for a number of years. He was known as a reliable man who 
gave undivided attention to his business interests. He died in 1888, 
having for a number of years survived his wife, who passed away in 
1874. They were the parents of two sons, H. B. and D. \\'., the latter 
a resident of Ouincy, Michigan. 

H. B. App spent the first nine years of his life in the Keystone 
state and then accomjianied his parents on their removal to Indiana. 
so that he was largely educated in the public schools of Elkhart county. 
He was reared upon the home farm and there remained until 1883. 
when thinking that he would find other occupation more congenial than 
the farm work, he accepted a clerkship in the emplo}- of W. R. ^^lerritt 
of Bristol, with whom he continued until 1890. He tlien embarked 
in merchandising on his own account and he now has one of the best 
stocked establishments in Bristol, carrying a large and carefully selected 
line of general merchandise. He is a man of excellent business quali- 
fications, who has followed a definite plan of action and giiided his 
interests by a judgment that is safe and reliable. 

In 1875 -^I''- -^PP ^^'''s united in marriage to ]\Iiss Sarah Rough 
and tliey have three children : Fred H., who became a member of 
Company E of the One Hundred Fifty-seventh Indiana Volunteer In- 
fantry at the time of the Spanish- American war and went to Port Tampa 
and Fernandino, Florida: Earle B., at home; and Jessie jM., who is the 
wife of William Alden, a manufacturer of Battle Creek, Michigan. 

Mr. App is a Democrat in his political views and is recognized as 
a local leader in his party. He has served as president of the board of 
health and as town trustee. He belongs to George Washington Lodge, 
No. 325, F. & A. M., of which he has served as worshipful master for 
eight years, and he is likewise a member of the Knights of Pythias fra- 
ternity, in which he has been chancellor commander. He ranks high as 
a business man and neighbor and is an affable, courteous, genial gentle- 
man whose social qualities and business worth have gained him rank 
with the leading residents of Bristol, while in his business career he 
has gained the success which always follows close application, unre- 
mitting diligence and the faithful performance of every dutjr. 

CAPTAIN H. W. PEASE. 

Captain H. W. Pease, well known as the head of the Pease Engine 
Works, one of the leading institutions of Goshen, is a native son of 
this city, his birth occurring here on the 30tli of November, 1867. His 
father, Warren H. Pease, a native of Ohio, was brought by his parents 
to Elkhart when but two years of age, his father, Milan Pease, being- 
numbered among the early pioneers of the county. He took up his 



746 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

abode on the present site of the cit}' of Elkhart, .and tliere erected a 
woolen carding- an'd grist mill, using as its power the waters of Chris- 
tiana creek. The name of this worthy old pioneer family has ever since 
stood exijnnent for the most sterling personal characteristics, and is in- 
dissolubly identified with the annals of the county from an early epoch 
in its history. \\'arren H. Pease became a machinist, and for some 
time was also engaged as a dentist, winning success in his profession. 
He married Matilda Douglass, a native of Nova Scotia, hut who came 
to Ohio during her childhood days and was reared principally in Goshen, 
and they became the parents of four children : Charles, a master me- 
chanic of the Lodge & Shipley Machine Tool Company, of Cincinnati ; 
H. W., whose name introduces this review; George, a machinist in 
Jacksonville, Florida ; and Annie. Mr. and Mrs. Pease now make their 
home in Florida. 

H. W. Pease, the second child and son in his ]:)arents' family, re- 
ceived his educational training in Elkhart, whither he was brought by 
his parents when but one year old. When but thirteen years of age 
he began working at the machinist's trade, and this he has followed to 
a greater or less degree throughout the entire period of his business 
career. On attaining the age of twenty-one he engaged in business for 
himself in Chicago, opening a machine shop on Canal street, and there 
continuing until 1893. In that year he sold his interests there, and the 
following two years were spent in travel, after which, in 1895, he came 
to Goshen and embarked in his present occupation, the manufacture of 
gas, gasoline and special machinery, his business having now reached 
extensive proportions and furnishes employment to manv skilled op- 
eratives. 

In 1890 Mr. Pease was united in marriage to Blanche Keelv, a 
daughter of P. G. and Annette (Jerome) Keely. She was liorn at 
Fdwardsburg. Michigan, but received her education in tlie Elkhart 
schools, in which she graduated with the class of 1888, and for two 
years thereafter was employed as a teacher. Two children ha\e been 
born of this union — Gordon and Blanch. In his fraternal relations Mr. 
Pease is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights 
of Pythias and the Royal Neighbors. Politically he is a life-long Repulv 
lican, and is commanding officer of Company G, First Indiana Infantrv, 
National Guards, holding that office since 1903, and has taken an active 
part in the work of the organization. He is well known thnnigliout 
Go.shen and Elkhart county, and enjoys a wide popularitv. 

JOSEPH D. ^lATHER. 

Joseph D. Mather, banker and agriculturist of Middleburv, was 
born on section ten, Middlebury township, ]\Iay 15, 1862. His father, 
Jonathan S. Mather, was a native of Orange county. New York, born 
in 1836. and the following year he was brought by his parents to Elk- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 747 

hart cxjiinty. Indiana. He was a son of David B. Mather, who on reach- 
ing the west located on one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 
four, Middlebury township, which at his request had been entered for 
him by his brother-in-law in 1836. This quarter section was secured 
with the intention of giving it to his son, Jonathan, when he became 
of age. and on reaching his majority Jonathan S. Mather recei\-e(l the 
deed to the place. There he spent his remaining days and he became an 
extensive farmer and stock raiser. In his business affairs he prospered 
owing to his capable management and enterprise and he ranked with 
the leading agriculturists of his community. In politics he was a stanch 
Republican but was not bitterly partisan. He senxd as county commis- 
sioner and was one of the first county assessors, while his father, David 
Mather, acted as sherifif of the county for one term, being chosen txi 
that office about 1854. From pioneer times down to the jiresent the 
Mathers have been active and influential in ])ul)lic life here and their 
efforts in behalf of the uplniilding and improvement of tlie county have 
been far reaching- and beneficial. Jonathan S. Mather was one of a 
family of four children, the others being Charles S. : Mary, who became 
the wife of ^^'illiam T. Martin : and George D., wlio is li\'ing near 
Middlebury. 

Jonathan S. Mather united in marriage to Frances DeFreese, who 
w^as born in Jefferson township, this county, in 1841, and is a daughter 
of James and Mary DeFreese. Her father was a native of Pennsyl- 
vania and came from Piqua, Ohio, to Indiana, settling first in Jefferson 
township. He was a miller by trade and operated a mill on Rock river 
near Goshen. Eventually he took up his abode in the city of Goshen. 
He married a second time and became the father of thirteen children. 
Mrs. Mather, who is the youngest child, now makes her home in Middle- 
bur}-, suniving her husband, who died in January, 1903. They were 
the parents of four children: Alice, the wife of Milton A. Stutz, a 
merchant of Pendleton, Indiana: Joseph D. : Charles A., deceased: and 
Mary, of Middleburv'. 

Joseph D. INIather acquired his early education in the common 
schools of Indiana. He was reared to farm life and has always engaged 
in agricultural pursuits, being now the owner of three hundred and 
seventy-six acres of land in Elkhart and LaGrange counties. Tn its 
improvement he gives his supervision and the farms return to him a 
gratifying income. He is perhaps even better known as a banker, being 
now at the head of the Excliange hank, which was established in 188.S 
by Daniel Elliott. Following the death of Mr. Elliott Jonathan Mather 
purchased the bank, which eventually came into possession of Toseph 
D. Mather, who is now at the head of the institution. He conducts a 
general banking business, meeting with good success and has made the 
institution one of the reliable financial concerns of this part of the 
county. 

On the 28th of November. 1884, Mr. Mather was united in mar- 



74S HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

riage to Miss Ida Myers, a daughter of Andrew and Ellen Myers, the 
former a miller by occupation. Mrs. Mather was born in Constantine. 
Michigan, in 1866, and has become the mother of three children : Milton, 
Helen and ]\Iary. She belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and 
is an estimable lady, presiding with gracious hospitality over her at- 
tractive home. Mr. Mather votes with the Republican party and has 
served as justice of the peace and treasurer of the school board. He 
possesses untiring energy, is quick of perception, forms his plans readily 
and is determined in their execution ; and his close application to business 
and his excellent management have brought to him the high degree (^f 
prosperity which is today his. It is true that he became interested 
in a business already established, but in controlling and enlarging such 
an enterprise many a man of even considerable resolute purpose, courage 
and industry would have failed; and he has demonstrated the truth of 
the saying that success is not the result of genius, but the outcome of 
a clear judgment and push. 

CHARLES ELLSWORTH DUTROW, M. D. 

Dr. Charles Ellsworth Dutrow, son of Emanuel and Sarah E. 
Dutrow, was born on a farm in Greene county, Ohio, November 12, 
1865. Three years later the family removed to western Iowa and 
one summer was spent in a log house upon a farm in the Missouri 
valley, ten miles above Council Bluffs and Omaha, but after six months 
of strenuous fighting against malaria and grasshoppers, the head of the 
family capitulated, loaded his remaining possessions into a prairie 
schooner and started slowly and sorrowfully eastward. By the time 
Elkhart county was reached health and courage were restored and the 
home in the schooner gave way to a fixed home in the village of Benton, 
while later they removed to- a neighboring farm. 

From this time until eighteen years of age, Charles Ellsworth 
alternately worked and played on the farm in summer and assisted in 
keeping some well meaning countiy school teacher active in winter. 
Later he attended the high school and cx^llege. In the fall of 1886. 
however, he returned to the country schoolhouse as teacher and for 
five years either coaxed or terrified the tender youth of Elkhart and 
Benton townships to at least a semblance of strenuous mental application. 

Having decided tO' travel over the .Elsculapian i-oute during his re- 
maining years. Dr. Dutrow began preparation for the practice of medi- 
cine and was graduated from the Medical College of Indiana, at In- 
dianapolis, in April, 1892. Diu-ing the summer of 1893. having in the 
meantime married Miss Ida M. Bickel. of Benton, he became a resident 
and practitioner of the town of Bristol, in which place he still resides, 
and although he modestly does not claim great credit for what he has 
accomplished, the consensus of public opinion regarding his professional 
skill is most favorable. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 74l» 

GEORGE A. FISHER. 

George A. Fisher, following the occupation of farming in Washing- 
ton toAvnship, was born in Ulster county. New York, in 1854. His 
father. Nicholas Fisher, was born on the border between France and 
Germany and coming to America resided for some years in the Empire 
state, his removal to Indiana occurring when his son George was about 
six months old. He located in Bristol, w'here he first worked as a 
laborer and when his efforts liad iDrought to him sufficient capital to 
justify the purchase of a farm he became the owner of a tract of land 
on section thirty-six, Washington township, after which he carried on 
general agricultural pursuits. He was the owner of one hundred and 
eighty acres of land and his ]n'operty was the visible evidence of a life 
of untiring energy, close application and strong determination. He 
held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and in his political 
views was a Republican, unfaltering in his advocacy of the princi]iles 
of the party. He was a man of upright life, charitaljle spirit and kindly 
nature, and wherever he went he won friends. He ranked vevy high in 
the regard of his neighbors and he probably had not an enemy in tlie 
world. He married Laura A. Depew. who was born in Litchfield, Con- 
necticut, and was a daughter of Abraham Depew. Her fatlier was an 
iron worker and came tO' Indiana in 1854. He was descended from 
French royalty and was a third cousin of Senator Chauncey M. Depew. 
In his family were six children, of whom Mrs. Fisher was the youngest. 
Her brother. Tlieron Depew. was a missionary and circuit rider and 
Mrs. Fisher became a member of the Alethodist Episcopal church in 
her girlhood days and was \ery enthusiastic and earnest in church work. 
In August, igo2. Nicholas Fisher was called to his final rest, being then 
in his sixty-seventh year, and his wife passed away Januarv q, 1887. 
They were people of the hig-hest respectal;ility and the)- left behind tbem 
manv friends. In their family were seven children : Laura, the wife of 
.Antone Miller, a resident farmer of ^^'ashington townshi]) ; Nicholas 
Tracy, who is living in Yr.vk township: Sarah, the wife of John Lee 
of Jefferson township: (ieorge A. of this review: Julia, the wife of 
Fred Denstitt, living in Mishawaka, Indiana; Gertrude, who became 
the wife of Jacob Leatherman and died April i, 1005: and Mary Ellen, 
the wife of Adclbert Merriti. :i fanner of ^'ates countv. New York. 
Following the death of his lii<t wife. .X'icholas Fisher married Mrs. 
John Back, a Avidow. who sur\-i\es liim. 

George A. Fisher has s|)ent alniosi bis entire life in this county, 
having l;een brought t( Indiana wlieii only six months old. He was 
educated in the district schools and in Bristol and was reared to farm life, 
which he has alwa}-s followed, devoting his attention to general agri- 
cultural pursuits and fruit raising. He now lives on section twentv-fi\e, 
W'ashington township, where he own.-- thirty-five acres of land. He also 
has thirty-three and a third acres on section twentv-six, fortv acres on 



750 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

section thirty-six and also another forty-acre tract on the same section, 
while his wife owns sixty-one and a half acres in York township. His 
farming interests represent a life of intense and well directed activity. 
He has labored persistently from his boyhood days down to the present 
in order to pn>vide a comfortable living for his family and acqmre a 
competence, and now he has a good farm ]oropert}' which brings to him 
a desirable financial return each year. 

Mr. Fisher was married January 26. i8qi. to Miss Alice E. Eld- 
ridge, a daughter of Horace and Minerva (AValters) Eldridge, who 
came from Ohio to Indiana at an early period in the development of 
this portion of the state. In their family were seven children, of whom 
Mrs. Fisher was the third in order of birtli. the jjlace of her nativity 
being Barry county, Michigan, while the date \\as August 7. i860. 
Seven children have been born unto our subject and his wife: Gladys, 
now deceased: Ermyn C. : George A.: Ronald E. W". : Lucille: Emmett 
N., and Donovan D. Mrs. Fisher is an active member of the YIethodist 
Episcopal church, interested in its various departments nf work and 
doing all in her power to aid in the upbuilding of the church. Ylr. 
Fisher belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternit}- and in jjolitics is 
a Republican. He is at present a member of the advisory board of 
Washin.gton township. In analyzing his life hi.story we are reminded 
of the fact that faithfulness to duty and strict adherence to a fixed pur- 
pose in life will do more to advance a man's interest than wealth or 
advantageous circumstances. The successful men of the da}- are they 
who have planned their own advancement and have accomplished it in 
spite of many obstacles rmd with a certainty that could have been 
attained only through their own efforts. This class of men has a worthy 
representative in George A. Fisher. 

MRS. LAURA ANN FISHER. 

Mrs. Laura Ann Fisher died in Bristol, Elkhart county. Indiana, 
January 9, 1887, the beloA'ed wife of Nicholas I'isber. aged almost 
sixty-four years. The decease of this estimalile Christian lady is death's 
first visit to this now broken household. She was the youngest daughter 
of the late Abraham Depew, and sister of the late Rev. T. C. Depew, 
the spiritual father of the Presbyterian church in that part of Indiana ; 
also of Rev. N. A. Depew, a member of Central New York Methodist 
Conference. She was bom in Salisbury, Connecticut, Mav 16, 1823, 
and in 1842 removed with her parents to Shandaken, Ulster county. 
New '^'ork. Here she experienced religif)n and united with the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church, and alxjut 7845 ^^'-is united in marriage with 
her now bereaved husband. Her loving nature entwined around htr 
husband's life with great strength of character, and together for more 
than forty years they met in holy union all of its ^-aried vicissitudes. 
Seven cliildren were born to them, two sons and fi\-e daughters. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 751 

In 1854 they removed from the state of New York to Indiana. 
Here they toiled and through much labor and self-denial had just secured 
to themselves a competency and a beautiful home. Her pious devotion, 
tender religious conscience, which could not endure the slightest ap- 
proach of sin, was the most noted trait in her strong religious character. 
Her ill health for many years deprived her <if the blessings of religious 
social life, and this sent her to secret communion with her God. She 
loved her private devotions, the \\'ord of God and the Guide. Much 
of her time was spent in prayer and sweet answers came to her in the 
early conversion of her devoted husband and their children. Her heart 
was ever open to the spirit's influence, and most eminently it could be 
said, "' She set her foot on hell." She had often expressed the hope 
that her departure might he on Sabbath morning- and her rec|uest was 
graciously granted bv her Heavenly King. She spoke in her corre- 
spondence with friends of late that she would soon depart and assured 
them of her willingness to gT) and the ill^• witli which she \vnuld A\el- 
come them on the " distant shore." 

Joyful words, " ^Ve meet again!" 

Love's own language, comfort darting 
Through the souls of friends at parting; 

Life in death — "We meet again!" 

^^'hen this weary world is past, 
Happy they, whose spirits soaring. 
Vast eternity exploring, 

" Meet again in hea\'en at last." 

Her funeral was attended b\- a large and sympathizing audience 
of friends and relatives. Her only remaining sister, Mrs. J. A. Tracy, 
of the city of Elmira, New York, was summoned to the sad rites, and by 
chance the sister and relatives of his family also. We mourn for the 
desolate left here on these receding shores, but for her we can but lioije 
it is an eternal gain. Her children can well sa\- : 

" And if I e'er in heaven appear 

A mother's holy prayer, 
A mother's hand and gentle tear. 
That pointed to a Savior dear, 

Ha\'e led the -wanderer there." 

Rev. N. a. Depew. 
Big Flats. New York, February 8, 1887. 

CHRIST HINDFRER. 

Christ Hinderer, who has lived in Goshen for nearly fifty years 
and is one of the best known citizens and business men of' Goslien' and 
Flkhart county, was born in W'urtemberg,. Germany, May i^, 18^?. 



752 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Although now seventy years of age he is still active in affairs and is 
interested in every movement which means progress or uplift in his 
community. He is a public-spirited citizen, and all phases of his career 
reflect iKincjr upon his character and integrity of manhood. 

His parents were John B. and Anna (Stiefel) Hinderer, huth na- 
tives of the fatherland. 'I"he father, who was a sh(jemaker and farmer 
liv occupation, died when past seventy-three, and the mother li\ed tn 
l>e still older, being eighty-two when called away. This vigorous and 
estimable old German couple were parents of thirteen children, of whom 
Christ, the fifth in order of birth, is the only survivor. 

Spending the first twenty-one years of his life in the old country, 
Mr. Ilinderer attended the schools of bis native place until be was 
fourteen vears old, and then entered upon his apprenticeship to the 
wagon-maker's trade, being apprentice two years and ;i half and jour- 
nevman for a vear. In 1856 he crossed the Atlantic and came directly 
to Goshen, which has ever since been his home. He began working at 
his trade here in October of that year, continuing as a journeyman 
until he went into business for himself in 1861. Several years later 
lie engaged in the meat business, and in 1870 became local supply 
agent for a lirewing house. This has been his principal line ever since, 
and in ibe course of this time he has turned in over six hundred thou- 
sand dollars to his company. He has also been engaged for s(ime time 
in the ice liusiness. His success as a business man has been very sub- 
stantial, and he is reckoned among the men of ability and enterprise who 
ha\e built up the commercial prosperity of Goshen. 

.\ Democrat in politics, he was three times elected a memlier of 
the citv council, and for three years served as water commissioner. For 
ni;mv vears be has taken an active interest in public affairs and political 
matters. He is a member of the Lutheran church. 

Mr. Hinderer married, in 1859. Miss Barbara Gross, who was liorn 
in .\lsace, now a province of the German empire, but at the time of her 
birth a part of France. Mrs. Hinderer died in 1902, having been the 
mother of four children: namely. George, of Goshen: Louisa, deceased: 
.\nnie. wife of b'rank Leibola. of (iosben: and IMiss Henrietta, at home. 

ALFONSO LAMAR L.VMPORT. 

Alfonso Lamar Lamport, proprietor of a general mercantile estab- 
lishment in Bristol, his business having reached proportions that make 
it a profitaljle investment, was lioru in St. Joseph county, Indiana, No- 
vember 25. 1852, and in the paternal line comes of Irish lineage. His 
father, Chauncey W. Lamport, was liorn in New York and was a 
farmer by occupation. With his parents he removed to llie vicinity 
of Painesville, Ohio, where he was reared to manh(jod and was mar- 
ried. Aliout 1847 hs took up his abode in St. Joseph county, Indiana, 
where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring there in 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 753 

1889. He was an active member and efficient worker in the Methodist 
Episcopal church and long served as one of its officers. He ranked 
high in public regard and was known as a successful business man. 
having through his own et^orts acquired a handsome competency. His 
political allegiance was given to the Republican party and he served as 
postmaster of Osceola during the administrations of Presidents Gar- 
field, Arthur and Cle\-eland. His public and private life were alike 
above reproach and in community interests he was a valued factor. He 
married Adeline D. Barbour, who was born in New York and died in 
1896. She was descended from one of the old Puritan families of New 
England and was an active worker and devoted member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church, holding to the old Puritan ideas concerning the 
observance of the Sabliath. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Qiauncey 
\V. Lamport were fnur children: Minnie and Hortentius M.. both de- 
ceased; Alfonso: and Emma R., the wife of W. S. Buck, a merchant of 
.South Bend. Indiana. 

Alfonso Lamport was educated in the public schools of b'Jkhart ami 
was graduated from the Northern Indiana Normal School of Valpar- 
aiso with the class of 187S. He afterward engaged in teaching school 
for twelve years. l:)eing ]3rincipal of the schools in Bristol. Millersburg 
and \\^aterloo. Indiana. Ijut in 1882 his health failed him and he turned 
his attention tf) merchandising, in which he continued until 1886. In 
that year he entered tlie Methodist ministry, being ordained Iw Bishop 
S. M. Merrill of the Northern Indiana Conference at the sessit)n held 
at Warsaw. He assumed his first pastorate at Orland. Indiana, where 
he remained for three years when he came to Bristol, acting as a 
minister of the Methodist Episco])al church here for two years. He 
was afterward assigned to the church at Ciarrett, Indiana, where he con- 
tinued for four years when he was com])elled to resign because nf ill 
health. He then spent two years in recuperating and in 1897 he opened 
his general mercantile store in Bristol, starting with a small capital but 
now carrying a large stock and conducting a very gratifying and con- 
stantly growing business. He also owns a small fruit farm mi tlie banks 
of Baldwin lake. 

In 1S76 Mr. Lamport was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Bas- 
sett. a daughter of Daniel and Nancy ( Lundyl Bassett. She w;is i)orn 
u])on a farm north of Bristol just over the boundary line in Michigan. 
Her mother was a descendant of a Lundy whose family name was given 
to an engagement of the war of 18 12 — the battle of Lundy's Lane. 
Her father. Daniel Bassett. was a millwright and came to Bristol when 
the to\\n was in its infancx-. Mr. and Mrs. Lamport had one ciiihl, 
Edwin Murray, who died in infancy. Thev are members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal chin-cb and his fraternal relations connect him with 
the Odfl Fellows and the Maccal;ees. while in his political views he is 
a Republican. He is widely known as a man of upright character, 
strong jnirpose and commendable jirincijiles. who as educator, nn'nister 



754 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

and merchant lias done much for his fellow man. Almnst his entire life 
has heen spent in this portion of the state, and his life record is as an 
open hdok which all may read. 

M. SHOOKMAN. 

M. Shookman, one of the progressive men in the mercantile circles 
of Goshen, for over ten years engaged in the grocery and meat husiness, 
was born in Cass county, Michigan, April 14, 1857. He is of German 
lineage through his father, and English through his mother. His 
father, Otho Shookman, a native of Ohio, came to Michigan with his 
])arents, was reared, educated and married in the latter state, has spent 
his life very successfully as a farmer, and still lives (in the Cass county 
homestead. The maiden name of the mother was Elizabeth Wright, who 
was born in ^lichigan and is still living. They were the parents of six 
children, four daughters and two s(jns, five of whom grew to adult age. 

Mr, Shookman, the third child and second son, was reared in his 
nati\e cnuntv. but received his education in the schools of Decatur, Van- 
buren county. After living on the home farm and assisting his parents 
until he was eighteen years old, he started out for himself liy engaging 
in the butcher business, which he follow'ed in the town of Decatur, 
j\'licbigau, about eight years. On selling out be spent some time in 
South Bend, this state, and located at (iosben in 1893. He and Mr. 
Simons conducted a retail grocen,- and meat market together for a time, 
and then Mr. Shookman bought the entire concern, and since tlien has 
carried on one of the leading provision stores in this city. 

Mr. Sliookman married, in iSBo, Miss Qiarity Rich, daughter of 
Josep'hus Rich, and they have one son, Bert. Mr. Shookman is a Demo- 
crat in iiolitics. and fraternallv is a memb.er of the Maccaltees. 

JOHN H. GARMAN. 

John H. Garman, controlling one of the leading productive indus- 
tries of his part of the county, being now engaged in the manufacture of 
hay racks, lawn swings, ladders and fruit packages, is a native of Jeffer- 
son to'wnshi]!. Elkhart count}', born on the jrjtb of July, 1858. His par- 
ents were Frederick S. and Mary A. ( Huff) Garman. The father was 
born in Union county, Pennsylvania, and died in i8go, at the age .of 
fifty-six years. The family is of German lineage, and the name \\'as 
originally spelled German, and it was in honor of this family that the 
village of Germantown. Pennsylvania, was named. Tlie original ances- 
tors in the new world came from Hesse-Darmstadt, and the founder of 
the family in Elkhart county was Peter Garman. the grandfather of our 
subject, who in 1855 made bis way westward from Pennsvlvania and 
settled on Middlebury road between Mi'ddlebury and Elkhart. He was 
quite a wealtln- man. and bis son. Frederick S. Garman. also became 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 755 

quite well to do. He followed the dccupatiuii ot farming- on Middlebury 
road and was active and prominent in community affairs. He held a 
number of township offices and at the time of the building of the county 
courthouse his great-uncle, William B. Carman, w-as county commis- 
sioner. Frederick S. Carman gave his political allegiance to the Dem- 
ocracy and his religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
His wife, who was torn in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, sur- 
vived him for a few years, passing away in 1893 at the age of fifty-eight. 
Her father. Isaac Huff, was a contractor and Iniilder and he served as 
major ni the state militia of Pennsylvania. Like her husband, Mrs. 
Carman \\as also a devoted memljer of the Methodist church. Uy their 
marriage they became the parents of four children: John H.: h'lla B., 
who died in 18S2 at the age of eighteen years; Mary Lovinia. in'w living 
in Chicago ; and Clara E., the widow? of Wilson Martin, of Chicago. 

John H. Carman acquired his eilucation in the district schools and 
read medicine in the office of Dr. F. M. Aitken at Bristol for three years. 
He also pursued a C(iurse of lectures, in Bellevue Medical College and in 
the College of Physicians and Surgeons, spending two ^-ears in the latter 
institution, when, owing to the ill health of his parents, he returned home 
without taking liis degree. He never finished his medical course and 
therefore drifted into other vocations. Following the death of his 
mother he came to Bristol, wdiere he established a small fruit box fac- 
tory. He has since kept adding tO' his plant until he now has one build- 
ing' forty by one hundred and ten feet, anotJier thirty-five by forty feet, 
a third twenty-two by forty feet and a fourth eig^liteen by forty feet, and 
all of these are utilized in the manufacture of hay racks, law^l swing's, 
ladders and fruit packages. Their trade extends all over the United 
States and intO' Canada. Mr. Carman also does a large mail order busi- 
ness in the sale of folding- chicken coops, of w-hich he is not only the 
manufacturer 1-)ut also the inventor. He is likewise the inventor of a 
foldmg fruit Irox, and possesses much mechanical ingenuity. The fac- 
tory is supplied with the most modern machinery for carrying on the 
work and the plant is in continuous operation, while the business is con- 
stantly increasing. Mr. Carman has developed it along modern lines 
and is now at tlie head of an important productix-e industry, furnishing 
employment to a large number of workmen and shipping an extensive 
output which goes to many parts of the country. He likewise owns a 
small fruit farm in this locality. 

In 1897 Mr. (iarman was united in marriage to Miss Emma Hutton, 
a daughter of John and Rebecca Hutton, wiio was born in Van Buren 
county, Michigan, in 1867. She was a school teacher prior to her mar- 
riage. Her father was an extensive miller and large land owner, who 
came to the west from New York. At the time of the Ci\il war he 
joined the Union army, becoming a captain in a Michigan regiment. At 
the battle of Missionary Ridge he was wounded and never recovered 
from his injur}-. The wound was a constant source of pain to him 



75() HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

until 1903. when he died from the effects nf his injuries in laattle. passing 
awav at his home in Cass county, Michigan. Ahout a year later his wife 
died at the home of her daughter in Van Buren county. Michigan. Mr. 
and Mrs. Garman have two children: Veda .\.. who was lx)m in Bristol 
in 1898; and Mariam Rebecca. Ixirn in July. 1900. Mrs. Garman is a 
member of the Baptist church and Mr. Garman has membership relations 
with the Maccabees and the Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a Re- 
])uhlican and has held minor township offices, but he gives the greater 
part of his time and attention to his business affairs. He has been the 
promoter of one of the leading industrial enterprises of Bristol and his 
success is well merited. His connection with any undertaking insures 
the prosperous outcome of the same, for it is in his nature to carr_\- for- 
ward to successful completion whatever he is associated with. He has 
earned for himself an enviable reputation as a careful man of business 
and in his dealings is known for his prompt and honorable methods, 
which li;i\e won him the deser\-ed and unbounded confidence of liis fellow 
men. 

HIRA.M K.WTZ. 

Hiram Kantz. carrying on general farming on section 22. Cleve- 
land township, is a native of Union county, now Snyder county, Penn- 
sylvania, born April 14, 1833. and is a son of Christian and Anna Mary 
(Spotts) Kantz, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. The 
father was a farmer by occupation, always following that pursuit in 
order to provide for his family. His death occurred in the countv of 
his nati\ity, and his wife also passed away there, her death occurring in 
1892, when she was ninety-two years of age, for she was born in 1800. 
Mr. Kantz was sixty-five years of age at the time of his demise. 

I-firam Kantz was the only child of their marriage, but l)oth had 
been jireviously married, the father having one son and the mother 
three daughters and a son by the first marriage. He spent the days of 
his Ixn'bood and youth in what is now Snyder county and attended the 
common schools. When twenty years of age he started out in life on 
his own account, working by the month, and has since been dependent 
entirelv upon his own resources. He was married in his native county 
to Miss Cassandra Walter, a native of Snyder county, and then turned 
his attention to merchandising, (ipening a general store at what was 
known as the Kantz postoffice, in .Snyiler county. Pennsylvania. There 
he remained until about iSCij, ,-iftcr which he engaged in farming in the 
Kevstone state until 1872, when he came to Elkhart countv, Indiana, 
establi.shing his home in Bristol, .\fter a brief period he remo\ed to 
his present location, in Sq^tember, 1872, and here he bought one hun- 
dred and twenty-six acres of land, on which he has since lived, adding 
modern iml^rovements and also cultivating his fields until it is now a 
tine i^irojierty, forming one of the attractive features of the landscape. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kantz became the ]iarents of seven children : Agnes, 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COL'NTY 757 

tlie wifv.' nf Le\i rhiinitoii; Cal\in, whu married Catherine Shinn and 
is a farmer of Lake county, Micliigan ; Nora, Sally and Anna, all de- 
ceased : Charles, who married Ella Diehl and resides in Elkhart: and 
Ernest, who married Harriet McKean and resides upon the home farm. 

Mr. Kantz is one of the respected citizens of Elkhart county and 
has taken an active interest in the development and suhstantial improve- 
ment of this part of the state, his time and influence being; counted upon 
as a substantial factor in sujiport of the ])ublic g<«id. He \'oles with 
the Democracy and his fellow townsmen have called him to public office 
on that ticket, he serving for two terms of two years each as township 
trustee. He is an active and devoted member of the Lutheran church 
and is well known in the county as a man worth}' the respect and con- 
fidence uniformly extendefl him. 

Ernest Kantz, who resides with his father on the nld honie farm 
and assists him in its c/peration. was here born June 13, 1878, and at 
the usual age he entered the public schools: therein continued his studies 
until he matriculated in the Elkliart Normal School, from which he was 
graduated with the class of igoo. T^e has always remained upoti the 
home farm and his labors ha\e materially advanced its work and im- 
provement. He is also active in politics and was elected township asses- 
sor in >;ovember, 1904, so that he is the present incumbent in the office. 
He was married September 2~. 1904, to Miss Harriet McKean and 
they are prominent young people of their locality. Mr. Kantz engaged 
in teaching school for one term, and his wife taught for three terms. 
They are members of the Lutheran church and he is interested in the 
political, intellectual and mriral jirogress of this conimunitv. 

JOHN J. FINK. 

John J. Fink, a young and progressive business man. wideawake to 
the opportunities and methods b_\' which success is brcuight about in this 
modem age, public-spirited as concerns the progress and upbuilding of 
his home community, is a popular and well known druggist of Wakarusa, 
where for some eight years he has been prominently identified with the 
various interests of the town. 

A native son of the township where he still niiikes his home, Mr. 
Fink was torn on a farm in Olive township, October 6. 1869. He is 
the fifth in a family of nine children, whose jiarents were Peter and Mary 
(Klouse) Fink. .Ml the children are living, three being residents of 
this county. Sarah is the wife of John Riddle, a fanner of Olive town- 
ship; Alcetta is the wife of Elliott Crull, superintendent of the Elkhart 
city waterworks, and she was a successful teacher before marriage : John 
J. h'ink is next in the famih' record: H. .\.. who was a teacher in this 
county, graduated from the Qiicago Medical College and is now a physi- 
cian and surgeon in South Bentl : Reuben, likew ise an ex-teacher of this 
county, is a druggist at South Bend: Emanuel .\.. a druggist of South 



7r>S HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 

Bend, for some time followed the family bent and taught school; Frankie 
is the wife of Mr. Baum, a prosperous merchant at Portland, Maine: 
Charles, a resident of South Bend, is mail clerk on the Lake Shore from 
Chicago to Cleveland : Mable, the youngest, who was educated in the 
Wakarusa high school and took the full course at the business college of 
South Bend, has for the past three years been a stenographer with the 
Automatic Telephone Company at Chicago. The father of the family 
is deceased, but the mother, who w'as bom in Ohio, April i, 1842, of 
German lineage, is living in Wakarusa, and a devout member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church at that place. 

Reared on his father's farm during the first twenty-one }'ears of his 
life. Mr. Fink attended the country schools as well as those in Wakarusa. 
and later took a course in pharmacy at Buffalo, New York, where he was 
graduated ivoni the professional school with the class of 1892. In Au- 
gust of the same vear he established, in connection with his brother 
Reuben, a drug store at South Bend. Two years later he sold out his 
interest there, came to Wakarusa and purchased, in September. 1897, 
the store of John H. Yoder, where he at once Ijegan to lay the foundation 
for his subsequent large business. In the summer of 1898 he located 
at the corner of Elkhart and Waterford streets, one of the most eligible 
business sites in the town, and he has maintained his business in all its 
bnuiches at a point abreast of the advance in the town and county gen- 
erally. At his store will always be found a complete line of drugs, pro- 
])rietarv and toilet articles, stock foods, stationery, and tobacco and cigars, 
and through most consistently honorable and sagacious methods of doing 
business his annual volume of trade has reached a high figau'e. 

October 17. 1894. Mr. Fink married Miss Alma Fidler. an accom- 
plished and energetic woman, a native of St. Joseph county, educated in 
the schoo'ls of Wakarusa, well trained in instrumental music, and she 
has made her home the realization of her best ideals. Her mother is de- 
ceased, but her father resides at South Bend. She is a member of the 
Search Light Club, the excellent literary and social organization which is 
exponent of the highest culture in Wakarusa. and she is also a charter 
member of the local chapter of the Eastern Star. Mr. Fink is a Demo- 
crat in politics, having cast his first vote for Cleveland, and locally he 
holds the of^ce of toAvn treasurer. Fraternally he affiliates with ^Masonic 
Lodge, No. 448, and with the tent of th.e ^laccabees. 

LUCIUS JAMES (iREENAN. 

Lucius James Greenan. who is filling the position of ])ostmaster in 
Bristol, was born on the old family homestead just outside the city lim- 
its of Bristol, April 3rd, 1871. His paternal grandfather, John P. 
Greenan. came from Ireland to the new world when about nineteen 
years of age and settled in Elkhart county, where he followed the occu- 
pation of farming. His son, James I. Greenan, now a prospeiT)US agri- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 759 

culturist of this county, was also born in Bristol, Indiana, September i. 
184^, and is now living on the home farm about a mile and a quarter 
north of the town, being at this w-riting. in 1905. sixty-three years of 
age. He is a member of the JNIethodist Episcopal church, actu-e in its 
work and interested in its growth. At the time of the Civil war he 
espoused the Union cause, enlisting in 1862 as a member of the Sixth 
Michigan Infantry, with which he served until the close of hostilities. 
He has ever been an advocate of the Republican party, which was cham- 
pion of the Union at the time of the rebellion in the south and which 
has ever been the party of reform, progress and improvement. He 
married Miss Helen C. King, a daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Brooks) 
King. She was bom in Michigan and was of Irish-German descent. 
She held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and in that 
faith passed away July 17, 1880. By her marriage she had become the 
mother of five cliildren, of whom four are yet living, namely: Ida, the 
wife of George A. Rine, a resident farmer of \\'ashington township : 
Lucius J.: Florence E. : and Lura B. For his second wife James I. 
Greenan chose Miss Mary E. Kirk and they have one living child, Lloyd 
E., who is with the St. Joseph County Savings Bank at South Bend, 
Indiana. 

Lucius J. Greenan was educated in the country schools and the 
Bristol high school, from wdiich he was graduated with the class of 
1892. He then continued his studies in the Northern Indiana Normal 
School at Valparaiso, after which he successfully engaged in teaching 
for six years. He was well qualified for a life of usefulness and activ- 
ity and during the past eight years has rendered capable service to Bris- 
tol in the position of postmaster, to which he was first appointed in 
1897 by President McKinley, while on the e.xpiration of the four years' 
term he was reappointed by President Roosevelt. He is now discharg- 
ing the duties of the office wnth promptness and fidelity, bringing to its 
administration the same qualities of accuracy, industry and conscien- 
tious application which had manifested the conduct of his private busi- 
ness interests. Like his father he is a stanch Republican, having firm 
faith in the principles and ultimate triumph of the party. 

On the loth of June, 1896, Mr. Greenan was united in marriage to 
Miss Maude W'eamer, at Auburn, Indiana. She was born in that place 
in [876, her parents being R. H. and Elvira (Gregg) Weamer. Her 
father was a printer and established the Steuben Countv RcpnhUcau at 
Angola, Indiana, and the Auburn Dispatch at .Auburn, Indiana ; while 
for some years he edited the Bristol Bmmer. Mr. Weamer also sjoent 
three years in the service of his countn', enlisting in 1862 and contin- 
uing until the close of the w-ar as a soldier of Company E, Second Ken- 
tucky Infantry. Mr. and Mrs. Greenan have one son. Kenneth Weamer, 
born March 24, 1901. Mr. Greenan holds rnembership relations with 
the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, and his wife 
is a member of the Alethodist Episcopal church and Order of Eastern 



-fiO HISTORY 01'^ ELKHART COUNTY 

Star. He is well knnwii in the county where his entire life has been 
passed, and is a popular citizen who has gained many friends because of 
his reliability in business, his trustworthiness in office and his considera- 
tion for all with whom he has been brought in contact. 

THOMAS HILBISH. 

The prc.isperity and growth of a ci immunity dejjend upon its com- 
mercial and industrial activity and the men who^ are in control of the 
leading business enterprises are the real promoters and upbuilders of 
their respective locahties. Thomas Hilbish, wdiose intense and well 
directed energies have given him prominence with representative men 
of the county, is now ow'ning and controlling an extensive department 
store in Bristol. His life record began in Juniata county. Pennsyl- 
vania, in 1842. The Hilbish family is of German lineage and was es- 
tablished in Pennsylvania at an early period in the development of the 
Keystone state. The name is found upon the roll of Washington's 
soldiers at the time of the Revolutionary war. Peter Hilbish was born 
in Pennsylvania and following his marriage came to Elkhart county, 
Indiana, in 1856, settling- in Washington township, where he followed 
the occupation of farming. He prospered in his business affairs, which 
he managed with great care, decision and energy, and although he was 
a tanner by trade and followed that pursuit in his early life, it was as an 
agriculturist that he gained his prosperity. His ])o]itical allegiance w-as 
given the Republican party and he was a member of the German Re- 
formed church. He married Katherine Peckhart, who was born in 
Snyder county, Pennsylvania, was also of German lineage, and was a 
member of the Reformed church. Mr. Hilbish died in 1858 at the age 
of sixty-three years, while his wife survived until 1882, ]iassing away 
at the age of seventy years. By their union they were the parents of five 
children: John, now deceased: Jonathan, who is living jn Washington 
township; Thomas, of this review: Peter, also of Washington town- 
ship: and Sarah, the wife of William Houseworth of Bristol. 

Thomas Hilbish was educated in the Bristol .schools and was reared 
to farm life, remaining with his father until twenty-three rears of age. 
when, thinking that he would find other )iursuits more congenial than to 
follow- the plow and the cultivator, he took u]) his abode in Bristol, where 
he established a general store in partnership with William C. Birch and 
.\ndrew- .\iken, under the firm name of \Y C. Birch & Companv. this 
relation being maintained for tliree years, at the end of which time ?^Ir. 
Birch retired and the firm style of Hilbish & Company was assumed. In 
1880 Mr. Aiken retired and Mr. Hilbish has since conducted the business 
alone. He now has a large department store of three rooms with a front- 
age of sixty-six feet on Main street. He carries drv goods, groceries, 
hardware and farm implements, and each dei)artment of the Imsiness is 
proving profitable, owing to his capable management and his understand- 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COl■NT^■ TO I 

ing of the public needs. In 1893 he estaljlisheil a ])ri\ate loank which is 
the only institution of the kind in Bristol, knuwn as the Banking House 
of Thomas Hilbish. 

In 1875 JMr. Hilbish was married to ISiiss Emma Walter, a daughter 
of Mr. Isaac Walter and a native of Snyder county, Pennsylvania, born in 
1852. They have three children : Clyde, who is with his father: Myron, 
who is bookkeeper for the Franklin Trust Company of Brooklyn, New 
York: and Florence. The family own an attractive home in Bristol, 
noted for its hospitality. Mrs. Hilbish is a member of the ^lethodist 
Episcopal church, while Mr. Hilbish belongs to the Reformed church. He 
is a Republican in politics and has been treasurer of Bristol. He owns 
farm lands in the township in addition to his home and business property 
and he is one of the representative citizens of the comity, who' while pro- 
moting individual success has also- advanced the generalwelfare. It has 
been through the utilization of opportunity that he lias risen to a prom- 
inent place in the public regard, working along modern lines and shaping 
conditions to meet his ends. Moreover his policv has ever been in accord 
with straightforward principles and he has naturally gained the respect 
and confidence of men. 

JACOB S. LEATHER^IAX. 

Jacob S. Leatherman is the owner of one of the best and most pro- 
ductive fruit farms in \Vashingtcn township and the place is an indication 
of his life of thrift, enterprise and practical effort. He was born in Mil- 
ford, Kosciusko ctninty. Indiana, March 20. 1855, his parents being John 
and Elizabeth (Mease) Leatherman, the former a native of Ohio and the 
latter of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. John Leatherman came to Indiana 
when the Avork of progress and improvement had scarcely been begun. 
He was a farmer by occupation and liecame quite prosperous, eventuallv 
owning one hundred and eighty acres, which was well cultivated and 
ecpiipped with good inipro\'enients. Both he and his wife were loyal 
members of the German Baptist church and died in that faith, the former 
passing away in 1873 at the age of fifty-eight years, while the latter died 
in 1873 ^^ the age of forty years. Both died of typhoid fever within a 
lirief space of time and their daughter. Sarah, also died of the same dis- 
ease. They were the parents of nine children, but the first born died m 
infancy. The others were Jacob S. : John H.. Rebecca. Sarah, and David, 
all of whom are deceased: Lavina, the wife of H. B. Lvtle. a friut 
grower of Jefferson township, and Mary and Emma, both deceased. Of 
this family David E. Leatherman was a soldier of the Spanish American 
war. He enlisted in Company B, Thirty-fourth Regiment of Infantry in 
Minnesota, on the 3th of August, 1899, and was mustered out at Presidio. 
California, April 17, 1901. He served his entire time in the Philippine 
Islands and contracted malaria, which developed into consumption. He 
returned home, and although he received a lirother's loving care from 



7G2 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Jacob S. Leatherman, and every medical attention possible, it was all of 
no avail and he died March 7, 1904, wiien in his thirty-seventh year. 

Jacob S. Leatherman acquired his education in the public schools of 
St. Joseph county, to which place his parents had removed. He was reared 
on the home farm, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that 
fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He arrived in \\'ashington township 
in the spring of 1874, when nineteen years of age, and entered the employ 
of Rev. Samuel Pease, the owner of a fruit farm, with whom he remained 
for two years. He then purchased thirty acres of land on section thirty- 
five, which was at that time all covered with timber, but with character- 
istic energv he began to clear away the trees and brush and he now has 
one of the prettiest and most productive fruit farms of his townshi]). He 
raises \arious kinds of fruits and is a capital horticulturist, thoroughly 
understanding the needs of his trees as to soil and climate. In 1898 he 
Ixiilt a lieautiful residence and fine barn on his place and his farm is alto- 
gether one of the best improved and attractive in Washington township. 

On the 22nd of January, 1878, Mr. Leatherman was united in mar- 
riagfe to Miss Gertrude Fisher, a daughter of Nicholas and Laura 
(Depew) Fisher. Her father was a farmer and became oue of the early 
settlers of Elkhart county. Mrs. Leatherman was born in Bristol in 
1858 and died April i, 1905. She was a devoted member and acti\-e 
worker in the Methodist Episcopal church, but for six years prior to her 
death was an invalid. L'nto Mr. and Mrs. Leatherman had been born 
four children: Noah D., who was born March 19, 1879, and is a fiaiit 
raiser of Washington tow-nship, married Bessie Corson, a daughter of Roe 
Corson, and they have one child,' Leone; Bertha, born November 9, 
1881, who became the wife of Clyde E. Pickerel, on November 28. 
1899, a farmer of Washington township, and they ha\e two children, 
Walford and Paul: Katie, born November 19. 1884. and Eunice, born 
February 7, 1895. are both at home. 

Mr. lleatherman has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church for a number of years and his labors have been effective in 
promoting its growth and extending its influence. He is now serving 
as steward and trustee of the church. He also belongs to the Knights 
of Pythias fraternity and in his political views is a Prohibitionist. He 
is interested in all that tends to promote the moral progress of his 
race and to this end he gives his active cfi-operation to temperance and 
church work. In business afifairs he is practical, far sighted and reliable 
and the fine appearance of his farm is an indication of his interest in his 
work and the progressiveness which marks his conduct of bis business 
affairs. 

L. BURR WHIPPY. 

Born in the city of Goshen. December 24. 1872. a son of the late Dr. 
W. A. Whippy and his wife Mary T. Whippy, it has been the good f(ir- 
tune of Mr. L. Burr ^^'hippy to spend jjractically his entire career in the 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY T63 

city of his birth, where for nearly ten years he has been numbered among 
tlie younger representatives of the Elkhart county bar. 

Practical-minded and energetic,- and possessed of the Hoosier wit 
which has distinguished so many sons of Indiana, he has. since his last day 
in the Goshen public schools, made his own way in the world. Before 
reaching majority he studied law one year with Charles W. Miller, now 
attorney general of the state, and during the three following years was 
engaged in the telephone business, operating the Goshen and Elkhart ex- 
changes for a time, and for the greater portion of the three years was in 
the arduous occupation of telephone construction in the west. A few days 
after his return to Goshen, in January. 1894. he entered the office and 
employ of Deahl & Deahl, the well known law firm, and has been con- 
nected with them ever since. He obtained admission to the bar in the fall 
of 1896. Besides attending to all the stenographic work' of the firm he 
has charge of their' probate practice, and also represents several insurance 
companies. 

An acti\'e Democrat and for m(_)St of tlie years since he became a voter, 
taking an interested part in practical politics. Mr. Whippy for the past six 
years has served as secretary of the Democratic central committee in this 
county. His social activity is mainly in connection with fraternal work. 
He has held all but two of the chairs in the Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 
41. and has been honored with all the offices in Tonawanda Tribe No. 
130. I. O. R. M.. being past sachem and at present chief of records. 

September 29. 1904. Mr. Whippy married Miss Retta A. Cripe. a 
daughter of Chauncey Cripe. Mrs. \\'hippy is one of the well known and 
successful teachers of the county, having taught three years in Goshen, 
nearly three years at W'aterford and one year at Millersburg. She is an 
active worker in the Baptist church, and esteemed in social circles. 

ROSS NICHOLSON. 

Ross Nicholson, living on section twentv-eight. Washingtnn 
township, where he owns and operates sixty-two acres of land, is a 
son of George Nicholson, who was born in Champaign countv. Ohio, 
in 1808, and died in this county in 1862. The jjaternal grandfather. 
James Nicholson, was also a native of Champaign count\- and with 
his brother, Vance, came to Washington township. Elkhart county, in 
the fall of 1828, walking the entire distance. Tliey came on a pros- 
pecting tour and being pleased with the country they returned to Ohio 
and brought their families to this state in the fall of 1829. The 
brothers entered land, some of which is now coniiirised within the 
boundaiy limits of Bristol. There was quite a colonN- made the journey 
from Ohio, including Thompson Nicholson, William Nicholson, who 
afterward went to Cassopolis, Michigan: Mary .\nn Lowe and others. 
George Nicholson began farming in this locality and lived upon his 
farm for sixty years. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal 



7r.4 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

church and when he passed away his remains were interred in Oak 
Ridge, the old g-raveyard. witli grandfatlier James, in the rear of the 
new school house in Bristol. His early political allegiance was given 
to the Whig party and he afterward became a stanch Republican. He 
was of Irish lineage and accompanied his father from the Emerald 
Isle to the new world, making his home in Ohio until he came to this 
state. He married Eliza Chess, who was born in Logan county. 
Ohio, in 1820, and died in 1876. She was of Irish extraction and was 
a daughter of William Chess, wIk.i was born on the high seas while 
his parents were coming from the Emerald Isle to the new world. 
Mrs. Nicholson was one of five children, the others being William, 
John, Finley and Lydia. By his first wife, Mary Bassett, George 
Nicholson had two children: Sarah Ann, who married Michael Frank 
and is living in Bristol : and Mary, the deceased wife of Andrew 
Shriver, who is now living in Illinois. By his- second marriage 
George Nicholson had eight children : Lydia, the deceased wife of 
George Cole ; Sophronia ; Finley. deceased : Rose, who is a milliner in 
Huntsville. Ohio: Olive, deceased: Ross: Emma, the wife of Judson 
Holmes of Washington townshi]): and E\a, who is living in Bristol. 

Ross Nicholson, who was born January 4. 1832. pursued his edu- 
cation in the district schools and in Bristol. He was reared upon the 
farm which his father had entered from the government on the north 
side of the river opposite Bristol, and throughout almost his entire 
life has given his attention to farming, although he conducted a meat 
market in Bristol for fifteen years, at the same time carrving on agri- 
cultural interests. He now lives on section twenty-eight, Washington 
township, wdiere he has sixty-two acres of land, and he likewise ow-ns 
forty acres in Jefiferson township, which is mostly planted to fruit. 
He is practical in his methods, forms his ]>laus readily and is deter- 
mined in their execution, and bis labors ha\-e been atten(le<l \\itb a 
gratifying measure of success. 

In 18S5 was celebrated the marriage -of Ross Nicholson and ]\Iiss 
Annie Hannan, a flaughter of John and Mary Hannan, who came to 
Jefiferson tdwnsliip, Elkhart count}', from (iermanv. in i860. Four 
years later U]j(;n the farm there Mrs. Nicholsim was Ijorn. and bv 
her marriage she has become the niotlier of se\en children — Berle, 
Finley. Hubert. Robert. Wilma, Helen. ;iud Mary. Mrs. Nicholson 
belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and. like her husband, slie 
.shares in the high regard of many warm friends. Mr. Nicholson is a 
member of the Knights of Pythi.as fraternity and in politics he was 
formerly a Democrat, but is now a Prohil)itioni.st, giving bis ballot in 
support of the principles and candidates of the party which embodies 
his views on the temperance question. He represents one of the oldest 
piioneer families of Elkhart county and the work of public imjirove- 
ment which was instituted by his gramlfather and carried forward bv 
his father buds an advocate in him, for be is interested in all that 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 



(05 



pertains to the general welfare and gives his support to many measures 
for the public good. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ross Nicholson have in then' possession two ot 
the old parchment deeds signed by President Martin Van Kuren and 
Andrew Jackson. 

REV. PETER HUFFMAN. 

Rev. Peter Huffman, a general farmer and one of the most suc- 
cessful potato growers of Indiana, was born in Noljle county, Indiana, 
November 13, 1863. His father, John W. Huffman, a native of Ger- 
many, became a resident of Ohio when thirteen years of age, emigrat- 
ing to the new world with his parents. He afterward lived in Stark 
county, Ohio, where he worked as a day laborer. He married Martha 
Howenstein, a native of Pennsylvania, their marriage being celebrated 
in Ohio. Thev removed to Indiana in 1862. settling at the place where 
Rev. Peter Huffman was born, and they became the parents of ten 
children, nine of whom reached adult age. 

Tlie second of the family was Rev. Peter Hutfman, who was alxiut 
sixteen years of age when he came to Elkhart county. He began 
working by the day, carrying water for the men engaged on the con- 
struction of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He worked two sum- 
mers as water boy, earning his first money when thirteen years of age. 
Later he turned his attention to farm labor and was employed by the 
month as a farm hand until eighteen years of age. He afterward fol- 
lowed the stonemason's trade for two years, after which he turned bis 
attention to agricultural pursuits on his own account, locating four 
miles northeast of N'appanee, where he rented land for two- years. 

Up to this time Mr. Huffman was li\ing with the people who owned 
the farm, but in 1887 he was married to Miss Martha Strycker, a 
daughter of Jacob Strycker. They began their domestic life on what 
is known as the Ira G. Hubbard farm in BaugO' township, four miles 
southwest of Elkhart, renting that place for a year, after which they 
removed to the Mike Weaver farm, a half mile south of Dunlap. .A 
year later Air. Huffman ]iurchased thirty acres in Baug'o township, 
making a payment of one thousand dollars and incurring an indebted- 
ness of one thousand dollars. For twelve years that farm was their 
home and he then purchased fifty-four acres of the Ira G. Hubbard 
farm adjoining. Later he removed to Jamestown, Elkhart county, 
Indiana, where he bought forty-seven acres, on which he engaged in 
farming until 1905, when he took up his abode at No. 719 Wolf 
avenue, in Elkhart, purchasing the home that he now occupies. He 
sold his thirty acre farm in 1900 but still retains possession of the 
tract of fifty-four acres. During the time that he owed for his first 
farm he sold wheat for forty-eight cents per Ixishel in order to ]my the 
interest. His life has been one of unremitting diligence and business 
activity and he is now an extensive potato grower, raising, in the vear 



7(!r, HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

if)04, twenty-six hundred luishels. He is the largest upland potato 
grower in this part of the county and the business is pro\ing jirofit- 
able. adding annually a good fund to his income. 

Rev. and Airs. Huffman ha\-e no children of their own but have 
an adopted daughter. Pearl Nelson. They are acti\e and influential 
workers in the German Baptist church, and Rev. Huffman has been 
connected with the ministry of that denomination for fourteen years, 
his work as pastor being in connection with the Osolo church, while 
formerlv he was assisting the Baugo church. His labors in this con- 
nection have been far reaching and beneficial. Rev. Huffman served 
as township trustee of Baug-o tnwnsbiii from November iTi. iqoo. 
until January i, 1905, being elected on the Democratic ticket. During 
a residence of twenty-six years in the county, he has become well 
known as the champion of progress, improvement and advancement 
along material, social, intellectual and moral lines, and his aid can be 
counted upon to further anything that is right. His own life record 
furnishes an example that is well wtirthy of emulation and proves that 
prosperity aind an honored name may lie won simultaneously. 

LOUIS HKLFRICH. 

Louis Helfrich is the well known and prospering furniture dealer 
of Elkhart, where he has been numbered among the substantial and 
enterprising business men for nearly twenty years. He is a man of 
marked fibility and alertness, qualities that insure commercial success, 
and at the same time possesses that public spirit which is a most im- 
portant asset in the civic wealth of any city. 

Mr. Helfrich was Ix^irn in Crawford county. Ohio, in Jackson 
township, July 14, 1852. His father. Peter Helfrich. was born and 
married in Germany, and settled in Crawford county, Ohio, about 
1843. -^ farmer and shoemaker by occu]iation. he came to this coun- 
try with little capital, besides his skill and industry, but by the use of 
both finally acquired a competency. His first purchase of land was 
only ten acres, but he added to this until he owned, at the time of his 
death in 1861, one hundred anrl thirty acres. His death was acci- 
dental, caused by a runaway team, and his wife met death as a result 
of falling downstairs. She was seventy-five years old at the time. 
Her maiden name was Barbara Bowman, and she was also a nati\-e of 
Germany. 

Mr. Louis Helfrich is the fifth of his jiarents' seven children, five 
sons and two daughters. Living at home and assisting his mother on 
the farm until he was eighteen years old, at that age he began learning- 
the wagon and carriage maker's trade at Galion, Ohio. After serxing 
an apprenticeship of two and a half years he did journeyman work at 
Bucyrus three years and at Cressline, after which he returned to Galion 
and engaged in the manufacture of carriages in connection with two 



HISTORY OI' ELKHART COUNTY 707 

'itlier partners, tlie firm being Kiinkel. Shupp and L. Helfrich. Eight 
vears later Shupp and Helfrich bought out the Kunkel interests and 
continued together three years longer, when Mr. Helfrich sold out to 
Mr. Shupp. On ^March i. 1887. he came to Elkhart and went into the 
furniture business. For the first year and a half the firm was H. Hel- 
frich and L. Helfrich, until Louis Helfrich bought out his partner, and 
since 1889 the business has been conducted by L. Helfrich and Son. 
Their stock of furniture is as large and varied as that found in any retail 
house in the county, and the house has been growing into the favor of 
the public ever since its establishment. 

As alreadv mentioned. Mr. Helfrich has often turned his attention 
aside from purely individual business affairs tO' that which affects the 
life and interests of his city. A Democrat in politics, he served one 
term in the city council. He is one of the leading meml>ers of the Grace 
English Lutheran church in Elkhart, having filled all the lay oftices and 
being deacon at this writing. 

Mr. Helfrich married. December 22. 1875, ]VIiss Louisa Stolz, and 
they have passed a most happy married life of more than thirty years. 
They are the parents of three daughters and one son : Harriett, the wife 
of Charles Hathaway, of Evanston. Illinois: Elmer, who is unmarried 
and who has lieen his father's partner for many years; Laura and (iladvs. 
both at home. 

OLn'ER H. SHAMORY. 

01i\'er H. Shamory. a representative of educational interests in 
Bristol, being now superintendent and assistant principal of the Bristol 
public school, is a native son of Washington township, Elkhart county, 
lx)rn on the 26th of August, 1869. The father, John Henry Shamory, 
is a native of Snyder county, Pennsylvania, and now resides on a farm in 
Washington township, at the age of sixty-nine years. He first came to 
Elkhart county in 1862 and there settled upon a farm. His ancestors 
had established a home in Pennsylvania at an earlv epoch in the histor}' 
of that state, coming to the ne\\- world from (iermany. John Henry 
Shamory is a carpenter by trade, but during the greater part of his life 
has carried on agricultural pursuits, and is still successfully engaged in 
that business in this locality. He belongs to the German Ref(5rmed 
church and exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and 
measures of the Democratic party. He married Elizabeth Lenig. who is 
of German-Swiss lineage and was born in Snyder county. Pennsylvania. 
She is also a member of the German Reformed church and is now sixty 
years of age. In the family of this worthy couple are three children : 
Clara E., the wife of Arthur Withers, of Elkhart, Indiana: Oliver H. : 
and Arthur M.. who follows farming on the old homestead. 

Oliver H. Shamory was educated in the public schools of Bristol, 
the high school of Wolcottville, the high school of LaGrange and the 
normal school of Goshen, and he also pursued normal courses through the 



7fi8 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

correspondence s}stem. He was reared upon the liome farm and, leaving 
scliool at the age of twenty years, lie has since devoted his attention to 
teaching, having heen connected with the grammar department of the 
schools'o'f Bristol for six years, and also acting as assistant principal. 
He has taught altogether in the schools of Bristol for nine years and in 
the country schools for five years. He is a capital educator, imparting 
clearly and' readily tO' others the knowledge that he has acquired. He has 
the faculty of inspiring the pupils with much of his own zeal and interest 
in the work and his lahors have been efl'ective and beneficial. 

In 1895 Mr. Shamory w'as united in marriage to Miss Dora May 
Kessler. a daughter of William C. and Katherine (Markley) Kessler and 
a native of Elkhart, born in 1873. Her father was a carpenter by trade, 
liut for a long period followed tlie occupation of farming. He is now 
deceased, but his wife yet lives in Elkhart. In their family were five 
children, Mrs. Shamorv- Ijeing the third daughter. By her marriage she 
has become the mother of one son, Kessler, who was born February 27, 
i8g6, in Bristol. Both Mr. and Mrs. Shamory are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, and she is now secretary of the Ladies" Aid 
Society. Mr. Shamory belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and 
to the Odd Fellows lodge, and his political allegiance is given tO' the 
Democratic party. He is a member of the Northern Indiana Educa- 
tional Association and he stands for progress not only in the line of his 
profession, but in all departments of activity that teud to' promote the 
material and moral welfare of the race and to^ uphold the political and 
legal status of the country. 

(iEORGE MILBL^RN. 

(leorge Milburn, who has wieldeil a wide influence in business and 
])olitical circles in Bristol, was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, 
May 13. 1839, and is a son of John and Martha (Rose) Milburn. The 
father was born in England, but in his early manhood became a resident 
of Canada, where he wedded Miss Rose, a native of that counti-y and a 
descendant of the early Dutch colonists of the New England states. Mr. 
Milburn follow^ed merchandising throughout his active business career, 
and at his death left a widow and four children, while two born of that 
marriage died in infancy and one son died in Cass county, Michigan, 
at the age of twenty-two years. Two sons, Thomas and John D., are 
now the only members of the family in Indiana. The mother died in 
Memphis, Tennessee, of yellow fever, in 1878. 

George Milburn acquired a good common-school education, much 
more ]:)ractical thsn theoretical, and when about sixteen years of age he 
came to the United States, where he began clerking for his uncle, "from 
wlKiUi he v.as named. The store was at Mishawaka, Indiana, and he 
there remained until 1865. During that time he acquired an interest in 
the celebrated Milburn wagon works at that place, but after the bio- fire 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY TtJU 

which destroyed a large part nf the plant, at ahout the close nf the Civil 
war, he disposed of his interests and renioxed to Bristol. Purchasing a 
small tract of land he engaged in fruit raising and from time to time, as 
his means permitted, added to his possessions until he now owns ahout 
three hundred acres of fine land in Washington township, over one hun- 
dred of which is planted to fruit-hearing trees. Since 1895, wp<"i li'^ 
retirement from the office of county auditor, he concentrated his energies 
upon the management of his invested interests, and finds that this occu- 
pies all of the time which he cares to give to Ixisiness affairs. He is a 
man of keen discernment, of unfaltering activity and industry and earn- 
est purpose, and his prosperity' is attrilxitahle in large measure to his 
own efforts. 

Mr. Milb'Urn is a Democrat, hut is not a politician 'm the usuallv 
accepted sense of the term, although he feels deep interest in the cpies- 
tions of the day and the adoi>tion, by the voters of the country, of those 
principles which he believes most conducive to good government. In 
1890 he \^•as made the Democratic candidate for auditor, and his popu- 
larity was evidenced by the victory he achie\-ed in overcoming the usual 
Republican majority of four hundred and \\inning' a majority of four 
hundred and sixty-five above that given his opponent. Abilit}-. prompt- 
ness and courtesy characterized his administration of the affairs of the 
office and uncptestionably he gave satisfaction to the general public, re- 
gardless of ]5olitical affiliation. He has also served for two terms as a 
member of the county council, was its first chairman and in fact filletl that 
position both terms. He was likewise a member of the \illage board of 
Bristol for a number of years and \\as treasurer of the school l:;oard for 
nine years. 

In 1864 Mr. Milburn was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Han- 
ford, who died two years later, and in 1868 he wedded Miss Elizabeth P. 
Congdon. They ha\'e si.x children, of whom four are now living: Henry 
H., now living in Seattle, Washington, where he is assistant secretary 
of the Northwestern Commercial Company, which owns a number of 
vessels sailing between that port and Alaska and Siberia : Marv E. : 
Laura, who died in January. 1892; and Helen, who was married in 189^ 
to W. S. Daniels, a merchant of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and died in 
April, 1899. at the age of twenty-three years, lea\-ing two children. 
George and Laura, now with their grandfather; Florence: and Rollin. 
Mrs. Milburn is a member of the Episcopal churcli and the family is 
prominent socially, their home being noted for its courteous and pleasing 
hospitalit}-. Mr. Milburn has never had occasion to regret his determina- 
tion to lea\f his native province and establish a home in the United 
States, with its li\-elier competition, greater business opportunities and 
advancement more quickly secured, for here he found good business 
opening, and by the impro\-ement and utilization of these he has become 
one of the substantial citizens of his adojited county. 



770 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

AUSTIN K. MENCiES. 

Austin E. Meng-es, who is a teacher in the grammar department of 
the Bristol schools, \vas horn in Bristol in 1874, his parents heing- John 
}. and Sarah Ann (Everingham) Menges. The father, who is of Scotch 
and German lineage, came from PennsyKania to Indiana in 1863, set- 
tling in Washington township, Elkliart ct.ninty. He has followed the 
occupation of farming throughout liis entire life, and he now resides 
upon a go«Kl farm ahout two'miles west of Bristol, at the age of fifty- 
se\en years. He is a memher of tlie Methodist Episcopal church and 
takes an active and helpful part in its work. In 1899 he left this cunty 
and went to Tennessee, where he resided until the spring of 1905, when 
he returned to the north and is now occupying a good farm which yields 
to him a gratifying income. His political views are in accord with the 
principles "advocated hy \\'illiam Jennings Bryan, and while living in 
Tennessee he served as township trustee. Fraternally he is connected 
with the Macca1>ees. He married Sarah .\nn Everingham. a native of 
L)Coming count\-. Pennsylvania, who is now living at the age of fifty- 
one years and is a daughter of Moses and Mary Ann ( Hitesman ) Ever- 
ingham. Her parents removed from Pennsylvania to York township, 
F'lkhart county. Indiana, and liiere the mother died, while the father's 
death occurred in Washington township, this county. Mrs. Menges 
Climes of (Juaker ancestry, hut is a memher of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. ii\ her marriage she hecame the mother oi three children : 
Austin E. : Walter, who is in the United States revenue service in Ten- 
nessee; and Mary, who died in T892 at the age of twelve years. 

.\ustin E. Menges, having passed through successive grades in the 
!;rimar\- and grammar departments of the p'ublic schools of Bristol, con- 
tinued liis education in the liigh school, from which he was graduated 
with tlie class of 1894. He also- spent one summer as a student in 
-Michael's University at Logansport, Indiana. He was reared to farm 
life and after lea\'ing school he began teaching in a district .school in 
Cass count\-, Alichigan. He also taught in Jefferson and \\'ashington 
townships of this county, and for the ',)ast four years has had charge of 
intermediate schools in Bristol, where he is now successfully teaching. 
He is a capable educator, well qualified for the work he has undertaken, 
and his zeal and interest therein are an inspiration to his pupils. 

Air. IMenges was married ti> JNliss Irene Alverson, a daughter of 
Isaac N. and Katherine A. Alverson. Mrs. Menges was born in 1877 
and died in 1899, leaving a son. Austin, whose birth occurred in that 
\-ear. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and her 
death was dee]Dly regretted bv many friends. Mr. Menges was again 
married in 1901. his second uninn heing with Cora E. King, a daughter 
of S. IT. and Ellen King, the former a farmer and stock raiser. Airs. 
Menges was born in Cass count}. Atichigan. in 1879, and she has ha<l three 
children: Marv, born in Cass cnunt\- in hjoj: Russell, liurn in Bristol 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY TTl 

in 190?: and Ellen B.. born June 16, 1905. and died August 30. 1905. 
The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for 
■several years Mr. Menges lias been secretary of the Sunday school here. 
Fraternally he is a Mason and a Samaritan, and politically is a Democrat. 
He belongs to the Northern Indiana Educational Association and is in- 
terested in all that tends to advance the public school system of the state 
and render it more effective as a preparation for life's practical duties. 
He has traveled quite extensively, for from 1883 tmtil 1889 he resided 
in Bartow, Florida, where he attended school through the summer 
months. He is well known in Bristol and Elkhart count>- and is com- 
mended for iiis conscientious devotion to professional duties as well as. 
his fidelity tc all of the principles that develop honorable manh( -' 



lood 



lU.V r.. WINEGAR. 

The attractiveness of b'.lkhart dainty as a place of residence is indi- 
cated by the fact that many of her native sons liave always made their 
home within her borders, and to tliis class belongs Ira B. Winegar. He 
now lives on section tiiirtcen. Washington township, where he owns and 
operates two hundred and three acres oi rich land. His liirth occurred 
in ^'ork tov.-nship in i<S6j. and he is one of the seven children born to 
Edmund M. and Catherine ( Wdodard) Winegar, the former bom in 
New York slate in 1828 and the latter in LaGrange county, Indiana, in 
1831. Edmund M. W^inegar removed from the Empire state to Indiana 
with his parents, Ira and Mary Winegar, in the year 1839, and here the 
grandfather entered eighty acres of land from the government, develop- 
ing therefrom a good farm. He had four children: Edmund M., Phil- 
lip, James E. and George. Of this famih', James, who was formerly a 
woolen manufacturer of Goshen, Indiana, is now living retired in Iowa 
at tile age of eightv-six years. Edmund M. Winegar was reared upon 
his father's farm and throughout his entire life carried on agricultural 
])ursuits. Fie prospered in liis undertakings, and at the time of his death 
was in possession of three hundred acres of valuable land. His sound 
business judgment and reliability were recognized by all who knew him, 
and in his later years he was often consulted by his neighbors regarding 
legal nritters. and he frequently tried cases in the justice courts. In 
politics he was a Democrat, prominent in the local ranks of the party, 
;uid he serx'ed as assessor to York township for twenty years and was 
also to\\nshi]) trustee. His fraternal relations were with the Masonic 
lodge and in his life he exemplified the teachings and tenets of the Craft. 
He stood high in the estimation of his friends and neighbors and was a 
man oi kindly, bene\-olent spirit, in whom the poor and needy found 
a friend. He was thrice married, bin first union being with J^Iiss Sarah 
Mcli, liy whnm he had one son, Mtmroe, who is now a practicing physi- 
cian i)f Hamilton, K;nisas. For bis second wife he chose Catherine 
\\'nndar(l, whose parents crune from Ohio to Indiana at an earh- dav. 



772 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

settling in LaGrange county. The father Un>k up his abode upon a farm 
and was also engaged in the lumber business. By their marriage there 
were seven children: Julia, who died at the age of sixteen years; 
Ouincv D.. a farmer residing in York township: Carrie, the wife of C. X. 
Blood, of York township: Jennie, the wife of Joseph McCann, a farmer 
of the same township: Ira B. : Nellie, the wife of Clement L. V. Hedrick, 
a practicing physician of Kansas City, Missouri ; and George, who died 
about 1900. Mrs. Winegar died in 1894, and Mr. Winegar for his 
third wife chose Mrs. Ellen Franks. To this maiTiage was born one son. 
Ed. aged six years. His mother is still living in Jefferson township, the 
wife of Da\id Logan, a farmer in that townshi]^. Mr. \\'inegar sur\ived 
until November 16. 1900. 

Ira B. ^Vinegar, having obtained his preliminary education in tlie 
district schools, continued his studies in the Middlebury high schools. 
He was reared to farm life, which occupation he yet follows, and his 
home is now on section thirteen. Washington township, where he has a 
valuable tract of t\\o hundred and three acres of land that he has placed 
under a high state of cultivation. He also has ninety acres in York 
township and in his farming operations is meeting with excellent success. 

Mr. Winegar was married May 21. 1901, to Miss Grace L. Cong- 
don, a daughter of Ira F. and Sarah (Crumlxiker) Congdon and a native 
of Earned. Kansas, torn in 1880. Her father was a farmer and was 
born in Washington township. With the exception of three years he 
has always lived in Washington township, and he is of Scotch Irish de- 
scent. Both he and his wife now reside in Bristol. Mr. and Mrs. Wine- 
gar ha\-e one child. Warren, who was born in March. 1901. Mrs. Wine- 
gar belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Winegar is a 
Democrat, who has served as assessor. Both enjoy the warm regard of 
a large circle of friends, the hospitality of the best homes of their town- 
ship being accorded them. In his farm life Mr. Winegar has worked per- 
sistently and earnestly, realizing that labor is the basis of all success, and 
he now has valuable propert}' interests which make him one of the leading 
agriculturists and prosperous residents of Washington township. 

HON. ABRAH.\M LINCOLN BRICK. 

As the congressman irum the thirteenth Indiana district, which 
includes Elkhart county. Hon. A. L. Brick, though a resident of South 
Bend, has a definite place in the history of Elkhart county. Born on 
a farm in St. Joseph county. May 27, i860, he is distinct!)- a man of 
the world insofar as familiarity with men and affairs in all the depart- 
ments of life is concerned. As a boy he entered with whole-souled en- 
thusiasm into the sports of his neighborhood and acquired that love 
for nature which has always remained with him as an abiding trait. 
He attended a country school, where, studious and not undulv mis- 
chievous, he gained the affection of his first teacher in a wa\- that 




ABRAHAM L. BRICK 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTV 77^ 

called irom her. many years later, a \'ery appreciative trihiite U> his 
mincl and character in its plastic state. 

His tatlier. William \\'. Brick, wlm was a good old country 's(|uire 
and is ^vell remembered in the count}-, moved to South Bend when 
Abraham was still a boy. and there he became acquainted with life in 
new and practical phases. Willingness to work at any honest labor 
that would give him an honest penny was a Yankee (|uality which 
earl_\- manifested itself in the case of this future statesman. He sold 
newspapers, chopped wood and carried it from the street to the upper 
stories of many business buildings of South Bend, did all sorts of 
jobs; then became a deli\-ery boy for the George \\"yman dry goods 
house, delivering carpets in a wheelbarrow along the principal thor- 
oughfares of the city : then became the jack-of-all-trades and useful-man 
for a clothing house, in which he had to brush all the clothes once a 
week, scrub floors, and anything else that might suggest itself to the 
managing bead. ,\nother vacation was spent with another clothing 
house, and he next became a general office boy for J. B. Arnold, in the 
law, abstract and real estate business. 

All this time young Brick was making the best of his opportunities 
in the ward and high schools of Sotith Bend, and after graduation 
from the high school he entered Cornell University and later went to 
Yale, but ill health comjielled him to leave the latter institution before 
graduating. After spending a period in recuperation on a Kansas 
ranch, he entered the University of Michigan and was graduated in 
18S3. He had, while still a boy. fixed his mind upon the law as his 
profession, and by private stud}^ as well as universitjf aid, he never 
ceased preparation until he was ready to take up active practice. On 
beginning practice in South Bend, he started alone, his parents both 
dead and he without means, except his industry and nati\-e ability, 
through which he became later on one of the strongest lawyers in the 
state. Upon being elected to congress, he formed a partnership with 
D, D, Bates, and today they make, with A. G. Graham who has lately 
entered the firm with them, a legal combination unexcelled anywhere. 

Mr. Brick's career in public service beg^an with his term as state's 
attorney. 1886-88. In iSgo he was elected chairman of the thirteenth 
congressional district Repu1>lican committee, serving- until 1892: was 
delegate and a member of the committee on credentials at the national 
convention in St. Louis in 1896. when W'illiam Mclvinlev was first 
nominated for president on the Republican ticket. This usefulness in 
partv affairs and his increasing reputation and abilitv as a lawyer and 
man of afifairs made him available in the larger fields of national 
politics, and in 189S he was compelled to accede to the wishes of his 
friends and accept the nomination for congress as re]:)resentative of the 
thirteenth district. He was elected, and since then has been four times 
nominated without opposition and each time elected, the last time in 
November, 1904, when he received the unprecedented majority of seven 



774 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

thousand votes. His reputation as a forcible speaker and h.igical de- 
Ijater, earned in his hoine district many times over, followed him and 
was proved in the halls of national legislation, where he has with di.s- 
tinction identified himself with the remarkable series of policies by 
which the Republican jiarty has gained and maintained its powerful 
ptisition in this country. 

Mr. Brick has a cozy home in South Bend, where he and his fam- 
ily, consisting of his wife and daughter Estelle, spend most of the time 
exce]:)t during the congressional term at Washington. 

GEORGE B. CAINE. 

Oorge B. Caine is the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred 
acres on section fifteen, York township, in the midst of which stands 
a fine residence. There he is engaged in general agricultural pursuits 
and in the raising and shipping of stock, and his business ability and 
close application have won him prosperity. He was born in Cuyalioga 
cottnty, Ohio, in 1859, and comes of Manx ancestry. His father. Abel 
Caine, was also a native of Cuyahoga county, and his death occurred 
in 1889. when he was in the sixtieth year of his age. He arrived in 
Indiana in 1875, settling in York township, this county, where he fol- 
lowed the occupation of farming. He was the fourth in a family of 
six children, five sons and one daughter, and the family was estab- 
lished in Ohio at an early period in its development. His political 
support was given to the Republican party from the time of its organ- 
• ization. He was recognizecl as a citizen and man of worth, receiv- 
ing the good will and respect of those with whom he came in contact. 
He married Emaline Chase, also a native of Cuyahoga county. Her 
parents died in Ohio, while Mrs. Caine passed away about 1870. at 
the age of thirty-two years. She was a member of the Disciples' 
church and was one of three children, the others being sons. Mr. and 
Mrs. Caine became the parents of seven children : Charles H., who 
is living in Cleveland, Ohio; Arthur, a resident of Bedford. Ohio; 
Miles, deceased: George B. : Mar\-, the wife of Z. T. Flick, a mill- 
wright of Bedford, Ohio: Clara, who is also li\-ing in that place: and 
Christiana, deceased. 

George B. Caine acquired a common school education and when 
about t^\•enty-one years of age took up his aliode in York township. 
Tliat was in 1880 and he purchased the farm upon which he now 
resides, on section fifteen, owning here one hundred acres of good 
land which res]3onds readily to the cultivation bestowed upon it, re- 
turning golden harvests for the care and labor of the owner. An im- 
portant branch of his business, however, is his stock raising and ship- 
ping interests and he is now quite well known as a dealer in live stock. 

In 1880 Georg-e B. Caine was united in marriage to Miss Jennie 
-\riddleton. a daughter of Isaac and Susan (Gates) Aliddleton and a 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 775 

nati\e of La Grange, Lidiana. Ijom in 1862. Her father was a farmer 
and at tlie time of the Civil war enlisted for service with the Union 
army, his death occurring- in a hospital as a result of a wound sus- 
tained in battle. Mr. and Mrs. Caine have one daughter. Elsie, now 
fourteen vears of age. The parents are members of the Christian 
church and Mr. Caine is a Republican, now serving for the second 
term as township assessor. The invariable law of destiny accords to 
tireless energy, industry and ability a successful career, and the truth 
of this assertion is alnmdantly verified in the life of Mr. Caine, whose 
business career has not been free from difficulties and obstacles, yet he 
has overcome these by determined puirpose and laudable endeax'or. 
working" his way steadily upward to success. 

JOHN IRA BURKLEY. 

John Ira Burkley, who is successfully engaged in the raising of 
thoroughbred Durham cattle, and is the owner of a \aluable farm of 
three hundred and eighty acres on section twenty-nine, York town- 
ship, was born in Middlebury, Elkhart county, December 4, 1862. His 
father, John G. Burkley, was a native of Germany and in the "50s 
came to the United States, establishing his home in Middlebury. He 
was a stone mason and plasterer bv trade and folloA\ed those pursuits 
until after the inauguration of the Civil war, when he enlisted in 
defense of the Union cause as a meml^er of the 21st Indiana Batter}-, 
with which he did active service until killed at the battle of Chicka- 
mauga, September ig. 1863, thus gi^•ing his life as a ransom for his 
country. As long as memory remains to the Anierican people they 
will cherish the history of those who foug-ht and died for their coun- 
tiy and as an adopted son of the Linited States John G. Burkley was 
especially worthy of the praise and gratitude of the nation. He held 
memtership in the Lutheran church. His wife, who bore tlie niaiden 
name of Louise Hess, was born in Homer. ^Michigan, and died in 
1894. at the age of fifty-five years. She. too. was a member of the 
Lutheran church. After losing her first husband she became the wife 
of Thomas Murphy. The children of her first marriage were Eliza- 
beth, now- deceased, and John, of this review. 

In the common schools John Burklc)- acquired his education and 
his boyhood days were spent upon a farm. He has alwavs followed 
agricultural interests and is now the owner of three hundred and 
eighty acres of arable and producti\-e land on section twenty-nine, 
York township. He raises throughbred Durham cattle and also 
high grades of other, stock. His life has been one of continuous activ- 
ity, in which has been accorded due recognition of lalDor, and todav 
he is numbered among the substantial citizens of his countv. 

August 23. 1896, Mr. Burkley was married to Mrs. Pliebe Myr- 
tilla Daily, the widow of John Daily and a daughter of Jnel H. 



776 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

Austin. Her father was at one time a minister of the Methodist 
Episcopal church and afterward united with the ministry of the Bap- 
tist church. He acted as pastor of a clun-ch in Lima. Indiana. His 
wife, who 1_;ore the maiden name of .\nianda Irena Ludington, was 
l3orn in Tioga county. Pennsyh-ania, and died January 29. 1902, at 
the age of seventy years, hut Rev. Austin is still lixing in Goshen. 
They were the parents of three children : Emory Eugene, a resident 
of Goshen: \\'ellington J., who is connected with the postoi^ce ser\-- 
ice in Chicago: and Mrs. Burkley. Mrs. Burkle)- has an old family 
Bihle which was published in 1789 and was brought from Ireland hy 
her grandmother, Martha Austin. This is one of the oldest hooks 
found in the county of Elkhart. Indiana. 

Rehekah Rose, Mrs. Burkley's great-aunt, was horn in Litchfield 
county. Connecticut, October 13. [795. four years liefore the death 
of Gen. Washington, and was a daughter of Russell Rose, an officer 
in the Continental army for seven years, and a member of the staff of 
General Washington. Mr. Rose had three brothers in the Continental 
armv. Russell Rose removed from Connecticut and settled in the jires- 
ent towaiship of Sullivan. Tioga county. Pennsylvania, in 1807. It 
was in the townships of Sullivan and Covington that almost the entire 
life of Rehekah was spent. She was a maiden of twelve when she 
came to Tioga county. Her father died at the age of seventy-seven 
and her mother at the age of ninety-three, and she had one sister 
who died at the age of ninety-nine. Mrs. Burkley's grandmother's 
name was Phoebe Rose, and she wedded William Ludington. 

Bv her first marriage Mrs. Burkley had one son. John Emory 
Daily, and a daughter has been Ixirn unto our subject and his wife, 
Louise Irene, whose birth occurred Septemlier t8, 1899. The parents 
are members (if the Lutheran church and Mr. Burkley is connected 
with the Knights of Pythias fraternity, while in his political views he 
is an earnest Democrat. In business affairs he is energetic, jirompt 
and notably reliable and his close application to business and his ex- 
cellent management ha\e brought to him the high degree r>\ prosper- 
ity which is today his. 

DAVID B. COX. 

David B. Cox. who is following agricultural pursuits on section 
twenty-seven, Washington township, where he owns one hundred and 
five acres of rich and well impro\ed land, was born in Juniata county. 
Pennsylvania, in 1846. His father. W'illiam .\. Cox. was a nati\'e of 
the same township and county in which the son was born, and was of 
Irish lineage, the famil}', hr)wever, having been founded in Pennsyl- 
vania at an early epoch in its settlement. One of the representatives 
of the name served as a (|uartermaster in the Revolutionary war. 
William .\. Cox in earh- life learned the trade of a stone mason and 
brick layer. l)ut through many years followed the occupation of farm- 



HISTORY OF ELKH.\RT COUXTY T77 

ing. He wedded Mary Knepp, wln) was l)orn in Pennsyhania and 
was of German lineage. They came to Indiana, settling on the farm 
now owned by their son, David, and there the father continned to 
engage in agricnltural pursuits up to the time of his death, which 
occurred in 1895. when he was sixty-four years of age. flis political 
l)e!ief was that of the Democratic party. His widow still survives 
him and is now living on the old homestead at the age of eighty-five 
years. They were the parents of five children: Luther T.. now de- 
ceased: David B. ; Hebron T. and Mary S.. both deceased: and Ylartha 
M., the wife of Summerville Light, pastor of the Methodist F.piscopal 
church at Elkhart. 

David 11 Cox was reared niion the home farm and attended the 
comnK.in schools. Lie taught in the public schools U)\- ten years diu'- 
ing the winter seasons and in the summer months worked upon the 
farm. l>ut now gives his undivided attention to agricultural interests 
and is the owner of one hundred and fi\-e acres of rich and arable 
land Iving on sections twenty-seven and thirty-three. Washington 
township. The ]jlace is well impnncd and the land is productive, so 
that he annualh- har\'ests good cro|)s that return tn him a gratifying 
income. 

Mr. Cox was married in 1869 to ^liss .Vlmira Zeigler, a nati\-e 
of Pennsylvania, born in 1847. Her parents. Harrison and Katherine 
Zeigler, came to ^^'ashington township. Elkhart county, in 1848. and 
casting in their lot with the pioneer settlers here resided until called to 
their final rest. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are the parents of four children, 
but lost their first born. Ida AI. The others are Mary, Elma and Elsie. 
Mrs. Cox is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. 
Cox belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity of Bristol Castle 
369, in which he has occupied all of the chairs. In politics he is a 
Democrat and has been trustee of the village schools. He has con- 
ducted his business affairs with tireless energy, industry and ability, 
resulting in success, and is now one of the leading and enterprising 
agriculturists of his communitv. 

NICHOLAS TRACY FISHER. 

Nicholas Trac\' Fisher, whose farm of one hundred acres on sec- 
tion twenty-eight, York townsbip. is a well improved property and 
in its excellent appearance indicates the supervision of a painstaking 
and progressive owner, is one of the citizens that the Empire state has 
furnished to Elkhart county. His birth occurred in Ulster county. 
New York, in 1852, his parents being Nicholas and Laura A. 
(Depew) Fisher. His father was born on the German-French border 
and came to America that he might enjoy better business opportuni- 
ties. He removed from New York to Indiana in 1854 and later be- 
came the owner of an excellent farm in this countv. Further men- 



778 HISTORY Ol- ELKHART COUNTY 

tion of him and his wife are made in connection with tlie sketch t)f 
George A. Fisher, on another page of this work. 

Nicholas T. Fisher, spencHng liis ho\-hond days under tlie parental 
rodf, was reared to farm life, working in the fields through the 
summer months, while in the winter seasons he attended the pnhlic 
schools. After arriving at years of maturity he was married, on the 
4th of January, 1877, to Miss Delia Carmer, a daughter of Lyman 
and Catherine (Royer) Carmer. Her mother came to Indiana in 
1850 with her second husband, her first husband having died in Ohio. 
She then married John Long and on their removal to this state they 
took up their a1x)de in Washington township, Elkhart county. Mrs. 
Fisher was born in Ohio in t86i and had two sisters: Nettie, now 
the wife of Jacob Pickerell, a resident of Middlebury. Indiana: and 
Ella Mav, deceased. The mother departed this life in 1904 at the 
home of her daughter, Mrs. Fisiier, when sixty-six years of age. She 
was a memlser of the Methodist Episcopal church and was of German 
lineage, while the Carmers were descendant from old English stock. 
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Fisher was blessed with two daughters: 
Myrtle, now the wife of Charles Steinberger, a carpenter residing at 
^Vawaka. Indiana: and Elsie, the wife of Harvey Cooper, wh'o' is liv- 
ing in York township. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Fisher are members of the Methodist Ei>is- 
copal church in Middlebury and are interested in various church ac- 
tivities in which they co-operate, at the same time contributing gen- 
erously of their means to the support of the church. Mr. Fisher is 
also connected with the Knights of the Maccaliees and in his jiolitical 
views is a stalwart Repu1)lican. He was elected township trustee of 
York townshiji in the fall of 1004, so that he is the present incumbent 
in the office. For more than a half century he has lived in this countv. 
covering almost the entire period of his life and that he is best liked 
where best known is an indication that his career has at all times been 
in harmonv with upright, manlv ])rinciples. 

ELMER E. SIMMONS. 

Elmer E. Simmons, who farms one hundred and forty-fi\e acres 
T>f land and is raising fancy stock in JefYer.son township, is a native 
son of Elkhart county and a typical representative of the citizenship 
of the middle west, being alert, enterprising and progressi\e. He was 
born in Goshen in 1862 and is in the maternal line descended from a 
pioneer family whose residence in the county dates from i8j6. His 
father. Moses Simmons, was born in Miami county, Ohio, in 1834, 
and died January 2. 1897. He came to Indiana in 1846. making the 
journey westward with his parents, who settled in Harrison township, 
Elkhart county. His father was a native of Ohio and reared a family 
of ten children, namely: Moses, Aaron, John, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY T79 

Xoali, Marv. Sarali and Barbara. Moses Simmons was a carpenter 
and stair builder and did mucb work of that character in his IwaHty. 
In his later years he turned his attention to farming and through his 
well conducted business interests acquired a competency, so that he 
left his family in comfortable financial circumstances. He was a 
prominent member and active worker in the Baptist church and served 
as an officer in both church and Sunday-scliool, acting as superin- 
tendent of the latter. His early political allegiance was given to the 
Democracy and later he became a stanch Prohibitionist. He served 
as a member of the city council tif (ioshen and his interest in public 
affairs led to active co-operation in many movements which tended to 
promote the general advancement and upbuilding of his community. 
He married Catherine Rush, who was born in Concord township' in 
1838. 

Her father, Josiah Rush, was one of the prominent jjioneer set- 
tlers of this portion of the state. He was born in Ohio and came with 
his parents to Elkhart county in 1826,. settling on the edge of Pleasant 
Plain, south of Elkhart, where his father had entered one hundred 
and sixty acres of land, a part of which is still owned by his grand- 
children. Josiah Rush was reared upon this farm and when a young- 
man he entered from the government one hundred and sixty acres of 
land in Concord township, four miles south of Elkhart, There he 
carried on general farming and as his financial resources increased he 
extended the boundaries of his farm. It was also upon that place that 
he reared his family, numbering six children, namely : Jessie, de- 
ceased: Mrs. Catherine Simmons; Matilda, who is the wife of George 
Morris and a resident of the state of Washington ; James, a farmer 
of North Dakota : Noah deceased: and one who died in infancy. 

Josiah Rush, who was reared upon a farm, continued in that oc- 
cupation throughout his active business career or until his retirement 
to private life. In the fall of 1872 he removed to Huntsville, Ala- 
bama, where he owned a large tract of land, upon which he lived for 
seven years. He then brought his wife back to Indiana and she died 
at the home of Moses Simmons, in 1879. when sixty-six years of age. 
while Mr. Rush departed this life in California in 1887. at the age of 
seventy-four years. 

The Simmi.ins family has a creditable record in connection with 
military service, for John. Abraham and Isaac Simmons, brothers of 
Moses Simmons, were soldiers of the Civil war. Abraham joined the 
army at the beginning of hostilities and attained to the rank of captain 
of a companv of the Twenty-first Indiana Heavy Artillery. Isaac was 
a member of the same companv and regiment, and also attained official 
rank. By the bursting of a gun lie almost lost his life. He was but a 
boy at tlie time of his enlistment. 

In the family of Mo.ses and Catherine (Rush) Simmons were six 
children, but the eldest died in infancv. The others are: Mvron E., a 



780 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUXTY 

millwright living in Mississippi; Elmer E. ; Oliver E.. a farmer of Jef- 
ferson township: .\rthur E.. deceased: and Clara M., the wife of S. G. 
Farr. a farmer and stock raiser living near Kankakee. Illinois. He is 
of English descent and his father was one of the pioneers of Illinois. 

Elmer E. Simmons at the usual age entered the district schools, and 
he also pursued his education in Goshen. He was only ten years of age 
when his parents removed to the home farm and he early became familiar 
with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the stock. Later 
he operated a sawmill upon the farm for six years, and then went to 
Missouri, where he was engas;ed in the lumber business for three years. 
Upon his return to Elkhart count\- he located on the home farm on 
section thirty-five, Jefiferson townshi]!, where he has since carried on 
general agricultural pursuits and stock raising, having some fancy stock 
upon his place. He owns here one hundred and forty-five acres of land 
which is rich and productive and annually returns to him golden harvests. 

In 1884 Mr. Simmons was married to Miss Clara Morlan. who was 
born near Nappanee, Indiana, in 1864, a daughter of Alartin H. Morlan. 
Avho was an engineer antl is now living retired in Jefferson township. 
He comes of Quaker ancestr}'. He married Amy \A'inder. and the 
Winders and Morlans are both of English descent, and among their an- 
cestors were those who came over in the JNIayflower. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Morlan emigrated from Ohio and located in Elkhart county when quite 
voting. They had a family of eight children, of whom five are living: 
Hilbert, of Elkhart: Clara: Elihu, who is living in Stark county: Mary, 
of Harrison tow^nshi]!, Elkhart county : and James, a teacher in the high 
school at Alexandria, Indiana. 

Four children graced the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Simmons, l)ut 
Otis, the first born, is now deceased. The others are Wilma and Mildred, 
both in high school at Goshen, and Noble. The parents are members of 
the Baptist church and are well known socially, enjoying the hospitalitv 
of many of the best homes of this section of the countv. 

ALBERT YATES. 

Albert Yates, one of the best known residents of Goshen and of 
Elkhart county, with which he has been actively identified since the Civil 
war period, was Ixirn in Miami county, Ohio, April 12. 1840, and came 
to this county when he was eighteen years old. .\ man of substantial 
character and whose activity has in many ways benefited his countv. he 
has spent his mature years in tiiis count}- engaged until recentlv in the 
vigorous and successful direction of his farming and other interests. 
While devoting himself with characteristic energ^• to the pursuits which 
have provided his material comfort, he has also been deeply interested 
in the public welfare, and has held public office and lieen identified with 
various of the institutions of organized society. 

His father w^as Edmond S. Yates, born and reared in New Jersev, 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 78 1 

who followed the occupations of fanner and stone-mason and who spent 
most of his life in Miami county, Ohio, where he died at the age of sev- 
enty-three. He was a member of the Old-School Baptist church. His 
wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Lemon, was torn in Hamihon 
county, Ohio, and was also about seventy-three years of age at the time 
of her death. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom 
Albert was the twelfth child and now the only one living. 

After spending his childhood and toyhood in his native county. Mr. 
Yates came to Elkfiart c(umty m 1859, and for several years thereafter 
followed the carpenter"s trade. In 1864 he enlisted in a hundred days 
companv and was made second lieutenant of Company D, One Hundred 
and Thirty-sixth Indiana Infaiitn,-. On his return to Goshen he entered 
into business relations with R. ^^^ Whitmer. in the manufacture of sash, 
doors and blinds. Selling out his interest in this enterprise in 1876, he 
bought a farm adj\)ining the city of Goshen, and this he still owns, al- 
though he rents it to other parties for operation. 

A lifelong Republican and always active in party aifairs. in 1886 
Mr. Yates was elected a county commissioner, and by re-election served 
six years. When he came up for his second term the regular election 
resulted in a tie vote, liut at the special election declared by the governor 
Mr. Yates received a large majority over his opponent. From 1894 to 
1904 Mr. Yates served as constable of Elkhart township. 

Mr. Yates married Miss Mary B. Martin in 1864. She was born 
in Jefferson township of this county, October 22, 1842, Ijeing a daughter 
of William P. ]\Iartin, who made settlement in this county among the 
pioneers. Both he and his wife, Mary Blue, were natives of Miami 
county, Ohio, and of their eight children Mrs. Yates was the seventh. 
The only ones living are IMrs. Yates and her brother, Blackford, who 
lives in Missouri. ^Ir. and ]\Irs. Yates have three children. Their 
daughter, Nora M.. who is the wife of J. P. G. Turner, was educated here 
in Goshen, taught school several years, was three years a missionary 
in India, and returned to this country on account of poor health. She is 
the mother of three children, Nedra Beth, Kathrin Leah and Leona N. 

Mr. and }ilrs. Yates have spent all their married life in Elkhart 
county, with the exception of three years during which they were resi- 
dents of IMissouri. They are active members of the Baptist church in 
Goshen, he bemg the oldest mem1)er of the congregation in this city, and 
he was also the first unmarried man to unite with the church in Goshen. 
He is one of the trustees in the church, and Mrs. Yates takes an active 
part in the primary department of the .Sunday School. 

CH.\RLES S. STUTSMAN. 

Charles S. Stutsman, owning and operating a farm of sixt}'-fi\-c 
acres on section se\en, Washington township, is a native son of Elkhart 
county. ha\ing been born in Jefferson township in 1868. He is the 



782 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

eldest of the thvee children born to Andrew and Sarah Ellen (Spangler) 
Stutsman. His father, a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, came 
from Ohio to Indiana in 1865, settling in Jefferson township, where he 
yet makes his home. He is one of a family of eleven children, the others 
being Lydia. the wife of William Berkey, of Goshen; Aaron, Susan, 
Noah, Levi, Moses, and infant children, all deceased; and Mary Ann, 
the wife of Jacob Miller, of Jefferson township. Andrew Stutsman is 
a farmer and fruit raiser who owns eighty acres of land in Jefferson 
township. He has made'a close study of horticultural interests and thor- 
oughly understands the needs of different trees as to soil and climate. 
He annually sends to the market a large amount of fruit which commands 
excellent prices because of size and quality. His views concerning the 
temperance question are indicated by the loyal support which he gives to 
the Prohibition party. His wife is a member of the L^nited Brethren 
church. She was l>orn in Fairfield county. Ohio, in 1845, '"'"^1 '^^'•^^ ^ 
daughter of Solomon Spangler. a veterinary surgeon. Her parents are 
both deceased. In their family were eleven children ; Anna, Solomon, 
who is living in Ohio; Caroline, Nellie, George Jefferson, Rebecca, Reu- 
ben and Jacob, who are residents of the same state; Franklin, of Goshen, 
deceased; Mrs. Shoemaker; and Sarah Ellen. 

To Mr. and ]\Irs. Stutsman have been born three children : Charles 
S. : Jennie, the wife of Cliarles Gulp, a farmer of Bristol. Indiana; and 
Harry. 

Charles S. Stutsman pursued his education in Bristol and was reared 
upon farms in this county. He early became familiar with agricultural 
pursuits and as a salesman, and he now lives on section seven, Wash- 
ington township, wliere he owns sixty-five acres of land which he has 
placed under a high state of cultivation. He has also extended his oper- 
ations to other lines of labor, and was one of the organizers of the 
Creamery Company of Bristol, and was its manager until it was placed 
on a safe basis, and now is following other mercantile pursuits. His 
place is known as the Spring Brook farm, and the owner is regarded as 
one of the most progressn-e, practical and enterprising agriculturists of 
his community. 

Mr. Stutsman married Miss Laura E. Smith, a daughter of L. C. 
and Alma Smith, the former a farmer by occupation and a native of 
Pennsylvania. Mrs. Stutsman was born in Jefferson township in 1872, 
and by her marriage has l:>ecome the mother of five children ; Mabel, 
Ethel. Sadie. Hazel and Thelma. Mrs. Stutsman belongs to the United 
Brethren church, and Mr. Stutsman has membership relations with the 
Knights of Pythias. Lie votes with the Republican party, but has never 
sought or desired office, for his Ixisiness interests fully claim his time 
and attention and demand his talents. He is conspicuous for his probity, 
thoioughness and honorable methods, as well as his success, and in all 
that he does in public and priv.i.te life he is eminentlv practical. 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 78?> 

OUINCY D. ^^■INEGAR. 

Quincy D. Winegar is one of the' extensive land owners of Elk- 
hart county, his possessions aggregating five hundred and sixty-five 
acres, and his life record should serve as an inspiration and source 
of encouragement to others, for his success is the direct outcome of 
his own earnest labor. He lives on section thirty-five, York town- 
ship, and he was horn on section thirt3'-six in 1855. He comes of 
Dutch ancestry, the family having been established in New York by 
representatives of the name who came from Germany. Ira Winegar, 
the grandfather, served as a soldier of the war of 18 12 with a New 
York regiment and was the first ^-eteran of that ^\•ar in Elkhart count\- 
who drew a pension. His son, Edmund M. Winegar, was born in the 
Empire state and there spent his youth. Following his removal to the 
west he prospered in his business undertakings and at one time owned 
about five hundred acres of land in this county, personally cultivating 
about three hundred acres. He also raised stock to a consideralile ex- 
tent and was well known as one of the prominent pioneer residents of 
this portion of the state. His brother James was a big hearted, good 
natured man. who came to Elkhart county a few' years after the arrival 
of Edmund M. \Vinegar, who had cast in his lot with the pioneer 
settlers here in 1839. Edmund Winegar tells a story concerning a 
pioneer incident. He says that the courthouse yard was full of stumps. 
Several citizens, g'athering one day, numbered the stumps and then 
drew numbers which would assign to them a stump that they were to 
pull up. James Winegar declared that he got the toughest and worst 
stump in the collection, but nevertheless the courthouse yard was cleared. 
Both James and Edmund M. \\'inegar were members of the Masonic 
fraternity and Edmund was at one time a member of the New York 
militia. Edmund M. Winegar was a Democrat in his political views 
and was nominated by his party for the office of sherifif. Notwithstand- 
ing the countv gave a large normal Republican majority he lacked but 
sixteen votes of winning the election, such was his personal popularitw 
He was a large hearted man of kindly disposition, charitably disposed 
to the worth}' poor and friendly to all who displayed true worth of 
character. He married Miss Catherine W'oodward. who was born" in 
Ohio in 1839 and was the sixth in a family of seven children. Her 
father was a farmer by occupation and came to Indiana in the '30s, 
settling in LaGrange county, but he afterward returned to Ohio on 
business and died in that state. He was of German lineage, wldle liis 
wife was of English descent. Mrs. W'inegar departed this life in Jul\'. 
1894. in the sixty-third year of her age. 

Quincy D. Winegar, born and reared in Elkhart count}-. i)ur- 
sued his education in the school of Middlebury and Goshen, attending 
a normal school in the latter place. He has engaged in teaching in the 
district schools for seven terms. Iiut his attention has large!}- been given 
to agricultural pursuits and at the time of his marriage he located on a 



784 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

farm, since which time he has dex'oted his time and energies to the 
tilling O'f the soil. He lives at'what is known as "Pat's" (Patterson's) 
corner on section thii"ty-six, York township, and he owns five hundred 
and sixty-five acres of valuable land, all in this township. His farm 
is a splendidly impi"oved property supplied with all modern conven- 
iences, and in the cultivation of his land and the care of his stock he 
shows that he is thornughly familiar with nindern and progressive 
methods. 

In 1877 Mr. Winegar was united in marriage to Miss Sarah 
Cole, who was born near Rochester, New York, in 1858, her parents 
being Samuel and Sarah (Tippler) Cole, both of whom were natives 
o( England. They came to the United States about 1850, locating 
near Rochester, and in 1862 they arrived in Indiana, settling on section 
twenty-six, York township, where Mr. Cole followed the occupation 
of farming. In the family were seven children, of whom Mrs. Wine- 
gar was the fifth in order of birth. She has become the mother of 
three children: Blanche, born in 1879: Grace in 1885: and Helen in 
1892. The parents are prominent in social circles in their communit}' 
and have many warm friends. Mr. Winegar exercises his right of 
franchise in support of the men and measures of the Democracy and 
in his fraternal relations is a Mason. In his business affairs he is 
enterprising and his close application and diligence ha\'e been the basic 
elements in his success. 

WARREN E. BURNS. 

^\"arren E. Burns is president of the Cosmo Buttermilk Soa]) Com- 
pany, whose extensive plant at Goshen is one of the monumental enter- 
prises in the industrial and manufacturing resources of that city, ho- 
cated on the west bank of the river, on the outskirts of the city, but con- 
A-enient to transportation, the Cosmo Soap works has for a number of 
years been a landmark in Goshen and an institution which is pointed out 
with pride as forming one of the substantial siiurces of industrial wealth 
and activity to the city. 

Mr. Burns, who entered the biisiness as an affice boy and by his 
attention to duties and fitness for executive control has risen through the 
\'arious grades of promotion to the presidency of the company, was 1>orn 
in Milford. Indiana. July 10. 1876. His father, Jonas J. Burns, a native 
of Ohio, was the founder of the Cosmo Buttermilk Soap factory, estab- 
lishing it in 189 1, at first in Valparaiso, and moving the plant to Goshen 
in 1896. He is still the largest stockholder in the enterprise. The large 
factory at Goshen, which was completed in 1896, is of brick, sixty bv 
two hundred and sixty feet in ground dimensions, four stories in height, 
and heavy brick fire walls divide it into three parts. On the east side is 
a two-story power house, fiftv by fifty-seven feet, containing the engines, 
boilers, electric light ]ilant and repair shi ips. Tlie buildings throughout 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 7S5 

arc equipped with most excellent fire-extinguishing apparatus, including 
steam pump and ample length of hose. The products of the factoi7 are 
both toilet and laundry soaps, for the manufacture of which the most 
improved machinery has lieen installed. The Cosmo soaps now have 
what might well be called a national reputation, for they are of the high- 
est grades of excellence and the sales have been annually increasing by a 
large figure and over larger territory. Among the other departments 
of the plant might be mentioned the factory for manufacture of paper 
boxes and cartons, which are printed and engraved at the same place; 
another two-story brick building, twenty-eight by sixty feet, where the 
crude glycerine is extracted from the animal fats, and where also are 
housed the wagons. About si.xty persons are on the payroll of the 
company, so that it forms an industry of great value to the city and has 
created a large amount of wealth for the community. 

Mr. Burns, the president, was educated in the Goshen and Chicago 
public schools, and on taking up independent work went into his father's 
lousiness as an office boy, became bookkeeper, cashier, and then manager, 
and is now president of the company and responsible for the direction 
of its affairs. He was a resident of CliicagO' from 1890 to 1904, the 
business offices of the company ba\'ing been removed from Chicago to 
Co.shen only recently. 

Mr. Burns was married in 1898 to Miss Ellen Rogers, a daughter of 
C. VI. and Anna Rogers. 

CHARLES L. DREESE, :\[. D. 

Charles L. Dreese, M. D., ear, nose and throat specialist, as well 
as general medical practitioner, of Goshen, was born at L^niontown, 
.Stark county, Ohio, August 27, 1848. His parents, Simeon and Xancy 
(Hain) Dreese, natives of Snyder county, Pennsylvania, ;uul n\ \\ur- 
temberger German lineage, were married in Ohio, lived for a time at 
Liniontown, and in 1830, with Charles, who was then their only child, 
came to Lidiana, via the canal to Cleveland, thence by steamer to De- 
troit, bv the Michigan Central Railroad to Niles, and from that point 
overland by wagon to section 12, Concord township, in this county, 
where the famil}- home was made and where the father continued his 
successful career as farmer. The mother passed away in 1896 at the 
age of seventy-four years, followed in 1902, in his eighty-fifth year, 
l>v the father, who was one of those quiet, hardworking and substan- 
tial men who form the bulwark of every community. They were both 
meml>ers of the Lutheran church, and their sterling qualities of heart 
and mind endeared them to all their friends and cause them to be still 
rememljered among the tried ami true who ha\e gone before. There 
were just two children in their family, and the daughter. Margaret C. 
is the wife of Henr)- E. Tiedemann, the grocer of Goshen. 

Under the influences of such worthy parents, in a home, thoug'h 



Il-C, HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

lacking in our modern conveniences and never luxurious, abounding in 
those refining influences which make character, among the early rural 
surroundings of Elkhart county as it was fort}' or fifty years ago, young 
Dreese began the career which has since been so useful. In his youth 
he followed the plow, did all kinds of farm work, being employed with 
a threshing outfit for several seasons, and in the winter seasons attended 
country school. From this school he was sent for more complete in- 
struction to the old collegiate institute which formerly existed in Gosh- 
en, and which was conducted in the very place where his office now 
stands. For his higher education he attended Heidelberg College at 
Tiffin, Ohio. \\'hen he was twenty-one years old he obtained a license 
to teach school, and for twelve consecutive winters thereafter taught 
in the schools of Indiana and Ohio ; and he was known as a most suc- 
cessful teacher, imparting something of value to character- or mind 
to every child that came in contact with him. 

On just such a basis as this have thousands of men laid their pro- 
fessional career. While teaching Mr. Dreese was also pursuing his 
medical studies at every opportunity, and he later entered the medical 
college at Fort Wayne, where he was graduated in 1881. Since that 
date he has been almost continuously engaged in practice at Goshen, 
and his very larg^e patronag"e proves the success of his endeavors. Al- 
ways intent upon self-improvement, in 1889 he took a course of studv 
on the ear. nose and throat under the famous Dr. Thomas Rumlxild, 
now deceased, but then of St. Louis. Having determined to. specialize 
upon these important branches of his profession, in 1890 he continued 
his study and observati(5ns in the best institutions of Europe, visiting, 
in England, the Great Central Hospital under Dr. Brown, the Golden 
Square under Dr. McKenzie, the Portland under Dr. Woakes. He 
was a member of section 12 as a delegate to the Inteniational Congress 
of Medicine in Berlin, in 1890. After a brief period of study under 
Dr. Franke at Berlin he went to the medical center of the world — 
Vienna — and in the General Hospital visited numerous clinics, especi- 
ally those under Schnitzler, the eminent throat specialist. Aftenvard 
journeying to Venice and Milan in Italy, to Luzerne, Switzerland, visit- 
ing some of the clinics in Paris, he returnetl to the United States with 
an excellent equipment for his special practice, and since his return 
has given particular attention to the treatment of the ear, nose and 
throat. He is known as the anesthetist of Goshen, having been called 
upon to administer anesthetics more than a thousand times. 

Dr. Dreese has a high standing in social and civic circles as well 
as in professional afifairs. He has fraternal affiliations with the Knights 
of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Improved Or- 
der of Red Men, the Knights of the Maccabees, the National Union, 
and has been medical examiner for the Maccabees for years. He is a 
member of the Reformed church. 

Dr. Dreese married, in 1876, Miss .Sarah E. Kirkpatrick. and fi\'e 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY "87 

children have been born to them. Virgie T. was born April 13, 1877; 
Claude. January 19, 1879, ^^icl died in 1886; Edith. December 25, 
1880: an infant died unnamed: and Ruth, February 26, 1893. 

GEORGE MUTSCHLER. 

George Mutschler. prominent manufacturer and citizen of Goshen, 
for forty years closely identified with the various interests of Elkhart 
count}', a veteran, of the Civil war and a man of influential citizen- 
ship in his adopted country, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, April 
28. 1839. Reared and educated there up to the age of fourteen, in 
1854, when a young but independent lad of fifteen, he came alone across 
the Atlantic to America. 

Locating at Canal Dover, Ohio, he learned the furniture trade, 
and followed that occupation at Wooster, Wayne county. Ohio, until 
the spring of 1861. April 15. 1861. three days after Fort Sumter fell, 
he responded to the three months' call and on the expiration of that 
term re-enlisted as a private in the Fourth Ohio Infantry. He was 
a soldier for the Union three and a half years. He was under Mc- 
Clelland at Rich Mountain, Virginia, was transferred to General Shields 
division and with the army in Shenandoah Valley until July. 1862, 
and then assigned to the Army of the Potomac and continued with the 
same until June. 1864. He was in all the battles of the Second Army 
Corps, and was wounded by a minie ball through the left thigh at the 
battle of Spottsylvania Courthouse, an injury that kept him in the 
hospital from June to November. 1864. thus interrupting- his otherwise 
continuous service from the opening of the war. 

On receiving his honorable discharge at Columbus. Ohio, in 1864, 
he returned to Ohio and resumed his trade as cabinet-maker in Wooster 
and Norwalk. Mr. Mutschler came to Elkhart county in 1866. At 
Millersburg he was engaged in the manufacture of furniture and in 
the undertaking l>usiness from that date until he came to Goshen in 
May. 1893. He bought an interest in the I. X. L. and Goshen Pump 
Company, and in 1896 became general manager and treasurer of the 
company, a position he has since held. This company, which is one 
of the representati\-e manufacturing concerns of the county, has the 
following officers : B. F. Deahl, president : John Hale, vice-president ; 
George Mutschler, treasurer, and J. A. Arthur, secretary. At this writ- 
ing sixty-five men are on the payrolls of the company, and se\-eral trav- 
eling salesmen are maintained in outside territory. 

Mr. Mutschler is a member of Randall Post No. 320, G. A. R., 
at Millersburg. He has been connected with the Reformed church 
since he was fourteen years old and is active in church work. His 
political views are Democratic. 

In November. 1866. he married Miss Sarah Froelich, who was 
born and reared in Ohio. They are the parents of six children, four 



7SS HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

sons and two daughters. Emma is the wife of B. F. Deahl, a promi- 
nent attorney of Goshen. All^ert, of the Coppes-Zook-Mutschler Com- 
pany at Nappanee, is mentioned at length elsewhere in this volume. 
Charles, of Nappanee, is also sketched on other pages. Alice is the 
wife of Lloyd Burris, the present deputy prosecuting attorney of Elk- 
hart county: George is in his father's Inisiness. William is studying 
law in the University of ^Michigan, and expects to graduate with the 
class in June, 1906. 

B. R. throck:\iorton. 

B. R. Throckmorton, -who is known by name and reputation 
throughout Elkhart county as one of its leading photographers, being- 
one of the few in his profession who- are really deser\dng of the title 
of " artist." was horn in LaPorte, Indiana, June 25. 1879, ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ 
past five years has been identified with the city of Goshen as a citizen 
and business man. 

A son of James M. and Nancy ( Karney ) Throckmorton, who 
have been residents of Goshen for several years, Mr. Throckmorton 
at the age of nine years was taken to South Bend, where he grew to 
manhood and obtained a high school education. Beginning the study 
of his art in a gallery, he is a practical pliotographer and has equipped 
himself in a most thorough manner for all branches of his work. He 
came to Goshen in February, 1900, and after managing a gallery here 
for six weeks purchased the same and has since conducted it, although 
he has practically remade the business since taking control and has ex- 
panded his trade to very satisfactory proportions. Besides making fine 
photographs in all the regular styles he does considerable sketch work 
of a hig-h order of merit, having devoted much time and study to this 
branch of his art, and his work in general has received much favorable 
commendation from photographic journals. 

Mr. Tlirockmorton resides at his studin. which is a cosy little place 
and very conveniently situated for his patrons. He is unmarried. 
Fraternally he affiliates with the Knights of Pythias, the Improved 
Order of Red Men, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and 
he is a member of the Methodist Episcop.il church. Politically he is a 
Republican. 

JAMES EDWARD NEWELL. 

James Edward Newell, superintendent of a high school of Bris- 
tol, was born in Jefferson township, Elkhart county in 1879. His 
father, John P. Newell, also a native of JefTerson township, is now 
living at the age of fifty-seven years. The grandfather, Joseph New- 
ell, was a native of Scotland and when a boy emigrated from that 
country to the new world with his father in 1S36, the family home 
being established in Jefiferson township, Elkhart county, Indiana, when 
this was still a pioneer district, in which the work of improvement and 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 78!t 

progress had scarcely been l^egTin. Joseph Newell followed the occu- 
pation of farming" and John P. Newell has made the same pursuit his 
life work. He has ever been an industrious and enterprising man and 
his labors have brought to him a creditable measure of success. His 
life has at all times been upright and honorable, in consistent harmony 
with his professions as a member of the United Brethren church, in 
which he is a most active and capable worker. He is one of the trus- 
tees of the church in which he holds membership and also a trustee of 
St. Joseph's Conference. His political allegiance is given to the Repub- 
lican party and for four years he filled the office of trustee in Jefferson 
township. He is a man who stands high in the esteem of his neigh- 
lx)rs and friends and his worth in the community is widelv recognized. 
He married Miss Mary Elizabeth Kinyon, a daughter of Thomas J. 
and Nancy (Case) Kinyon, who was born in Jefiferson township and 
died in 1904, at the age of fifty-eight years. Her father came from 
New Y'ork to Indiana, settling in Jefferson township among the early 
residents of that locality. He followed the occupation of farming and 
was well known as a pioneer citizen of his community. Mrs. Newell 
was also a member of the United Brethren church, taking an interested 
and helpful part in its work. In the family were two children, the 
elder being Sarah L.. who became the wife of John Everingham, a 
blacksmith of Bristol. 

Professor James Edward Newell is indebted to the pulilic school 
system of the county for the early educational privileges he enjoyed. 
He afterward entered Otterbein Uni\ersity of Ohio, from which he 
was graduated with the class of 1897, and in 1904 the degree of Mas- 
ter of .\rts was conferred upon him by that institution. For three years 
after his graduation he taught in the district schools of his native town- 
ship and then took charge of the department of mathematics in the 
Eastern Indiana Normal University at Muncie, where he remained 
for a year. He afterward spent two years in Bourbon College at Bour- 
bon, Indiana, of which he was president and also occupied the chairs 
of Latin and Mathematics. In 1903 he came to Bristol to accept the 
superintendency of the high and other schools of this place and is now 
at the bead of the public .school system here, which under his guidance 
has made substantial improvement, reaching out to a higher standard 
of intellectual development. Professor Newell has also won much 
more than local fame on the lecture platform, delivering lectures upon 
popular and educational topics and his services have lieen in frequent 
demand bv teachers' institutes of the state. Since his own graduation 
he has done considerable ix)St graduate work at his university and is 
a man of .scholarly attainments, contiinially broadening his knowledge 
bv research and investigation. 

Professor Newell was married in 1904 to Miss Frances Paine, a 
daughter of James B. and Cornelia (Dickason) Paine, the former a 
lawyer bv profession. Mrs. Newell was born in Jackson, Ohio, in 188 1 



790 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

and like her husband is prominent socially, while over her home she 
presides with gracious hospitality- Both are members of the United 
Brethren church in which they take an active part. Professor Newell 
is now superintendent of the Sunday school and is also president of 
St. Joseph's branch of the Young People's Christian Union. He like- 
wise belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and to the Masonic 
lodge and in his political affiliation is a Republican. In the line of his 
profession he is connected with the Indiana Teachers' i-Vssociation and 
is a trustee of the Indiana Central University. He has already made 
for himself an enviable reputation as an educator and lecturer and is 
destined to win still higher honors and broader fame in professional 
circles. 

HIRAM F. KIDDER. 

Never can greater honor be paid than to him who aids in liolding 
high the standard which represents the deeper principles of liberty, and 
the military career of Hiram F. Kidder is one which will ever re- 
dound to his honor as a loyal and devoted son of the Repulilic. In the 
paths of peace he has also won an enviable reputation through the sterl- 
ing qualities which go to the making of a good citizen and a trustworthy 
official. He is a native of Genesee county, New York, born August 
25, 1842, a grandson of E. B. Kidder, a native of the New Eng- 
land states, and a son of E. B. Kidder, who was born in Vermont. 
The last named located in western New York, near Buffalo, in an early 
day, and was a miller by occupation. His death occurred there when 
he was about sixty years of age. His wife, who in her maidenhood 
was Emeline G. Hill, was also a New Englander by birth, and she 
reached the age of eighty-two years. In the family of this worthy 
old couple were seven children, six sons and one daughter, and four 
of the sons were soldiers in the war of the rebellion, the youngest lay- 
ing down his life on the altar of his countrv. 

Hiram F. Kidder, the eldest son in his parents' family, was reared 
in the place of his nativity. On reaching the age of nineteen years he 
came to Goshen, Indiana, and in 1861 enlisted for service in the Civil 
war, entering Company M, Second Indiana Cavalry, as a musician, 
Imt by Governor Morton was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, 
and in October, 1863, as adjutant of the regiment, serving in that capac- 
ity until the close of the struggle. He served in the Southwestern De- 
partment, Sherman's army, and with that gallant band participated in 
all the important battles of the war, including Shiloh, Atlanta, the 
siege of Corinth, and at the battle of Resaca was wounded and his horse 
shot under him. He was a brave and fearless soldier, and when the 
war ended and his services were no longer needed he was honorably 
discharged at Indianapolis, Indiana, after a military career of over 
three vears. Returning to his home in Goshen Mr. Kidder was for a 
time thereafter engaged in the hotel business, in various mercantile 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 71H 

enterprises and in the livery business until his appointment as court 
bailiff. For eight years he also served as the deputy sheriff of Elk- 
hart county, and in 1894 was elected to that office, the duties of which 
he so creditably filled that he was re-elected in 1896. Since the expira- 
tion of his second term as sheriff he has lived in retirement in his 
pleasant home in Goshen. During the St. Louis Exposition he had 
charge of the Goshen Manufacturing Company's interests there. 

In 1866 Mr. Kidder was united in marriage to Miss .\nna E. 
Rowell, eldest daughter of one of Goshen's oldest pioneers, and their 
only daughter, Minnie L., is the wife of C. R. Leas, by whom she has 
one son. Dean Chester. Mr. Kidder is a life-long Republican, and is 
an active worker in the ranks of his party. He holds pleasant rela- 
tions with his old army comrades as a member of Post No. 90, G. .\. 
R., in which he served as adjutant for five years and is also a past 
commander. He also holds membership relations with the Benevolent 
and Protective Order of Elks, of Goshen. 

ANTHONY DEAHL. 

Though now and for a number of years recognized as one of the 
foremost representatives of the Elkhart county bar. both as regards his 
personal ability and the extent of his practice, Anthony Deahl began his 
independent career without any other advantages than such as a sound 
CTJUstitution and resolute will confer, and through his consistent en- 
deavor gradually worked up to a position of influence and power in the 
county. Ask his friends as to the characteristic which has been most 
responsible for bis success, and the tenor of the answer almost invariably 
is " unflagging industry." From tender years of boyhood until the 
present he has labored, in many capacities, has followed the plow and 
done all kinds of farm work, has carpentered, has taught school, has 
studied with an intensity of application equaled by few. has discharged 
the duties of public office, and for the past fifteen years has, with char- 
acteristic energy, devoted himself to an increasing and profitable law 
practice. Earnestness and force are natural accompaniments of such 
industry, and these are the clear-cut qualities which have most vividly 
impressed themselves upon the writer during his acquaintance with Mr. 
Deahl. 

The biography of this self-made lawyer of Goshen finds its scenes 
almost entirely laid in Elkhart county. Born at Millersburg, September 
iq. i86t. a son of the late Jacob Deahl, he was taken, at the age of nine 
years, td a farm near the village of his birth, and that old homestead, 
about three miles northeast of town, was the center of his life history 
imtil he was twenty years old. His father, bom in Hesse-Cassel, Ger- 
many, November 23. 1817, died April 26, tqoo. His mother, Margaret 
Hoffman, born in Luxemburg, February. 1822, was eighty years old at 
her death on January 30, 1902. The father arrived in America in 1850, 



792 HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 

the mother ip 1852, and were married in Elkhart county October li, 
1859. Tliere were tliree cliildren, tlie daughter Mary heing the wife 
of James A. Rogers, of Goslien. 

Anthony Deahl began attending school when fuur years old, hut 
after moving to the farm he had a mile and a half to walk to the school 
and even so was able to attend only about three months each year, his 
help heing found necessary at home in farm labor and in assisting his 
father in the carpenter trade, which he learned quite thoroughlv. 

At the age of eighteen, having been granted, after examination, a 
teacher's certificate, he entered upon his career as teacher. In the spring 
of 1879 he taught a school in Edon township, LaGrange county. Mr. 
Deahl's connection with this very important department of the world's 
work was exceedingly creditable in every way. He is still remembered 
by his pupils, now men and women active in the various walks of life, 
as having possessed peculiar efficiency as an instructor and, more im- 
portant still, great personal influence in developing and directing vouth- 
ful minds when in their plastic state. Following his experience in La- 
Grange county, he taught a term at the Germany schoolhouse, four miles 
north of Millersburg. and then for two terms had charge, in a very suc- 
cessful manner, of his old home school, his pupils, in the main, being his 
former schoolmates. The fact that some of die patrons had mistrusted 
his ability to cope with the difficulties of management which always con- 
front a teacher who takes charge of his own school and that he succeeded 
in overcoming these obstacles in such a manner as to bring forth vol- 
untarv commendation from the very persons who had at first opposed 
him, is a matter of just pride to !vlr. Deahl as he recalls his earlv teach- 
ing experiences. In the fall of :88i he took charge of the primarv de- 
partment of the Millersburg school, the next term taught the interme- 
diate department, and soon afterward was advanced to the principalsbip, 
a position which he held for seven years. He and his brother B. F. 
together taught four terms of normal school in Millersbm'g, making 
twenty-five terms of teaching in the town of Millersburg. 

While teaching at Millersburg he served as justice of the peace, 
and for the last six years was town clerk, a position in which he was 
able to confer great benefit upon his town by capable management of the 
A-illage's financial affairs. He was also superintendent of the Reform 
Sunday school four years. In the fall of 1889 Mr. Deahl entered the 
law department of the University of Michigan to complete his legal 
preparation, which he had already l^egun in pri\^ate study while teaching 
school. It is noteworthy, in connection with what we liave said of 
Mr. Deahl's ability to wurk hard and eftectively, that he was the only 
student out of the three hundred who v\-ere his fellows to be allowed to 
take the two years' course in one. And. by toiling while others slept 
as well as during all the usual waking hours, he succeeded in carrying 
this double load, and on June 26. 1890. graduated with honors, receiving 
the degree of LL. B. On July 2. just six days after the receipt of lii^ 



HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY 793 

diploma, Jilr. Deahl opened his office in Goshen, and from that date to 
the present has been found ahiiost constantly engaged in the increasing 
responsibilities of a growing practice. In 1896 the firm of Deahl and 
Deahl was established, B. F. Deahl coming in as junior partner, and 
the brothers have since shared the volume of work which has poured in 
upon them from e\-ery part of the county and brought them into con- 
nection \\itli the principal cases not only on the docket of Elkhart county 
courts, but in those of surrounding counties. Mr. Deahl has served as 
special judge of the circuit court in this district. 

Mr. Deahl has devoted himself with such 'absorbing energy to his 
profession that he has had little opportunitj' for public affairs. How- 
ever, as a loyal member of the Democratic party he has 1>een se\'eral 
times honored, having been the candidate for representative from Elk- 
hart county in 1894 ^"cl for the office of state senator in 1900, in both 
campaigns succeeding in winning a large vote though not enough to 
overcome the Reiiublican majority. Fraternally he is a member of 
the Knights of Pythias, the Red Men and the Modern Samaritans of 
the ^^'or!d. I\Ir. Deahl was elected president of the Goshen Commer- 
cial Exchange in 1898, served continuously to 1904, the longest period 
of ser\ice in that capacity in the history of the organization. 

June Ti, 1882, he married Miss Hattie Rogers. Their three sons 
are: Floyd, bom July 15, 1883; Ray, born June 5, 1886: Orlo, bom 
Se])teniber 30, 1891. Floyd and Ray have each completed the course 
in the Goshen high school, and this fall enter upon their second year 
in the law department of the University of Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

In describing as we have ^Ir. Deahl's professional earnestness and 
industry, it should not be inferred that he is always involved in the 
meshes and tanglements of the law to the exclusion of all the other 
manifold interests which appeal to mankind. The same whole-souled 
enthusiasm he displays in the Tinraveling of legal cases he directs, in 
proper season and due proportion, to his recreations. A pretty little 
cottage on Lake Wawasee is the home where he and his family delight 
to spend a large part of the summer season, and nearly every day of his 
stay there he may be found engaged in his favorite sport of angling, 
which he carries on with the philosophic patience and enjoyment, not 
to say success, of anotlier Isaac \\'alton. Genial and affable, yet with- 
out the slightest surrender of the digniity which belongs to his integ- 
rity of character and ability, Mr. Deahl has friends among all classes 
and lives in their constantlv increasing esteem. 



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